The M.S. in Chemical Engineering features core chemical engineering courses, electives, and a concentrated research or independent study experience with the student’s faculty advisor. Electives may be focused in many special subjects, including bioengineering, environmental engineering, computer science, materials science, and manufacturing engineering. New initiatives are underway in the multidisciplinary area of environmental systems that should provide a wealth of opportunities to graduate students in chemical engineering.
Admission Requirements
Prospective students must hold a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Chemical Engineering. Additional coursework may be required for students without a BS degree in Chemical Engineering or for those who lack adequate preparation.
Degree Requirements
The MS in Chemical Engineering is a flexible and individually-structured program, determined by the student and his/her advisor. The MS can be a terminal degree or an introduction to research before pursuing the Ph.D. Students can choose between two-degree plans, designed to be completed in less than two years:
Plan 1
- Minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate study (24 credits of coursework, 6 credits of thesis, with at least 12 credits of coursework in chemical engineering)
- Master’s thesis defended in an oral examination
Plan 2
- Minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate study (27 credits of coursework, 3 credits of M.S. project, 15 credits in chemical engineering)
- Oral examination based on the independent study and the coursework
For more information, visit the Syracuse University Course Catalog and the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering webpage.
Employment Outcomes
Based on exit surveys from 2017, 2018 and 2019 Syracuse University Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering M.S. graduates.
- Companies that hire our graduates: AcrylChina, Anoplate Corporation, Aramco Performance Materials, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Duke University, FLSmidth Inc, Guangzhou Micro-shot Technology Co. Ltd., Indium Corporation, LumaCyte, Quadrant Biosciences, Vici Health Sciences
- In Summer 2018, students interned at: Bristol-Myers Squibb, ICIP Consulting, Lear Corporation
- Job location: 88% in the US, 12% outside of US
- Job location within the US: 71% in Syracuse/Central New York, 29% Other
- Job titles: Bioengineer, Downstream Research Scientist, Lab Scientist II, Laboratory technician, Process Engineer, Research Technician Intern, Technical Support Engineer, Application Engineer
- Base salary range: $45,000 – 104,999
- Median base salary range: $55,000 – 64,999
Alumni Profile
Siwen Wang G’19, Jilin City, China
Siwen came to the Syracuse masters in chemical engineering program with the intent to continue with a Ph.D. She joined Assistant Professor Jesse Bond’s research group where she worked on metal oxide design for heterogeneous catalysis. Her favorite graduate classes are Thermodynamics and Heterogeneous Catalysts since they were most relevant to her research interests. Upon completion of her master’s degree, she was accepted to the doctoral program, continuing her research in Bond’s lab. Her career goal is to work in academia.
Her tip for students who consider graduate studies in her program is to decide if they want to pursue a job or to continue their studies. This will help them decide which classes to take and whether to do a project or write a thesis. For those interested in pursuing a Ph.D., she recommends joining a research group as early as possible and striving for high grades.
Being from northeast China, Siwen loves the cold Syracuse winters, as well as the beautiful bright colors of flowers and leaves in the fall and spring. In her free time, she likes to cook and travel.