Look around you; nearly everything you see was made in part by a chemical engineer. Focused on creating the future, our chemical engineers are revolutionizing the field of health and medicine, reducing atmospheric pollution, improving climate modeling, and paving the way for a more energy-efficient and sustainable future.

US News and World Report ranking graphic - College of Engineering #5

One of the nation’s premier programs, CMU's College of Engineering ranks 5th on U.S. News and World Report’s list of best graduate programs.

How to apply

A one-of-a-kind computational focus

The Master of Science (MS) and Master of Chemical Engineering (MChE) programs have a unique computational focus, preparing students in core areas of chemical engineering, such as reactor engineering, process systems and transport phenomena. The goal of our MS and MChE programs is to produce skilled engineers who will have a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of chemical engineering and a broad set of professional skills and exposure to other technical disciplines.

Endless opportunities

The chemical engineering department's unrivaled computational expertise provides our students with the opportunity to learn cutting-edge techniques that are already revolutionizing the fields of materials and chemical discovery, among others. This unique feature is one of the reasons our graduates are some of the most sought-after candidates in both industry and academia.

Graduates go on to work at companies such as:

company logos - Amazon, Exxon Mobile, Intel, Merck
graphic: salary range - $50,000 to $140,000, mean salary - $83,621

* Based on survey results from program graduates

photo of Sumedh Beknalkar with quote "Graduates from the program are chemical engineers with excellent programming skills, which gives us a significant edge over graduates from other programs across the country. The MS program provided me with skills and experience to land the role of engineer in the R&D department at Aspen Technology, Inc., and subsequently pursue a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at North Carolina State University. More importantly, the program has provided me with life-long mentors, including Dr. Aditya Khair, who continue to guide me in my professional endeavors."
photo of Soumyajit Chowdhuri with quote "I am currently working as a process engineer for the drug product development team at the mRNA center of excellence at Sanofi. The amazing professors, brilliant peers, and great courses in the MS program have helped me succeed in this role. The program also enabled me to develop a sharp problem solving mindset, which regularly comes in handy in the process development world."

Industry-relevant curriculum

Our Master of Science and Master of Chemical Engineering degree programs provide students with a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of chemical engineering with a focus on problem-solving and mathematical modeling. The core curriculum is designed to enhance the skills of bachelor's-level chemical engineering, providing the tools and knowledge to model and solve complex real-world scenarios.

You can personalize your master's experience with curated electives that fit seamlessly into our curriculum.

Photo of Jeff Liu with quote “One of the most unique aspects of the MChE program is its emphasis on both theoretical learning and practical application and problem-solving. The extensive industry experience of faculty members made the courses incredibly engaging and relevant. The skills and knowledge I gained, especially in mathematical programming and process systems engineering, have proved invaluable in my current position as a research scientist at Amazon.”

Master of Science

The MS program supports both full and part-time students. Completing the degree requires the equivalent of four full-time semesters; however, some students are able to finish the degree in as few as three semesters.

  • Core courses (4) - Core courses designed specifically for the program
  • Electives (Min. 2) - Students may select courses from all areas of the College
  • Independent Project (6-course equivalent) - Students work with a research mentor

Students in the MS program complete a three-semester independent project working closely with a research group in the department. These projects are designed to provide students with exposure to one of the sub-disciplines of Chemical Engineering.

Master of Chemical Engineering

The MChE program can be completed either full-time or part-time. Full-time students typically complete the degree program in 2 semesters.

  • Core courses (4)
  • Electives (4)

Electives and independent project work provide exposure to the most current exciting areas of engineering and problem-solving.

Learn more about about the MChE and MS program degree requirements.

Learn more and apply!

 

Admissions

The MS and MChE programs are designed for engineering students interested in focusing on the highly versatile core expertise of chemical engineering. Students from any engineering discipline are well prepared. Students from science or other technical backgrounds should be ready to demonstrate mathematical skills to be competitive.

Carnegie Mellon University

Located in the heart of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon is a private, global research university, that stands among the world’s most renowned educational institutions.

With cutting-edge brain science, path-breaking performances, innovative start-ups, driverless cars, big data, big ambitions, Nobel and Turing prizes, hands-on learning, and a whole lot of robots, CMU doesn't imagine the future, we create it.