MS Chemical Engineering

2 Years On Campus Masters Program

University of Utah

Program Overview

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah is designed for students who want to deepen their understanding of chemical engineering principles and prepare for advanced careers in industry, with coursework-based, project-based, and research-oriented pathways available. Students develop advanced expertise through core engineering courses and technical electives that can be tailored toward areas such as biomedical engineering, energy, nanotechnology, environmental engineering, and computing.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:

Students build their advanced chemical engineering foundation through core courses such as CH EN 6400 – Foundations of Engineering Analysis, CH EN 6853 – Thermodynamics, and CH EN 6553 – Chemical Reaction Engineering. They also begin technical electives, allowing them to explore specialized areas such as renewable energy, biochemical engineering, catalytic engineering, or advanced numerical methods.

Year 2:

Students deepen their technical specialization through courses such as CH EN 6603 – Advanced Transport Phenomena, CH EN 6310 – Renewable Energy, CH EN 6230 – Bio Devices & Sensors, or CH EN 6810 – Nanoscience. Depending on the pathway, students can complete additional technical electives or undertake a 6-credit Advanced Design Project; the thesis pathway is available only to existing University of Utah students.

Focus Areas:

Biomedical Engineering, Energy, Nanotechnology, Environment, Computing, Renewable Energy, Biochemical Engineering, Catalysis, Air Pollution Control, Nanoscience, and Advanced Materials.

Learning Outcomes:

Students develop deeper knowledge of chemical engineering fundamentals, advanced engineering analysis, thermodynamics, reaction engineering, transport phenomena, technical specialization, independent project work, and research skills.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):

The M.S. is a graduate-level chemical engineering program focused on advanced technical knowledge and preparation for industry or further research. The University of Utah's undergraduate Chemical Engineering program is ABET-accredited; the university does not list the M.S. as separately ABET-accredited.

Reputation (Employability/Rankings):

The University of Utah's Chemical Engineering graduate program was ranked No. 67 nationally in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools rankings. The university's broader graduate engineering program was ranked No. 65.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah gives students opportunities to apply advanced chemical engineering concepts through design projects, research, computational work, and specialized laboratory facilities. The project-based pathway includes a 6-credit Advanced Design Project, where students work with a faculty member, form a committee, prepare a final report, and defend their project, making it particularly valuable for students seeking practical research experience.

Students can build practical and research skills through:

Advanced Design Project: Students can complete CH EN 6253 – Advanced Design Project, working with a faculty member on a research/design project and defending the completed work before a committee.
Industrial Computing Center (ICC): Students have access to computer facilities for programming and chemical-engineering software, including Aspen+ and ProMax.
Starley Computer Lab: Located next to the Unit Operations Laboratory, allowing student teams to analyze experimental data and prepare reports alongside laboratory activities.
Unit Operations Laboratory: The department has pilot-scale equipment including distillation columns, gas strippers, spray dryers, heat exchangers, continuous and catalytic reactors, reverse-osmosis equipment, and hydrogen fuel-cell equipment.
Research & Analytical Equipment: Facilities include gas and liquid chromatographs, FTIR, differential scanning calorimetry, electron microscopy, UV-Vis spectrophotometers, HPLC systems, bioreactors, and CSTRs.
Meldrum Innovation Laboratory: Students can use the Williams Design Studio, Starley Makerspace, and Job Wet Lab, with technologies including 3D printing, CNC machining, laser cutting, microfluidics, soldering, and scanning electron microscopy.
Research Experience: The department provides a research-focused environment for graduate students through faculty research groups and laboratories working across chemical engineering research areas.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah can prepare graduates for advanced roles in research, process design and development, production, energy, pharmaceuticals, materials, and environmental engineering. The department highlights career functions including research, design, development, production, technical sales, and management, while the M.S. can also provide a pathway toward doctoral study.

Typical career roles include: Chemical Engineer, Process Development Engineer, R&D Engineer, Process Design Engineer.

Students can build their professional progression through:

Career & Professional Development Center: Students have access to resume assistance, job and internship postings, career fairs, mock interviews, on-campus interviews, job-search strategies, and CareerShift, along with engineering-focused career coaches.
U Career Success: University career coaches provide individualized guidance on resumes, networking, interviews, and career planning, while Handshake provides access to job listings and career events.
Industry connections: The department identifies employment opportunities across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, manufacturing, energy, environmental protection, petroleum, materials, and biomedical-device industries. Recent companies associated with the department include IM Flash Technologies, Micron Technology, Watson Pharmaceuticals, Procter & Gamble, Halliburton, Rio Tinto, Archer Daniels Midland, Nestlé, Celanese, and ICU Medical.
Research and industry preparation: The department has more than 20 professors and over $10 million per year in research funding, creating opportunities for graduate students to work within a substantial research environment.
Employment and salary: The department describes chemical engineering as traditionally being among the highest-paid professions in engineering and science, but its current M.S. pages do not publish an M.S.-specific employment rate or graduate salary figure.
Accreditation value: The University of Utah's B.S. in Chemical Engineering is ABET-accredited. The university does not list the M.S. itself as separately ABET-accredited.
Graduation outcomes: The department reports that its graduate students have progressed into careers in academia and industry, with chemical engineering graduates working across research, design, development, production, technical sales, and management.

Further Academic Progression: The M.S. can serve as a springboard to a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah, with the department noting that the M.S. and Ph.D. have similar course requirements. The Ph.D. focuses on independent research, peer-reviewed publications, dissertation work, and making a significant contribution to the field.