Next Start Date: Online Master of Science in Plastics Engineering
Pursue your master's degree online with one of the most respected plastics engineering programs in the world. UMass Lowell is an internationally recognized leader in plastics education, and this 12-course graduate program will provide you with the cutting-edge skills to advance your career in the plastics industry.
While the courses are delivered online, this program provides valuable hands-on experience at UMass Lowell's state-of-the-art laboratories through an immersive two-week on-campus residency. The knowledge and experience you will acquire in this two-week, on-campus session will prepare you for career advancement, and offer you unique mentoring and networking opportunities. This is the only program currently available in the United States in this discipline in this innovative format.
One of the Most Affordable Tuitions in the Nation
"UMass Lowell is among the nation's leading centers for plastics technology, and its Plastics Engineering program...is helping to push new boundaries of how these versatile materials are used, produced and processed."
Career Outlook
Key Takeaways
- Gain an understanding of polymeric material systems, commodity, engineering, biodegradable and high-performance thermoplastics.
- Learn common plastics manufacturing processes, including extrusion, injection molding, blow molding, thermoforming and rotational molding.
- Discover the impacts of screw design and processing parameters on the conveyance, melting, devolatilization and mixing with single screws and compounding with twin screw extruders.
- Prepare to lead the engineering practices associated with developing new plastic products.
Gain In-Demand Skills in Our State-of-the-Art Laboratories
Built into the online M.S. in Plastics Engineering program is a two-week, hands-on session at UMass Lowell's state-of-the-art laboratories where you will gain experience with the latest equipment in the industry. Our modern laboratories are sponsored by top companies in the plastics field and cover all areas of plastics manufacturing, design and materials including injection molding, extrusions, blow molding, process simulation, mold design and more. These cutting-edge labs are a reflection of UMass Lowell's long established leadership position in the field. In fact, UMass Lowell was the first in the nation to offer an accredited undergraduate program in Plastics Engineering in the United States.
Top Companies Hiring UMass Lowell Plastics Graduates
- 3M
- Apple
- Boeing
- Boston Scientific
- DePuy
- Freudenberg Nok
- GE Appliances
- GM
- Honda
- Keurig
- Medtronic
- Oakley
- Polartec
- PolyOne
- Sterilite
- STIHL
- Tesla
- U.S. Army
- And many more
From Our Faculty
"I get contacted almost weekly from companies in the plastics industry looking for UMass Lowell graduates to fill job openings. Our graduates are in high demand because of the quality of our program. We provide students with the theoretical foundations as well as hands-on experience. Employers know UMass Lowell graduates are ready to hit the ground running."
Amy Peterson
One Success Leads to Another
Apply credits from lower credentials to higher ones. Our programs are designed to build upon themselves:
Curriculum Outline
- Total Courses Required: 12 (33 credits)
Core Requirements (7 Courses / 18cr)
- PLAS.5440 Advanced Plastics Materials (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- PLAS.5780 Advanced Plastics Processing (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- PLAS.5731L Graduate Polymer Laboratory I* (1cr)
- PLAS.5732 Graduate Polymer Laboratory II (2cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- PLAS.5030 Mechanical Behavior of Polymers (3cr)
- PLAS.5060 Polymer Structure Properties & Applications (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- PLAS.5180 Plastics Product Design (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
Electives (5 Courses / 15cr)
Select any five electives below:
- PLAS.5120 Foams (3cr)
- PLAS.5320 Adhesives and Adhesion (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- PLAS.5330 Green Coatings Science and Technology I (3cr)
- PLAS.5350 Rubber Technology (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- PLAS.5370 Business Law for Engineers (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- PLAS.5500 Processing with Elastomers (3cr)
- PLAS.5530 Medical Device Design I (3cr)
- PLAS.5550 Medical Device Processing (3cr)
- PLAS.5750 Biomaterials in Medical Applications (3cr)
- PLAS.5760 Advanced Mold Design (3cr)
- PLAS.5950 Thermoplastic Elastomers (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- PLAS.5970 Plastics & Environment (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- PLAS.5990 Rapid Prototyping (3cr) - Available Fall 2023!
- PLAS.6060 Plastics Manufacturing Systems Engineering (3cr)
- PLAS.6110 Coloration of Engineering Thermoplastics (3cr)
- PLAS.6780 New Developments in Polymer Manufacturing (3cr)
Please note:
Up to two elective courses from other engineering departments may be substituted if approved by the graduate coordinator.
This M.S.E. in Plastics Engineering is a non-thesis curriculum track.
*PLAS.5731L is a 1-credit lab course with 6 contact hours that runs for 2 weeks on campus in the summer. Tuition for this course is calculated by multiplying the total number of contact hours by the current per credit tuition rate.
Special Notes
For students who have a B.S. in Plastics Engineering from UMass Lowell with a grade of B or higher in specific courses:
- Students who have a B or higher in Polymer Materials I (PLAS.2010) and Polymer Materials II (PLAS.2020) are not required to take Advanced Plastics Materials (PLAS.5440). These students, however, must still meet the 33-course credit hour program requirement by substituting other Plastics Engineering graduate courses.
- Students who received a grade of B or higher in Plastics Process Engineering I (PLAS.3770) and Plastics Process Engineering II (PLAS.3780) are not required to take Advanced Plastic Materials (PLAS.5780). These students, however, must still meet the 33-course credit hour program requirement by substituting other Plastics Engineering graduate courses.
For students who have a B.S. in Plastics Engineering from UMass Lowell or equivalent program:
- Students may elect to test out of Advanced Plastics Materials (PLAS.5440) and Advanced Plastics Processing (PLAS.5780). These students, however, must still meet the 33-course credit hour program requirement by substituting other Plastics Engineering graduate courses.
Course Descriptions
Prerequisites:
Pre-Reqs: MECH.2110 Engin. Mechanics, MECH.2150 Plastics Process Engin. Lab I, MATH.2340 Diff Eq.s or MATH.2360 Engin. Diff Eq. or Grad. career students. (Pre-reqs are enforced only for undergrad plastics engineering students).
Prerequisites:
26.202 pre-re or Grad Career.
Prerequisites:
26.211 Engineering Mechanics, 26.218 Introduction to Design or Graduate career students. (Pre-requisites are enforced only for undergraduate plastics engineering students).
Prerequisites:
CSCE Graduate Restrictions
Prerequisites:
Anti-req: PLAS.5730.
Prerequisites:
PLAS.5731L Graduate Polymer Laboratory I, and Co-req: PLAS.0010 Safety Lecture, and Anit-req: PLAS.5730 Graduate Polymer Lab.
Prerequisites:
CSCE Graduate Restrictions
Program Requirements
To be recommended for a University of Massachusetts Lowell master's degree, candidates must satisfy all of the general requirements below, plus any additional requirements that may be required by the department through which the program is offered. Any additional requirements for this program are either listed below or may be found in the University's Graduate Program Catalog.
General Requirements:
- Students must complete the program of study designed by the Department in which they are enrolled and approved by the University.
- Satisfactory grades in all subjects offered for the degree must be earned. See Academic Standing.
- All financial obligations, including tuition, fees and expenses, must be satisfied as evidenced by completion.
- Upon completion of all their courses, graduate degree candidates must submit a signed Declaration of Intent to Graduate (DIG) form to their coordinator. The coordinator will apply them in SIS, Graduation Tracking.
Graduate Program Policies
In applying for a degree program or registering for courses, each student assumes full responsibility for knowledge of and compliance with the definitions, regulations and procedures of UMass Lowell as set forth on our website. For additional information, please refer to the Graduate Program Policies found within the UMass Lowell Graduate Catalog.
Tuition & Fees
Tuition at UMass Lowell is typically half the cost of private colleges, and our online tuition is among the lowest in the nation. Tuition for online programs offered through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies is the same whether you live in-state, out-of-state or outside of the U.S.
Summer 2023 Tuition |
Cost Per Credit | Cost Per 3-Credit Course* |
|---|---|---|
Graduate |
||
| Online† | $585 | $1,755 |
| Online Business** | $655 | $1,965 |
| Online IT and Engineering*** | $600 | $1,800 |
| Online Education | $470 | $1,410 |
| Online Education for Ed.D. and Ph.D.† | $495 | $1,485 |
| On Campus | View Here | View Here |
Additional Costs |
|
|---|---|
| Term Registration Fee | $30 |
| Late Fee | $50 |
| Graduate Engineering and Business Degrees and Certificate Applications | $75 |
Please note: Tuition and fees are subject to change.
Estimate the cost of this program with our online tuition calculator
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Admissions Requirements
- B.S. in Plastics Engineering or a related engineering or science field
- Pre-requisite math requirements of Differential Equations
Applying into a Graduate Degree Program
All applicants must submit:- An application
- An application fee
- A statement of purpose
- Two letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts
- GRE temporarily waived
- Resume Required for certain programs such as the Master's in Business Administration and the Master of Science in Health Informatics and Management
Graduate Program Admissions Requirements
Admission to all graduate programs at UMass Lowell is contingent upon successful completion of a bachelor's degree. In many cases, applicants may register for a course before formally applying to the program; however, students requiring financial aid may want to wait until they have been formally accepted into the program to ensure that their course(s) will be covered. Contact UMass Lowell's Office of Graduate Admissions if you have questions about the application process.
Questions Regarding Your Graduate Application?
Email Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu or call 800-656-4723 (for U.S. students) or 978-934-2390 (for international students).
For General Assistance:
For general questions about registering for courses or to find out who the advisor is for your graduate program, call 800-480-3190. Our admissions and advising teams are here to help!
