About the Program
Answers to questions students ask about the Master of Science program.
What type of students do you look for?
To be admitted to our MS program, students must demonstrate B-average or better performance in a science or engineering undergraduate curriculum. In addition to undergraduate GPA, the MS admissions committee also considers GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. All MS applicants are expected to have completed:
- General Chemistry I and II
- Calculus I, Calculus II, Calculus III (multi-variable calculus)
- An Ordinary Differential Equations Course
While most applicants for the MS program have an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering, this is not necessarily a requirement. The field of chemical engineering is broad in scope, so we encourage applicants who hold undergraduate degrees in chemistry, polymer science, physics, materials science, or any engineering discipline to apply.
The program for each student is adapted to his or her previous training; students admitted without a chemical engineering undergraduate degree are normally required to participate in the Scientist to Engineer (S2E) program. This special program saves the MS student both the time and expense of the undergraduate chemical engineering program.
May I provide you with any background information about myself, such as GPA, education/experience, and or test score results to learn about my chances for admission or the possibility for financial aid before applying?
Unfortunately, we cannot evaluate your candidacy prior to submission of a complete application. There is no specific cutoff for standardized test scores or GPA. If you are interested in admission we encourage you to submit a complete application. Columbia Engineering’s Office of Graduate Student Affairs (GSA) handles all graduate applications.
Be sure to review Chemical Engineering MS program requirements before you apply.
Questions about the MS Express application requirements? Visit the GSA site.
Am I more likely to be admitted if I apply via the MS Express track? Or does it just make the application process faster?
For those eligible, the MS Express track allows for ease of application, sometimes making it faster to apply this way. MS Express only accepts students enrolled in certain schools. Find out if your school is one of them.
Questions about the MS Express application requirements should be directed to Columbia Engineering's Office of Graduate Student Affairs (GSA). You will also find an application on their site.
Do you recommend preparatory chemistry classes?
All MS applicants are expected to have completed General Chemistry I and II. Physical Chemistry is a recommended course, but not required.
Are there any specific pre-requisite courses I need to have taken before applying?
Most applicants for the MS program have an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering and are expected to have completed:
- General Chemistry I and II
- Calculus I, Calculus II, Calculus III (multi-variable calculus)
- An Ordinary Differential Equations Course
Students admitted without a chemical engineering undergraduate degree are normally required to participate in the Scientist to Engineer (S2E) program. S2E students must complete the following courses in their first semester:
- CHEN E4001, Essentials of Chemical Engineering A, and
- CHEN E4002, Essentials of Chemical Engineering B
These courses cover essentials from the undergraduate chemical engineering curriculum in an intensive, accelerated way in 6 credits.
Is there a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) for application?
To be admitted to our Master of Science program, students must demonstrate B-average or better performance in a science or engineering undergraduate curriculum.
Is work experience required?
While not required for MS applicants, we do recommend that prospective students have some professional experience, either in the form of a full time position or an internship.