Chemical Engineering

General principles and applications: This research-based concentration is ideal if you plan to continue your studies toward a PhD or are interested in research careers. You’ll develop an in-depth understanding of chemical engineering’s fundamental principles and gain expertise in current field topics through elective courses.

The concentration allows you to select a thesis topic from current faculty research interests. Department research includes biomolecular and biomedical systems, complex and computational systems, energy and sustainability, engineering education and pedagogy, and materials and nanotechnology.

Sustainability: This course-focused concentration allows you to focus on meeting societal needs for improved energy storage and water delivery while considering impact and feasibility. You’ll examine materials, chemicals, energy, and the reactions produced.

Biosystems: Learn to utilize chemical engineering principles in biological applications to improve medicine and environmental systems. This course-focused concentration explores metabolic engineering and synthetic biology, mechanobiological networks, microfluidic systems, and more.

• Align your education with your career interests through a choice of three concentrations.
• Gain the flexibility to earn your degree part- or full-time.
• Engage in an industry-aligned curriculum grounded in common computational-based core coursework that brings you real-world mathematical tools, and a career skills seminar that helps you translate your new skills and knowledge to your resumé.
• Earn your degree from a leader. Northeastern’s College of Engineering was ranked #38 in U.S. News & World Report‘s 2024 list of the top graduate engineering schools.
• Learn from respected faculty. You’ll study with Young Investigator and National Science Foundation CAREER Award winners, as well as fellows of professional societies. Our faculty includes 28 tenured/tenure-track teaching professionals.
• Participate in research and co-op opportunities that leverage Boston’s influence in the sciences, including collaborations with neighboring universities, hospitals, medical centers, and industry.
• Gain up to eight months of professional work experience as part of your curriculum.
• Boost your qualifications with add-on certificates, such as the Gordon Engineering Leadership Certificate or nanomedicine.

Applications received after the stated deadline dates will be accepted and processed as quickly as possible; however it may not be possible to have a decision rendered in time for the applicant to begin taking classes for the desired term if admitted.

Applications submitted by the referenced dates will receive full consideration for the referenced term. Applications received after the referenced dates will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• Completed online application form

• Two letters of recommendation

• Transcripts from all institutions attended

• GRE is not required for terms starting during the 2023-2024 or 2024-2025 academic years

• Statement of purpose

• Resumé

• TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo for international applicants

• The application fee is waived for all new applicants applying to any of our Master of Science or Graduate Certificates for the fall 2025 and spring 2026 application terms.

The Master of Science in Chemical Engineering is normally pursued by students with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering or closely allied fields. Students wishing to pursue a master’s degree but with undergraduate educational backgrounds other than chemical engineering may be required to complete supplementary undergraduate coursework. These courses are in addition to the minimum course requirements.