UMass Lowell's Plastics Engineering major equips you with the expertise to design and manufacture environmentally sustainable products for a better world.

At a Glance

  • Flexibility
    Part Time | Full Time
  • Delivery Options
    On Campus
  • Degree
    BSE

Bachelor of Science in Engineering in Plastics Engineering

A student and professor work in a UMass plastics engineering lab

At UMass Lowell, you’ll study plastics engineering in one of the nation’s leading programs, building the skills to design innovative materials, products and manufacturing solutions for industries such as health care, consumer products, aerospace and sustainability.

From your first year, you’ll explore plastics design and polymer sustainability, then deepen your knowledge through hands-on labs and courses in materials, processing and manufacturing. As you progress, you’ll gain experience in product and mold design, automation and advanced plastics engineering topics.

You’ll also apply your knowledge through a capstone project and build professional experience through seminars and co-op opportunities. You’ll graduate prepared to succeed as a well-rounded engineer and problem-solver.

Plastics Engineering Career Outlook

  • $144K

    Median annual salary for bachelor's degree holders in New England
    Source: Lightcast, 2025

  • +11.9%

    Projected job growth in New England (2023–2035)
    Source: Lightcast, 2025

What Can You Do with a Degree in Plastics Engineering?

At UMass Lowell, you’ll join a powerful network of alumni who hold leadership positions across the global plastics industry. You’ll connect directly with major plastics producers who recruit on campus each year, giving you valuable access to internships and full-time positions.

A plastics engineering student works with machinery in a plastics recycling lab at UMass Lowell

What Our Graduates Do

  • Manufacturing engineer
  • Mold or tooling engineer
  • Product and process development engineer
  • Project engineer
  • Quality engineer
  • Sales engineer
  • Technical service and marketing

Where Our Graduates Work

  • Apple
  • Aviant Corporation
  • Corning Incorporated
  • Foster Corporation
  • Intralox
  • Medtronic
  • Raytheon Technologies
  • SMC Ltd.
  • Stihl

Courses You'll Take

Sample course topics include: 

  • Principles of Processing Equipment and Automation
  • Plastics Process Engineering
  • Polymer Science for Engineers
  • Mold Engineering
  • Process Control
  • Mechanical Behavior of Polymers
  • Polymer Structure, Properties and Applications
  • Product and Process Design
  • View all Plastics Engineering courses

Year-by-Year Course Plan

Check out our degree pathways, which offer sample plans for completing your degree in four years.

For students who entered fall 2026 and beyond.

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
PLAS.1070Introduction to Plastics Engineering (AIL)2
ECON.2010Principles of Microeconomics (SS)3
ENGL.1010 /
HONR.1100		College Writing I /
First Year Seminar in Honors: Text in the City (CW)		3
CHEM.1210Chemistry I (SCL)13
CHEM.1230LChemistry I Laboratory (SCL)1
MATH.1310Calculus I (MATH)14
Total16

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total14
ENGL.1020College Writing II (CW)13
MATH.1320Calculus II1 (STEM)4
PHYS.1410Physics I1 (SCL)3
PHYS.1410LPhysics I Lab (SCL)1
PLAS.1080Introduction to Polymer Sustainability3

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total15
PLAS.0010Plastics Safety Lecture I0
PLAS.2010Polymer Materials I13
PLAS.2150Plastics Processing Engineering Laboratory I1
PLAS.2190Principles of Processing Equipment and Automation4
CHEM.2040Introduction to Organic and Polymer Chemistry3
MATH.2310Calculus III4

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
Total14
PLAS.0020Plastics Safety Lecture II0
PLAS.2020Polymer Materials II13
PLAS.2100Professional Development Seminar41
PLAS.2110Engineering Mechanics3
PLAS.2160Plastics Process Engineering Laboratory II1
PLAS.2470Thermodynamics3
MATH.2340
Differential Equations
3

Junior Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
PLAS.0010Plastics Safety Lecture I0
PLAS.3060Methods of Experimental Analysis3
PLAS.3140Fluid Flow3
PLAS.3150Plastics Process Laboratory III1
PLAS.3770Plastics Process Engineering I3
PLAS.3810Polymer Science for Engineers I3
PLAS.3830Polymer Science I Lab1
xxxx.xxxxArts and Humanities Perspective (AH)33
Total17

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
PLAS.0020Plastics Safety Lecture II0
PLAS.3160Plastics Process Engineering Laboratory IV1
PLAS.3480Heat Transfer3
PLAS.3730Mold Engineering (IL), (WOC)4
PLAS.3780Plastics Process Engineering I3
PLAS.3820Polymer Science for Engineers I3
PLAS.3840Polymer Science II Lab1
PHIL.2410Engineering and Ethics (AH), (SRE)3
Total18

Senior Year

Fall Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
PLAS.0010Plastics Safety Lecture I0
PLAS.4030Mechanical Behavior of Polymers3
PLAS.4040Process Control (CTPS)3
PLAS.4150Capstone Project I (IL), (WOC)1
xxxx.xxxxTechnical Elective23
xxxx.xxxxTechnical Elective23
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Perspective (SS)33
Total16

Spring Semester

Course NumberCourse NameCredits
PLAS.0020Plastics Safety Lecture II0
PLAS.4060Polymer Structure, Properties and Applications3
PLAS.4160Capstone Project II1
PLAS.4180Product and Process Design3
xxxx.xxxxArts and Humanities Perspective (AH)33
xxxx.xxxxSocial Sciences Perspective (SS)33
xxxx.xxxxTechnical Elective23
Total16

Total Minimum Credits = 126*

*With one 1-credit co-op experience = 125 credits; with one 2-credit co-op experience = 126 credits.

1Appropriate honors courses may be substituted for students enrolled in the honors program.

2The list of technical electives is in the undergraduate catalog. An upper level technical course given by another Engineering Department can be substituted if pre-approved by your advisor.

3Plastics Engineering students meet the Core Curriculum Essential Learning Outcome of Diversity and Cultural Awareness (DCA) outside of the major. See the DCA course listing for a complete list of options.

4PLAS.2100 Professional Development Seminar may also be taken in spring of the junior year.

No more than two Breadth of Knowledge courses can be taken with the same prefix. The Core Curriculum courses may be taken in any sequence. Refer to the Core Curriculum policy for further details. You should meet with your faculty advisor to determine how you will meet the Core Curriculum requirements.

Current UMass Lowell students should use their Advisement Report in SIS. If you need assistance, please contact your advisor.

Breadth of Knowledge (BOK) Glossary

  • SS - Social Sciences Perspective - 9 credits
  • AH - Arts and Humanities Perspective - 9 credits
  • SCL - Sciences with Lab Perspective - 6-8 credits
  • STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Perspective - 3 credits
  • CW - College Writing I and II - 6 credits
  • MATH - Math Perspective - 3 credits

Read more about the Breadth of Knowledge requirements.

Essential Learning Outcomes (ELO) Glossary

  • AIL - Applied and Integrative Learning
  • CTPS - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
  • DCA - Diversity and Cultural Awareness
  • IL - Information Literacy
  • QL - Quantitative Literacy
  • SRE - Social Responsibility and Ethics
  • WOC - Written and Oral Communication

Read more about the Essential Learning Outcomes.

Why study plastics engineering at UMass Lowell?

Student next to machinery used during a plastics engineering co-op experience at UMass Lowell

Experiential Learning

Companies from across the U.S. routinely recruit plastics engineering students for both co-op experiences and permanent positions.

Our students can participate in:

  • Three- or six-month formal co-op programs
  • Full-time summer opportunities
  • Part-time positions during the academic year
Plastics engineering professor works with equipment in a UMass Lowell lab

Research Opportunities

Work closely with faculty in our extensive lab facilities on research in areas such as:

  • Advanced manufacturing, including additive manufacturing, polymer manufacturing, fiber extrusion, compounding, machine instrumentation and control systems and tooling design
  • Sustainable polymer materials, design and processing
  • Biomedical materials and devices
  • Improved material systems, including nanocomposites, functional coatings
  • Formulation and processing of elastomers and thermoset rubber
Two students wearing hard hats in a plastics recycling center at UMass Lowell

Extend your learning with a minor that is specifically designed to pair with plastics engineering, including:

Two UMass Lowell plastics engineering students seen through window of a Blow Molding machine

Career Connected Experience: The UMass Lowell Guarantee

Every first-time, first-year UMass Lowell student will have the opportunity to pursue at least one Career Connected Experience (internships, co-ops, clinical placements, service learning, study abroad and more) during their undergraduate career — earning pay, credits or both before they graduate.

Meet Our Students

See More
Greg Reimonn works on equipment in lab
Greg Reimonn '22
Plastics Engineering

Greg Reimonn found a faculty mentor to help him research microplastics in waterways, thanks to an honors fellowship.

The faculty here are very open to working with undergraduates.
Brianna Atwood volunteering at St. Patrick's School in Lowell
Brianna Atwood '20
Plastics Engineering

Brianna Atwood came to UMass Lowell to study plastics engineering – but she’s done so much more. The honors student started a volunteer program that connects UML students with a local school. She has also participated in the professional co-op program, working on fire-resistant seals for airplanes.

UMass Lowell just keeps getting better – everything improves. The campus itself is awesome, and I really love the city, too.
Madison Reed and Ram Nagarajan
Madison Reed '21
Plastics Engineering

Madison Reed works as a research assistant with Plastics Engineering Prof. Ramaswamy Nagarajan in the UML Fabric Discovery Center.

Prof. Nagarajan completely trusts me to get the results that we need from the experiments.

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