Master of Science in Chemical Engineering

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at Washington State University (WSU) is strongly research-oriented, giving students opportunities to develop practical skills through faculty-led research, advanced laboratory work, computational modeling, and industry-connected projects. Students can work in areas such as sustainable energy, catalysis and kinetics, fuel cells, biofilm engineering, sensors, biomolecular engineering, and biomechanics, with access to specialized facilities in Pullman and the Tri-Cities campus. The program also specifically encourages internships with partner institutions, including Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).

Students can build hands-on, computational, and research experience through these WSU resources:

• Wegner Hall: The Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering is housed in 87,827 square feet of state-of-the-art facilities in Wegner Hall at WSU Pullman, providing the main environment for chemical engineering graduate study and research.
• Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Laboratory (BSEL): This 57,000-square-foot, $24.8 million facility includes teaching laboratories, advanced biological and chemical research laboratories, an engineering development laboratory providing industry-relevant data, and a high-bay facility for pilot-scale research. The facility is jointly used by WSU and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory researchers.
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL): Chemical Engineering M.S. students are encouraged to pursue internships with partner institutions, with PNNL identified by WSU as a major internship partner. Some students also spend part of their educational experience working with advanced, state-of-the-art instruments at PNNL.
• Surface Analysis Center: WSU's Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering research infrastructure includes a specialized Surface Analysis Center, described by the school as one of the world's foremost collections for chemical reactive surface analysis under in-situ and operando conditions.
• Catalysis & Kinetics research: Students can work on biofuels, fuel cells, bioremediation, catalyst characterization and testing, reaction kinetics, and systems modeling, providing direct experience with research problems relevant to energy and chemical-processing industries.
• O.H. Reaugh Laboratory for Oil and Gas Processing Research: This dedicated laboratory supports research in energy conversion and generation, including hydrogen production, CO₂ capture and utilization, and fuel-cell development.
• Microscale Thermo-Fluid Laboratory: Students interested in computational and advanced transport research can work with mathematical models and numerical methods for chemical, electrochemical, thermal, fluidic, and biological systems. The lab uses approaches ranging from AI-based machine learning and molecular-level simulations to continuum predictive methods.
• Computational tools: WSU requires Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering graduate students to have access to a capable laptop, with MATLAB at WSU specifically listed among the required software resources.
• Research in sensors and bioengineering: Chemical Engineering research includes ion-selective electrodes, biomolecular and biomarker sensors, chemical sensors, protein separation and characterization, drug mechanisms, and biofilm engineering, allowing students to gain experience at the intersection of chemical engineering, biology, healthcare, and energy.
• Interdisciplinary research and training: Graduate students can participate in the NIH-sponsored Protein Biotechnology Graduate Student Training Grant, while faculty and students also collaborate extensively with PNNL on research and technology development.
• Technical research infrastructure: WSU's wider research system includes facilities such as the Center for Institutional Research Computing, Franceschi Electron Microscopy Center, Nuclear and Chemical Science Core Facility, and Technical Services Instrument Shop, which provides custom design, fabrication, modification, and repair of scientific apparatus and instrumentation. 

Graduates of the M.S. in Chemical Engineering at Washington State University can build advanced expertise for careers in industry, government, research, and academia. The program combines graduate coursework with research, and WSU specifically states that its graduate training is designed to prepare students for competitive positions across these sectors.

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

Career development and long-term opportunities include:

• Career services: WSU’s Voiland College Internships and Career Services provides individual career coaching, technical career fairs, networking events, employer information sessions, job postings, interviews, and industry tours. Its ProPEL program connects students with employers for internships and co-op positions that can earn academic credit.
• Job-search resources: Students have access to Handshake for internships, co-ops, and full-time positions, as well as CareerShift for company research and job-market searches. WSU also maintains a major-specific job-search tracker that Career Services updates regularly.
• Employment and salary information: WSU's Chemical Engineering FAQ directs students to U.S. Department of Labor employment and wage information and notes that chemical engineering companies contact WSU regarding students and hiring. WSU does not publish a current M.S.-specific employment rate or graduate salary figure on the official program pages, so a program-specific salary number should not be assumed.
• University–industry connections: The Voiland School reports that faculty collaborate with industry partners and that graduate students have extensive internship opportunities. The school also has significant research activity, reporting $6.3 million in FY2025 research expenditures, while its faculty conduct research in collaboration with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).
• PNNL pathway: Graduate students can participate in research connected to PNNL, and WSU identifies PNNL as an important research and internship partner. This gives students exposure to research environments beyond the university campus.
• Professional and accreditation value: The M.S. itself is not separately identified as ABET-accredited. WSU's ABET accreditation applies to its B.S. programs in Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering. The M.S. instead provides advanced graduate-level research and technical preparation, which can complement professional engineering pathways.
• Graduation outcomes: The thesis M.S. requires at least 30 credits, including advanced courses such as CHE 510 Transport Processes, CHE 527 Thermodynamics, CHE 529 Kinetics, research methods, seminar, and at least nine research credits. Students completing the thesis option develop an individual research project and defend their thesis, while the non-thesis option emphasizes advanced coursework.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the M.S., students can continue into WSU's Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. The doctoral program builds on advanced chemical engineering coursework and substantial research, with areas including transport processes, thermodynamics, kinetics, sustainable energy, environmental systems, and health-related systems. WSU specifically states that current M.S. students who wish to continue to the Ph.D. can work with the Graduate Coordinator to transition into the doctoral program.