The Rice Master of Chemical Engineering is where engineers and scientists move into process, energy, materials and biotech careers. Shape your electives around the work you want to do and study full-time or part-time.
Chemical engineering grads can finish in two semesters, fall and spring. Coming from chemistry, bioengineering or another field? Foundational courses get you ready and can be waived with equivalent experience.
Put what you learn to work. Earn credit for a summer internship or take on an industry project during the semester. Get personalized support from the department and the Center for Career Development to help you land the role.
Houston's industry hub is right outside your door, spanning energy and sustainability, biotech and semiconductors. Your electives can take you into the energy transition, from carbon capture to energy storage and conversion. Meet companies like ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Dow and SLB at department networking events.
Rice MChE graduates pursue careers in energy (including oil and gas), pharmaceuticals, materials, medical and environmental industries. Professional development workshops with the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership build the communication, project management and leadership skills that help you move up.
Career paths:
Choose one of three focus areas and use your electives to build depth in the field you want to work in.
Model, simulate and optimize chemical processes with advanced computational and data methods.
Design the materials and processes behind energy storage, energy conversion and carbon management.
Engineer and model the biological processes that make medicines, fuels and chemicals.
The Master of Chemical Engineering requires 30 credit hours (10 courses) at the 500 level or above.
Earn credit for industry experience
A for-credit summer internship (ENGI 530) or an off-campus industry project (CHBE 695) lets you apply what you learn to real industry problems.
Representative courses:
A graduate core course in reactor design and catalysis. Work through reaction mechanisms, diffusion and reaction inside catalyst pellets and fixed-bed reactor design.
Learn software development, data science and machine learning methods for science and engineering, then apply them to energy problems.
Apply thermodynamics, reaction kinetics and transport to conventional and renewable energy systems. Analyze efficiency limits, energy sources from fossil fuels to solar, wind, geothermal and energy storage.
Learn the engineering behind the shift to low-carbon energy, from how energy resources are produced to methods for decarbonizing major energy sectors and metrics that track the pace of change.
Applicants should prepare:
We welcome applicants from engineering and science backgrounds, such as bioengineering and chemistry. Students without a degree in chemical engineering may need to take foundational courses first, which can be waived with equivalent coursework or work experience.
Merit-based scholarships are available, up to 25% of MChE tuition for students. Additionally, U.S. citizens and permanent residents may also explore loans and other financial resources through the Rice Office of Financial Aid.
Explore Tuition & Financial ResourcesThe Rice MCEE is a non-thesis master's degree program designed for engineers entering industry.
Structural Engineering and Resilient Civil Infrastructure focuses on designing buildings, bridges and other infrastructure to withstand earthquakes, hurricanes and floods.
Environmental Engineering, Sustainability and Climate Resilience focuses on protecting water, air and soil and cleaning up contamination.
Both follow the same structure: six core courses, electives, a seminar and a final project. Prerequisites differ by specialization.
The MCEE is built on coursework and a final project for careers in industry. The MS and PhD are research degrees that require a thesis.
As little as one year full-time. Part-time students take longer.
Yes. You can enroll full-time or part-time.
No. Graduates with a BS or BA in any field of engineering or a related field may apply, including environmental science, chemistry and bioscience. Some students may need prerequisite courses depending on their background.
No. It is strongly recommended, but not required.
No. However, the Center for Career Development (CCD) supports graduate students at every stage of their career journey, from identifying professional goals to navigating the job market. CCD services include one-on-one career coaching, resume and CV review, interview preparation and access to Rice's global alumni and employer network.
Yes. Every applicant is considered for a merit-based scholarship of up to $30,000 toward tuition. Offers are made on a rolling basis.
Yes. The spring applications are due October 15 and fall applications are due December 15.
Up to 6 credit hours (two courses) from accredited programs offered at universities of similar standing may be applied.
Registration for new students begins during orientation week via Esther. Your login information will be sent from graduate@rice.edu once your application is processed.
You’re billed for tuition and fees when you register. Rice offers a payment plan that spreads payments across the semester. See the Bursar's Office for details.
For more detailed information about admissions, please visit Graduate Admissions (opens in a new tab) .
Applications open September 1. Offers and scholarships are made on a rolling basis, so apply early.
| Start term | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Spring 2027 | October 15, 2026 |
| Fall 2027 | December 15, 2026 |
Resilient cities need engineers who know how to build and protect them. Apply by December 15 to start in fall 2027.
Have questions?
Join an information session, request more information or contact us at mcee@rice.edu.
