Master’s program · Rossin College of Engineering
Master of Engineering in Biological Chemical Engineering
The Master of Engineering in Biological Chemical Engineering at Lehigh University prepares graduates from chemical engineering, the fundamental sciences and related engineering fields to excel in the biopharmaceutical and biomolecular industries.
- Credits30
- Typical length1.5–2 years
- DeliveryOn campus, hybrid or fully online
- Degree awardedMaster of Engineering
- GRENeither accepted nor reviewed
On this page
Overview
What the Master of Engineering in Biological Chemical Engineering is
Drug and biologic development is decided as much by cost and performance as by science. This degree teaches you to identify, evaluate and manage those decisions through the major stages of large-scale development, drawing on chemical engineering, biotechnology, chemistry and biology together rather than one at a time.
Because the electives are divided evenly among three disciplines, the degree suits students trained in any of them, or in physics or a related engineering field, who want working fluency in the other two.
A 30-credit degree, typically 1.5–2 years of full-time study, delivered on campus, hybrid or fully online.
Research areas
Research that shapes the field
The department’s research areas address some of the largest and most complex problems in science and industry: creating new medicines and biological technologies, meeting energy needs while protecting the environment, building materials with new capabilities, and using data and computation to run complex processes well. Master’s students encounter this work through their electives and the faculty who teach them.
Biomolecular Science and Engineering
Turning a biological discovery into a product people can use takes a deep understanding of molecules, cells and the processes that produce them. This area connects that science to engineering, and it is the closest match to the biotechnology courses at the center of this degree.
Energy and the Environment
Producing and using energy cleanly is a challenge that spans every industry, including the manufacture of medicines. Work in this area applies chemical engineering to energy conversion and to limiting environmental harm.
Materials and Interfaces
Drug formulations, delivery systems and many other products depend on how materials behave at tiny scales and at surfaces. This area studies functional nanomaterials and the colloids, emulsions and interfaces that determine how mixtures behave.
Focus topics: Functional Materials and Nanotechnology, Colloids, Emulsions, and Interfacial Science.
Computations, Systems, and Machine Learning
Large-scale processes generate more data and more interacting variables than people can track unaided. This area applies simulation, systems thinking and machine learning to predict, control and improve them.
Curriculum
What you study
The degree requires 30 graduate credits in four parts: a 12-credit core, then 6 credits each of electives in chemical engineering, chemistry and biology.
- Core courses, 12 credits. Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (CHE 400), Chemical Reaction Engineering (CHE 410), Biotechnology I (CHE 441) and Biotechnology II (CHE 442). Every student takes all four.
- Chemical engineering electives, 6 credits. Courses in chemical engineering at the 300 or 400 level. CHE 455 Seminar (1 credit) may be included, up to 3 credits in total.
- Chemistry electives, 6 credits. Chemistry (CHM) courses at the 300 or 400 level.
- Biology electives, 6 credits. Biology (BIOS) courses at the 300 or 400 level.
- Thesis and exams. The degree is completed through coursework. No thesis and no comprehensive exam are required.
- Course-level rules. At least 24 credits must be at the 300 and 400 level, with at least 18 of them at the 400 level. At least 18 credits must be in chemical engineering (CHE), with at least 15 of them at the 400 level. You need a B- or better in at least 18 credits of your program and in every 300-level course in your major field, and no course graded below C- counts toward the degree. Courses with an ESLP or EAPC subject code, CHE 300, CHE 379, CHE 380, and doctoral-only 400-level courses cannot be counted.
| Code | Course | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| CHE 400 | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics | Applications of thermodynamics in chemical engineering. |
| CHE 410 | Chemical Reaction Engineering | Chemical kinetics and reactor design. |
| CHE 441 | Biotechnology I | Graduate biotechnology, part I. |
| CHE 442 | Biotechnology II | Graduate biotechnology, part II. |
The Lehigh University Course Catalog is the official source for degree requirements, and requirements can change from year to year. Confirm your own plan against the catalog listing below and with your academic advisor.
Careers
Where graduates work
Lehigh chemical engineering alumni build careers in the life sciences and across industry.
Among Lehigh chemical engineering alumni, the life sciences are the most common field, followed by manufacturing, information technology, education, natural resources and healthcare. Typical roles include process engineer, research scientist, principal scientist, research engineer and process control engineer, and many alumni later become engineering directors, founders and executives.
Employers where our alumni most often work include:
- Merck
- Air Products
- ExxonMobil
- Regeneron
- Intel
- Linde
- Bristol Myers Squibb
- Honeywell
Alumni also work at PBF Energy, Dow, Brooks Instrument, Lummus Technology, The Lubrizol, SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation) For Petrochemical and EMD Electronics.
Based on current employers of Lehigh chemical engineering alumni who graduated between 1996 and 2025. Class of 2025 master’s graduates across the Rossin College averaged $100,000 in starting salary.
Tuition and funding
What it costs, and what help is available
Base tuition for this 30-credit degree is $52,050.
- Qualified applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships as high as 20% of tuition, with no separate application required.
- International students are considered on the same basis as domestic applicants.
- Partial merit-based and tuition scholarships are available. Employees of EdAssist-affiliated companies are eligible for a 20% tuition discount on this program.
How to apply
What a complete application needs
- Academic record
An undergraduate degree in chemistry, biology, physics or chemical engineering, or in another related engineering discipline. Applicants need a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and a GPA of 3.0 or higher for the last two semesters of undergraduate study. You will also submit official transcripts, a personal statement, a resume, and letters of recommendation.
- Holistic review
The graduate program director reviews each application as a whole, in consultation with program faculty.
- GRE
GRE scores are neither accepted nor reviewed.
- English proficiency
International applicants submit a TOEFL iBT, IELTS, Duolingo, Cambridge English or Pearson Test of English score that meets the minimums in the table below.
- Application fee
$50, non-refundable.
- Deadlines
December 15 for a spring start, May 15 for a summer start, and July 15 for a fall start.
| Test | Overall | Speaking | Writing | Reading | Listening |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 81 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 16 |
| IELTS | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.0 | 6.5 | 6.0 |
| Duolingo | 125 | 125 | 120 | 125 | 110 |
| Cambridge English | 176 | 176 | 169 | 176 | 169 |
| Pearson Test of English | 68 | 53 or above on each band | |||
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the M.Eng. in Biological Chemical Engineering at Lehigh?
It is a 30-credit master’s degree that blends core chemical engineering, biotechnology, chemistry and biology. It prepares graduates from chemical engineering, the fundamental sciences and related engineering fields to excel in the biopharmaceutical and biomolecular industries.
How many credits is the M.Eng. in Biological Chemical Engineering?
30 credits: a 12-credit core and 6 credits each of chemical engineering, chemistry and biology electives.
How long does the M.Eng. in Biological Chemical Engineering take to complete?
The program typically takes 1.5 to 2 years. Faster completion may be possible through academic planning with your advisor.
Do I have to write a thesis or take a comprehensive exam?
No. Neither is required. The degree is completed through coursework.
What courses make up the core?
Four courses totaling 12 credits: Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (CHE 400), Chemical Reaction Engineering (CHE 410), Biotechnology I (CHE 441) and Biotechnology II (CHE 442).
How do the electives work?
You take 6 credits of chemical engineering electives, 6 credits of chemistry electives and 6 credits of biology electives, all at the 300 or 400 level. CHE 455 Seminar (1 credit) may count toward the chemical engineering electives, up to 3 credits in total.
What are the admission requirements?
An undergraduate degree in chemistry, biology, physics or chemical engineering, or in another related engineering discipline. You need a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and a GPA of 3.0 or higher for the last two semesters of undergraduate study. The graduate program director reviews each application as a whole, in consultation with program faculty.
Is the GRE required for the Master of Engineering in Biological Chemical Engineering?
GRE scores are neither accepted nor reviewed for any Rossin College graduate program.
What English proficiency scores do international applicants need?
Minimum overall scores are 81 on the TOEFL iBT, 6.5 on the IELTS, 125 on Duolingo, 176 on Cambridge English, and 68 on the Pearson Test of English. Each test also has minimum speaking, writing, reading and listening scores, listed in the application requirements section above.
When are applications due?
December 15 for a spring start, May 15 for a summer start, and July 15 for a fall start.
How is the program delivered?
On campus, hybrid or fully online. Consult the program contact for the current term-by-term format.
What does it cost, and is funding available?
Base tuition is $52,050 for the 30-credit degree. Qualified applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships as high as 20% of tuition, with no separate application required. International students are considered on the same basis as domestic applicants.
What scholarships apply to this program specifically?
Partial merit-based and tuition scholarships are available. Employees of EdAssist-affiliated companies are eligible for a 20% tuition discount on this program.
Which department offers this program?
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
What do graduates earn?
Class of 2025 master’s graduates across the Rossin College averaged $100,000 in starting salary.
How do I apply?
Apply through Lehigh’s graduate application. A complete application includes transcripts, a personal statement, a resume, letters of recommendation, English-proficiency scores where applicable, and a $50 application fee. Deadlines are December 15 for a spring start, May 15 for a summer start, and July 15 for a fall start.
Contact
Talk to the program
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
HST Building, 124 East Morton Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering »
General inquiries go to engineering@lehigh.edu.