Get a Master's in Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineers study the application of chemical principles to industrial processes and are responsible for at least one aspect of almost every engineered design, process, and product. Experts in the field are needed in a variety of areas including food production, health technologies and biomedicine, nuclear technologies, alternative energy, and computer technology. A master’s in chemical engineering from Florida Tech provides graduates with advanced expertise for a career engineering innovative products and solutions.

Close-Knit Learning Environment

Through advanced research and fieldwork, students pursuing a master’s in chemical engineering work with faculty to develop innovative solutions for today’s complex challenges. Small class sizes and dedicated faculty allow for individualized mentoring as well as the opportunity to build a lifelong network of fellow chemical engineering professionals. Florida Tech’s sought-after learning environment stimulates intellectual curiosity and encourages creative interaction between students and faculty. It also provides opportunities to obtain real-world knowledge and skills beyond those obtained in the classroom.

Advanced Research

As a leading research university, Florida Tech boasts state-of-the-art engineering, physical sciences, and life sciences facilities. Candidates also have access to cutting-edge research facilities. Past research studies have included alternative food production methods, space exploration modeling, bioreactor development and more. Students often submit research to leading engineering journals and present research findings at industry conferences.

What makes the Florida Tech academic environment unique is the extraordinary emphasis put on research and collaborative learning. From fieldwork, faculty-led research opportunities, internships, and assistantships to peer networking, one-on-one mentorship and more, Florida Tech’s focus on a diversified learning environment has proven successful for graduates to succeed.

Customized Degree Options

The opportunity to specialize in unique and exciting subfields of chemical engineering helps students tailor their education based on their professional aspirations. Students in the chemical engineering master’s program may choose to specialize in:

• Environmental engineering
• Materials synthesis
• Processing and characterization
• Transport and separation processes
• Computer-aided modeling
• Processing and control
• Hydrogen and fuel cell technology
• Biomaterials and tissue engineering

Dedicated, Experienced Faculty

Florida Tech is a top chemical engineering master’s program because the department faculty has not changed for more than ten years. This consistency and stability, combined with a small student-to-faculty ratio, allows professors to develop a close learning environment to mentor graduate students. The faculty has earned numerous teaching and service awards from the students, as well as high ratings in student surveys. Professors are engaged in their own research and bring to the classroom their years of industry knowledge and expertise.

State-of-the-Art Laboratories and Facilities

Florida Tech’s chemical engineering master’s program features state-of-the-art laboratories located in the F.W. Olin Building, accommodating engineering, the physical sciences, and the life sciences. The Nanoscience–Nanotechnology Lab was recently developed by faculty from the chemical engineering and chemistry departments with grants from the National Science Foundation, and is already a valuable asset to the students at Florida Tech. Additionally, students have access to regional facilities including the Florida Solar Energy Center, NASA Kennedy Space Center, and Cape Canaveral for chemical engineering internships or special research projects.

Located in the Heart of Florida’s High-tech Corridor

Florida Tech is the perfect place for a chemical engineering degree. The 130-acre campus is located on the Space Coast (so named because of the presence of NASA and the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral just north of us). The area has the fifth largest high-tech workforce in the country, with more than 5,000 high-tech corporations and government and military organizations located nearby, providing an abundance of internship and employment opportunities.

Florida Tech is just over the causeway from the Atlantic Ocean with its 72 miles of beautiful beaches, and a short trip to the Florida Keys or the Orlando theme parks. We also have a rich campus life that includes a wide range of intramural and collegiate sports, clubs, and social activities.

Research is the heart and soul of the program and students combine classroom learning with hands-on fieldwork that reflects the kind of work they can expect to do once they begin their career.

Example of research activities include:

• Reverse osmosis
• Materials synthesis, characterization, and failure prevention
• Transport and separation processes
• Computer-aided modeling, processing, and control

Florida Tech students work alongside faculty and fellow students in laboratories across campus to hone in on a variety of subfields, ensuring that their degree focuses on the topics that most interest them. Topics past graduates have chosen for research include:

• Hydrogen vehicles
• Alternative food production methods
• Bioreactor development to produce micro-algae
• Alternative hydrogen purification methods
• Space exploration modeling
• Materials processing and characterization

Graduate students have published their research from chemical engineering internships and research collaborations in leading journals such as Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, Chemical Engineering Journal, and the Journal of Chemical Physics.

They also present research findings at leading chemical engineering conferences such as:

• American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) National Meetings
• Biennial Conference on Chemical Education
• Biophysics Society Conference
• Florida Academy of Sciences Conference
• International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites
• International Conference on Porous Media

American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)

The American Institute of Chemical Engineers is the largest organization of chemical engineering experts in the world. Membership in Florida Tech’s student chapter exposes students to a wealth of knowledge including groundbreaking research and access to well-respected thought-leaders in the field.

As acknowledged by the National AIChE Student Chapter Committee, Florida Tech students stand at the top of the list of most awarded chemical engineering schools in the nation. This milestone is significant when considering that the student body represents about 0.3% of all chemical engineering students in the United States.

Careers in chemical engineering are extremely diverse, and this is one of the main advantages to a degree in the field. Chemical engineers have a role in just about every industry and can collaborate with other scientists and engineers, including medical doctors in biomedical applications.

Because of this, a high demand exists for chemical engineers in the marketplace. Over the last 100 years, chemical engineers have been integral in the advances of products and services such as fuel refining, water supply distribution, environmental protection, innovations in food processing and packaging, nuclear technologies, alternative fuels, space technology and exploration, microchips, and so much more.

Excellent Career Potential

Graduates find a wide range of career options with a degree from Florida Tech’s chemical engineering master’s program. Chemical engineers work in industries related to manufacturing products, as well as newer fields that include nanotechnology, alternative energy, and biotechnology. Demand for chemical engineers is growing as these new fields expand and the world demands emerging technology.

Career Outlook

Graduates with a master’s in chemical engineering find careers in energy, electronics, food and clothing, healthcare, biotechnology, and industry.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, provides detailed information about specific jobs including median annual pay, working conditions and job outlook, among other things. According to the bureau, employment of chemical engineers is projected to grow through 2020. Employment in the manufacturing sector is projected to grow at a moderate pace, while the new market segments of nanotechnology, alternative energy and biotechnology are projected to have higher employment. Food production, aerospace and pharmaceutical are other industries with job opportunity.

Career Specialization

Specializations for the master’s in chemical engineering degree creates subject matter experts in topics that align with career goals including:

• Environmental engineering
• Materials synthesis
• Computer-aided modeling
• Processing and control
• Processing and characterization
• Hydrogen and fuel cell technology
• Transport and separation processes
• Biomaterials and tissue engineering

Career Options

Careers in chemical engineering include:

• Chemical engineer
• Biomedical engineer
• Chemical technician
• Chemist
• Product development engineer
• Process engineer
• Materials scientist
• Nuclear engineer
• Research engineer
• Petroleum engineer

Potential Employers

Past graduates have found positions with the following organizations:

• NASA
• Lockheed Martin
• Kraft Foods
• Tropicana
• Pfizer
• Procter & Gamble
• IBM
• Intersil
• Baker Hughes
• Mobil
• BP
• Environmental Protection Agency

Doctoral Program

Graduates from the chemical engineering master’s program are ready to enter the workforce or pursue a doctoral degree at Florida Tech. The program is designed for further research and specialization. Graduates with a PhD become subject matter experts, increasing their earning potential and leadership opportunities in their career.