9 replies to this topic

[sopl50]

I was just hoping for a bit of advice from the experts that have experience in this field. I'm nearing the end of a bachelor's degree in chemistry and am interested in doing a masters in chemical engineering. I've seen a different masters program that focuses on sustainable chemical engineering though. This sounded interesting, but I was wondering how this may affect career prospects? My first assumption was that a focus in sustainable chemical engineering may be more future-proof with the increasing focus on things like renewable energies and environmental impact of industry.   But on the other hand, regular chemical engineering graduates might be much more sought after at the moment. I've done a bit of research but was hoping to get some opinions from people too, so any advice would be appreciated.

[Bobby Strain]

I would not touch it. I don't know how you get a Che Masters with a BS Chemistry degree. I think you would first have to get a BS Che degree, then onward to an MS Che.

 

Bobby

[shvet]

You can try to find more information here.

[sopl50]

I would not touch it.

 

Is there any reason for that? Is it because I'd be restricting myself to a smaller range of career options or were you thinking of something different?

 

I don't know how you get a Che Masters with a BS Chemistry degree. I think you would first have to get a BS Che degree, then onward to an MS Che.

 

There are different options from what I've seen. The ones with the title Advanced Chemical Engineering MSc tend to strictly restrict entry to ChemE graduates. A lot of Chemical Engineering MSc have different selections of modules depending on the background of the student. So I think someone entering with a Chemistry BSc would focus their study on certain aspects of ChemE and wouldn't graduate with quite as broad and general knowledge as the ChemE graduates. If you're interested, here are the differing module selections for two of them-

Chemical Engineering MSc

Sustainable Chemical Engineering MSc

 

You can try to find more information here.

 

Thanks, I couldn't find anything about sustainable chemical engineering on the site but there's a lot of interesting and useful information.

 

Any other advice that anyone could offer would be appreciated as I'm trying to make sure I've considered everything and researched the options as thoroughly as possible.

[shvet]

Thanks, I couldn't find anything about sustainable chemical engineering on the site but there's a lot of interesting and useful information.

 

 

 

Do you mean this kind of chemical engineering?

Edited by Art Montemayor, 14 July 2016 - 10:39 AM.

[sopl50]

shvet:

 

No, not environmental. I posted a link to one of the ones I'm considering in the reply to Bobby if you wanted to check out the description.

 

 

[Mjt]

sopl50:

 

Hi there,
You're question is a good one, although not one that I think anybody could answer with any real certainty I'm afraid. It's good to be thinking about future trends but i would say most chemical engineers are very adaptable and could pretty much choose to focus on any industry provided they understand the fundamentals. As an example I have worked with engineers who have worked in chemicals production, oil & gas, renewables and nuclear in their careers.

However, there are two things you can be certain of. The first is whether the routes you are looking at are accredited by the icheme (I notice your links are for leeds uni so I'm assuming you're UK based). Completing an accredited degree course to masters level will allow you to become a chartered engineer later in your career and is what most hiring companies would be concerned with.

The second is where your interests lie. I graduated from a masters degree 3 years ago and what I notice most now is how much harder it can be to pursue your interests working for a companiy's bottom line compared with being at uni. Make the most of this opportunity to follow your interests while you can! If you find something you enjoy and care about your career will look after itself.

Finally I would recommend sitting down with someone from the Chem eng department at Leeds uni to go over any queries you might have. They can't tell you which way the industry is headed but they may be able to help you find what is right for you.

Hope that helps!
Mike

[shvet]

to Mjt

 

"It's good to be thinking about future trends but i would say most chemical engineers are very adaptable and could pretty much choose to focus on any industry provided they understand the fundamentals."

 

I don't agree with you. Yes, chemical engineers are adaptable but only if you plan to work only as "linear" worker. A kind of work where you don't need to think, a work where you just execute a lot of simple instructions. If ... then, if ... then. For example draughtsman, operator, analyst etc. There are no high wages and often there is unfair competition.

 

If you want to be in demand, if you want to have a choice between high wage and interesting work you need to have dedicated education and good start experience. For examle for refinery you need to graduate technical university for refinery (!). It is recommended to work during last 1-2 years. Usually not payed, but it should be a real work. Process simulation is often chosen and somewhat like real FEED for real process revamp would be useful. The more complex process is the better. And then I would recommend 5-6 years of "dirty job". It doesn't matter where this job is placed - it should be real processes and real construction / revamp. Again - the more complex this processes are the better. Main thought is - you should get to know how in refinery money are generated and how they are distributed. In most cases it's dirty job in real sence. You should spend this time wisely while you have good health and brains and have no children and debts.

 

Sometime and somebody can tell you that there is no special knowledge in university. It is so. All this information you can find in books and articles and you can obtain it even without dedicated education. But when you start you find out that there is so much opinions, statements and ways to do and all of them look reasonable. In university you sholudn't get knowledge your teachers have. You should learn to think like they do, to learn how to learn and analyse. You know just in this way - "It is easy to rise when carried on the shoulders of giants".

 

I recommend to read Norman P. Lieberman - this kind of start job would be worth.

[Mjt]

Hi Shvet, you are right to pull me up on that sentence. Just to clarify, by 'understand the fundamentals' I was referring to a good grounding in chemical engineering from a good degree. Hence, beyond pursuing own interests, it is not really necessary to specialise in a particular field of Chem Eng at masters level - those who understand the main concepts can apply them to any industry.

Cheers, Mike

[PingPong]

.... it is not really necessary to specialise in a particular field of Chem Eng at masters level - those who understand the main concepts can apply them to any industry.

I agree with this statement of Mjt.

 

Specializing now already can only limit your future job prospects.

 

Moreover I suspect that part of the modules in those "sustainable chemical engineering" cources are mainly hot air.