Graduate Studies
The graduate program in the Department of Chemical Engineering offers students the opportunity to work on cutting-edge research that tackles pressing challenges facing our society and our planet in areas such as biomedicine, energy, security, and sustainability.
Students develop an in-depth understanding of the principles of chemical engineering through core coursework and applied electives, while gaining career experience through laboratory research or co-op.
Chemical Engineering master’s students can select research-based (thesis) and course-based degree options. The MS in Pharmaceutical Engineering offers coursework and rich experiential learning.
The department’s research areas include Biomolecular and Biomedical Systems; Complex and Computational Systems; Energy and Sustainability; Engineering Education and Pedagogy; and Materials and Nanotechnology. Graduate students are able to select thesis topics from a diverse range of faculty research interests.
The overarching goal of the rich research and educational experience is to mentor and to equip our students to become future leaders in engineering and science, while simultaneously promoting scholarly achievement for both the faculty and students.
Full-Time and Part-Time Options
The PhD in Chemical Engineering degree is offered as a full-time program. The non-thesis MS Chemical Engineering degree is offered as either a full-time or part-time program to make it more accessible to students pursuing concurrent industrial careers. The MS in Pharmaceutical Engineering is a full time program.
Students pursuing the non-thesis MS in Chemical Engineering degree may, in exceptional cases, apply and seek admission to pursue a thesis MS degree following their first term of enrollment in the graduate program; if admitted, the thesis MS degree is offered only as a full-time program.
Both full-time Chemical Engineering Master of Science degree and Doctoral students are able to select thesis topics from a diverse range of faculty research interests.
The Graduate Dissertation Completion Fellowships provides PhD candidates who are nearing completion of their dissertation the financial support to spend their final semester writing.
Cooperative Education
Northeastern is a leader in experiential learning and is one of only a few that offer a cooperative education program for graduate students. Cooperative education at the graduate level is not just a way for students to gain real world experience, but it is also a way to challenge, network, expand and fine-tune their knowledge within their respective industry, and foster career development, while helping to finance their education.
Located in Hub of Innovation
With a premier location in downtown Boston, a hub of high tech, biotech, and medical and pharmaceutical institutions, including world-renowned hospitals, research in the department leverages the wealth of collaborations with neighboring universities, hospitals, medical centers and industry. New or prospective graduate students can learn about ongoing research topics from individual faculty members, faculty web sites and graduate student seminars. Graduate student seminars, where our students present the results of their research, are held on a regular basis and provide an interactive forum for learning and exchanging ideas.