Master of Science in Chemical Engineering

Cleveland State University's graduate program in chemical engineering is designed to provide students with advanced skills to apply engineering analysis and design to the solution of problems involving the production or use of chemicals.  Chemical engineers design equipment and processes for large-scale chemical manufacturing, plan and test methods of manufacturing products and treating byproducts, and supervise production. Chemical engineers also work in a variety of manufacturing industries other than chemical manufacturing, such as those producing energy, electronics, food, clothing, and paper. They also work in health care, biotechnology, and business services.  Upon completion of the MS Chemical Engineering program, students will be prepared to work in any of these fields or to continue their education at the doctoral level.

The program provides a foundation built on fundamentals of Thermodynamics and Transport Phenomena.  The program offers three tracks: a thesis track, a design track, and a course-only track.  In-depth study of a specific research topic with a faculty mentor is conducted in the thesis track.  Students in the project or thesis track gain breadth of knowledge by taking a wider variety of courses.  The MS program can be pursued on either a full-time or part-time basis, with most courses offered during the evening.  Full-time students can complete the program in two years.

Admission Requirements

  • Application Form
  • Application Fee
  • Undergraduate Transcripts
    • Minimum 2.75 Undergraduate GPA
  • Two Letters of Recommendation
  • GRE Test Scores

    • The GRE General section is required if one or more of the following conditions is true:

    • An unaccredited college or university awarded the undergraduate degree.
    • The student's undergraduate cumulative grade-point average is below 2.75.
    • The year of the baccalaureate degree precedes the date of application to the College of Graduate
      Studies by more than six years; however, in this case, the examination requirement may be waived, with program approval, if the applicant's undergraduate grade-point average is 3.0 or above.

      • If the GRE is required, a minimum score at the 80th percentile on the Quantitative section, and a score of 3.5 or higher in the Analytical Writing Qualitative section, are typically required.

*Admission to the program is based on a combination of a candidate’s undergraduate GPA and the GRE score.  

-International students are required to have met at least one of the following English language proficiency requirements:

  • TOEFL iBT (Internet-Based): 78 (with at least 20 in reading, 21 in listening, 17 in writing, and 20 in speaking)
  • TOEFL PBT (Paper-Based): 550
  • IELTS: 6.0 and at least 5.0 in each section
  • PTE (Pearson’s Test of English): 50
  • iTEP: 3.8

Admission Deadlines

All applications must be submitted and complete on the following application deadline dates:

  • Domestic Students
    • Rolling
  • International Students
    • Fall Semester - July 21st
    • Spring Semester - December 10th

 

Program Requirements

Graduate students who have an undergraduate background in a field other than chemical engineering are required to enroll in the Preparatory Program. This program is intended to prepare students for graduate courses in chemical engineering.

The Program Consists of Course Work in the Following Areas: 

  • CHE 300 Chemical Engineering Principles (4 credits) (Offered Spring semester only)
  • CHE 302 Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (4 credits) (Offered fall semester only) Prerequisite: CHE 300
  • CHE 306 Transport Phenomena (4 credits) (Offered fall semester only) Prerequisite: CHE 300
  • CHE 404 Chemical Reactor Design (4 credits) Prerequisites: CHE 302 and CHE 306, or equivalents (Offered spring semester only)
  • CHE 408 Separation Processes (4 credits) Prerequisites: CHE 302 and CHE 306 (Offered spring semester only)
  • CHE 502 - Advanced Thermodynamics (4 credits)
  • CHE 506 - Advanced Transport Phenomena (4 credits)
  • CHE 504 - Advanced Reactor Design (4 credits) or CHE 508 - Advanced Separation Processes (4 credits) 

A minimum of nine credits of graduate elective courses from the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, subject to advisor approval

Thesis Option

The student plans and completes a research project, which may lead to publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, under the direction of a faculty advisor. This option is designed for the student who wants extensive research experience and a focus within a particular field. The student must complete a minimum of nine credits of CHE 699 Master's Thesis. Three credits of ESC 720 Research Communications may be taken in lieu of 3 credits of CHE 699. Three credits of CHE 698 Master's Project may also be taken in lieu of 3 credits of CHE 699. Prior to the student's thesis defense (usually one semester in advance), the student is required to give a public presentation on their research, either in a department seminar, or at a regional, national, or international symposium. Students are required to take CHE 650 - Chemical Engineering Seminar (for 0 credits) each semester while enrolled in CHE 699.

Project Option

The student completes a research project under the direction of a faculty advisor. The student must complete a three-credit project (CHE 698) and six (6) additional credits of chemical (CHE XXX) and/or biomedical (BME XXX) engineering graduate electives. This option is designed to provide the student with a broader education in chemical engineering, as well as to expose the student to modern research techniques in the discipline. A public presentation of the student's research is required upon completion of the project.

Course-Only Option

The student must complete twelve (12) additional credits of chemical (CHE XXX) and/or biomedical (BME XXX) engineering graduate electives. This option is designed to provide the student with a broader education in chemical engineering, as well as other interdisciplinary areas for chemical engineering professionals.

 

Did You Know?

The median annual wage for chemical engineers was $104,910 in May 2018.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

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Career Outcomes

  • Manufacturing is the primary economic sector in the region, and the region is home to the headquarters of eleven companies on the Fortune 500 list, all of which employ chemical engineers.
  • These Fortune 500 Companies are hiring CSU grads: Parker Hannifin, Lubrizol, Sherwin-Williams, Ferro, Goodyear Tire and Rubber, and Lincoln Electric.