MS Chemical Engineering

2 Year On Campus Masters Program

Syracuse University

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Chemical Engineering at Syracuse University is a graduate program designed for students seeking advanced training in chemical engineering through coursework combined with either a research thesis or an independent M.S. project. Students develop deeper expertise in chemical engineering while working toward applications in areas such as chemical processing, biotechnology, materials, energy, pharmaceuticals, and environmental engineering.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1: Students build advanced chemical-engineering knowledge through graduate coursework and can shape their studies around their professional or research interests. The program offers two pathways: Plan 1, with 24 coursework credits and 6 thesis credits including at least 12 chemical-engineering credits, or Plan 2, with 27 coursework credits and a 3-credit M.S. project including 15 chemical-engineering credits.

Year 2: For students following the longer research-oriented route, study can progress toward an independent research project and oral examination, while the thesis option culminates in a defended Master’s Thesis. Relevant graduate-level chemical-engineering study includes subjects such as Chemical Reaction Engineering (CEN 587), which covers reactor sizing, kinetics, rate laws, and heterogeneous reactor design, and Recent Advances in Chemical Engineering (CEN 590), which explores current research and emerging areas of chemical engineering.

Focus areas: Chemical reaction engineering, biochemical engineering, materials characterization, environmental engineering, process design, biomedical applications, catalysis, energy, and advanced chemical-engineering research.

Learning outcomes: Graduates develop advanced technical knowledge, research and independent-study skills, analytical problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to apply chemical-engineering principles to industrial and research problems. The thesis/project structure also develops scientific communication through independent work and oral examination.

Professional alignment (accreditation): The Syracuse M.S. in Chemical Engineering is a graduate program, while the university specifically identifies ABET accreditation for its B.S. in Chemical Engineering; the official graduate program page does not state that the M.S. itself is ABET-accredited.

Reputation (employability): Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science reports a 94% placement rate for career and advanced-degree outcomes for the Class of 2025 and an average starting salary of $79,204 across ECS graduates; for the combined Biomedical and Chemical Engineering category, the university reports an average starting salary of $79,650.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The M.S. in Chemical Engineering at Syracuse University combines advanced coursework with a focused research or independent-study experience under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Students can choose a thesis-based pathway involving 6 credits of thesis research or an M.S. project pathway involving independent study, allowing them to apply chemical engineering concepts to research problems rather than relying solely on classroom learning. The program also supports interdisciplinary work through areas such as biomedical and biomolecular engineering, environmental engineering and sustainability, computer science and data analytics, materials science, and manufacturing engineering.

Hands-on opportunities and research resources include:

Thesis research: Plan 1 includes 24 credits of coursework and 6 thesis credits, culminating in a master's thesis and oral defense, giving students an extended opportunity to conduct supervised research.
Independent project: Plan 2 includes 27 coursework credits and a 3-credit M.S. project, with an oral examination based on the independent study and coursework.
Faculty research groups: Students work closely with faculty advisors and can participate in research connected to sustainable energy, resilient infrastructure, next-generation materials, biomedical engineering, environmental systems, and related chemical-engineering challenges.
Chemical Engineering Lab: Syracuse provides a dedicated Chemical Engineering Lab, giving students access to program-specific laboratory space for engineering education and practical work. The College of Engineering and Computer Science also provides a virtual lab-tour resource featuring the Chemical Engineering Lab.
Advanced research facilities: Graduate students benefit from Syracuse University's broader research infrastructure, including specialized laboratories, collaborative research centers, and equipment supporting interdisciplinary research.
Environmental and energy research: The program connects students with the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems and energy- and materials-focused research initiatives, providing opportunities to work on sustainability and environmental engineering problems.
Infrastructure research: The Syracuse University Infrastructure Institute is part of the program's research ecosystem, supporting interdisciplinary work related to resilient infrastructure and engineering systems.
Materials and manufacturing: Students can direct electives and research toward materials science and manufacturing engineering, while Syracuse's College of Engineering and Computer Science is developing the Center for Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing in the Life Sciences Complex, featuring robotics and Industry 5.0 technology.
Interdisciplinary research environment: Syracuse identifies itself as an R1 research institution, and its graduate research model emphasizes close faculty mentorship, specialized facilities, and collaborative research projects.
Industry-facing outcomes: The program reports graduates working in organizations including Intel, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Avantor, Boehringer Ingelheim, Lotte Biologics, and Aramco Performance Materials, demonstrating the connection between the program's technical preparation and chemical, pharmaceutical, materials, and engineering industries.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The MS in Chemical Engineering combines advanced coursework with either a research thesis or an independent M.S. project, preparing graduates for technical roles across chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, materials, and manufacturing industries. Syracuse University reports MS Chemical Engineering graduates working in positions such as Chemical Engineer, Process Engineer, Downstream Research Scientist, Lab Scientist II, Technical Support Engineer, and Application Engineer, with employers including Novo Nordisk, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Intel, Avantor, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Bausch and Lomb.

Typical career roles: Chemical Engineer, Process Engineer, Research Scientist, Application Engineer: these roles can span process development, laboratory research, technical applications, pharmaceutical manufacturing, materials, and related engineering functions.

Career services: Syracuse University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science Career Services provides workshops, seminars, office hours, drop-in advising, career fairs, employer information sessions, lobby tabling, and on-campus interviewing. The university also provides personalized career guidance, internship and co-op support, networking opportunities, resume preparation, and workplace skill development.
Employment outcomes: Syracuse reports that 88% of MS Chemical Engineering graduates are located in the U.S. and 12% outside the U.S., with 71% of U.S.-based graduates located in Syracuse/Central New York and 29% elsewhere. Reported MS Chemical Engineering salary data shows a $70,000–$104,999 base-salary range and a $75,000–$79,999 median base-salary range.
Employer connections: The program identifies employers of its graduates including AcrylChina, Anoplate Corporation, Aramco Performance Materials, Avantor, Bausch and Lomb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Indium Corporation, Intel, KLS Martin Group, Lotte Biologics, Novo Nordisk, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Rich Products Corporation, and United Foods Corporation.
Industry engagement: ECS Career Services maintains relationships with industry leaders through information sessions, career fairs, employer events, on-campus interviewing, and its Employer Partnership Program. For 2026–27, Syracuse lists Micron, Clean Harbors, and the New York State Department of Transportation among its employer partners; these are ECS-wide employer relationships rather than partnerships stated specifically for the MS Chemical Engineering program.
Research-to-career pathway: The MS offers a thesis option involving 24 credits of coursework and 6 thesis credits, or a project option involving 27 credits of coursework and a 3-credit M.S. project. The program also connects students with research ecosystems such as the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems, Syracuse University Infrastructure Institute, and NSF-supported energy and materials initiatives.
Accreditation value: Syracuse’s B.S. in Chemical Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the Chemical, Biochemical, Biomolecular and Similarly Named Engineering Programs criteria. The university’s official accreditation page identifies this accreditation specifically for the B.S.; it does not state that the MS Chemical Engineering itself is ABET-accredited.
Graduation outcomes: Syracuse reports an average starting salary of $79,650 for its broader Biomedical and Chemical Engineering graduate category and lists employers including Abbott, Boston Scientific, Brainlab, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Procter & Gamble, Regeneron, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. The MS-specific outcomes page provides the more directly applicable $70,000–$104,999 salary range and $75,000–$79,999 median range noted above.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into doctoral study in chemical engineering or related research areas, particularly through the program’s thesis and faculty-mentored research pathway. Syracuse’s official MS Chemical Engineering page documents an alumnus who joined a faculty research group working on metal-oxide design for heterogeneous catalysis and subsequently entered a Ph.D. program, demonstrating a direct progression from the master’s degree into doctoral research.