Materials engineers are detail-oriented, careful, and accurate workers with an eye for incongruities. If you love to solve puzzles, materials engineering might be for you. Potential career industries for materials engineers include biotechnology, tech, aerospace, and research labs, among others. The fact is that materials engineers are highly sought after and can contribute to any industry that ‘creates,’ which is essentially every industry. Fun fact: Materials Scientists and Engineers have some of the highest starting salaries upon graduation from their undergraduate program.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Department of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT offers three undergraduate degree programs: Course 3, which results in a BS in Materials Science and Engineering; Course 3-A, a BS without specification, ideal for students who seek more flexibility in their degree and areas of focus; and Course 3-C, a BS in Archaeology and Materials. All programs have a communication requirement—students must complete one of the four communication programs offered by MIT. A good deal of the class options are writing, speaking, and reading-intensive classes, or some combination of all three.
University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign
The Materials Science and Engineering program at Illinois is one of the best in the country, with five different academic focuses to choose from. Every student chooses a concentration and will delve further into one of the following sub-topics of materials engineering in their senior instructional lab: ceramics; metals; polymers; electronic materials; and biomaterials. There are also a lot of technical electives for students to choose from, ranging from nanotechnology and electron microscopy to fuel cells & hydrogen sources. Undergraduates have over 8,000 square feet of laboratory space for them to utilize and take advantage of throughout their undergraduate degree. All students in the program must complete a Senior Design Course.
UC, Berkeley
Coursework during freshman and sophomore year in the Materials Science and Engineering Program at UC Berkeley is heavy on math (calculus, linear algebra, and multivariable calculus), science (chemistry, physics, solid mechanics, and polymeric materials), and computer engineering. During junior and senior year, students can take 7-8 free electives in humanities and social science courses, which makes this an intense but well-rounded program. The department also makes it easy for students to pursue joint majors in one of the following programs: bioengineering; chemical engineering; electrical engineering and computer science; mechanical engineering; and nuclear engineering. The department offers a joint BS/MS program in Materials Science and Engineering that students can pursue and complete in 5 years (though it can be done in less time, for the overachievers out there).
Northwestern
The McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern’s Materials Science & Engineering Program offers two degree options: a BS in Materials Science and Engineering as well as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Materials Science (offered through the Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences). Northwestern’s engineering programs all operate under their “Whole Brain Engineering” philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of integrating left and right-brain thinking in all of their curriculum. The belief is that every engineer must master both analytical and hard math/science knowledge as well as the ability to problem-solve creatively in order to become a leader in the field.
University of Michigan--Ann Arbor
Materials scientists and engineers at University of Michigan receive a solid foundational knowledge in every class of material that is integral to understanding materials science. These include: metals; polymers; ceramics; as well as materials used in the manufacturing of solid-state electronic devices. The research opportunities available to undergraduate students are broad and change often. The department encourages all MSE students to tailor their degree to their interests as much as possible, and there is ample room to do so.
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering at Georgia Tech aims to graduate engineers who have a well-rounded and in-depth understanding of the field, but more than that, an understanding of the problems that face common fields that materials science engineers. A combination of mentorship programs, classes, lab work, research, and internship opportunities prepare graduates to enter any industry or government ready to dive in and problem-solve. The undergraduate mentoring program is a hallmark of the department. It’s an unrequired, completely optional program that students can opt into as mentees, and it offers students the chance to connect with mentors in the department in order to accomplish a development goal together. Mentors and mentees meet at least 4x/year over the course of nine months.
Stanford University
The MSE program at Stanford has a diverse array of options for students to choose from, including: bioengineering; chemical engineering; chemistry; electronics & photonics; energy technology; materials characterization techniques; mechanical behavior & design; nanoscience; physics; and a self-defined option. Students take a minimum of 10 units of study in their focus option. Qualified undergraduates are highly encouraged by Stanford to take advantage of the coterminal degree program, which results in both a BS and an MS in Materials Science and Engineering. Research is at the core of engineering, and particularly the Mechanical Science and Engineering program. The school offers MSE students the opportunity to apply to receive a $7,000 stipend to participate in various undergraduate summer research programs. Students work closely with a professor and can apply to participate at any point throughout their undergraduate degree.
Cornell University
The MS&E program at Cornell equips its students with a strong understanding of core mechanical engineering and science concepts, while also encouraging students to test the boundaries of the field. With new courses constantly popping up throughout the university, the department is continually open to students petitioning to have certain courses count for requirements for their degree. Seniors choose from either Senior Thesis or Senior Lab programs as their culminating experience, depending on the student’s goals for work methods, preferences, and outcomes. Those who pursue group research, which undergraduates are encouraged to do, are expected to commit 8-10 hours per week on in-depth research outside of required research meetings. Though a significant amount of time outside of class, the deliverables and research opportunities available are broad and valuable.
University of Pennsylvania
The Materials Science and Engineering department at UPenn offers students an in-depth and specialized education in the field. It all starts with “MSE 220: Structural Materials,” no matter your focus or specialization. Daily demonstrations illustrate the importance and diversity within the field that focuses on the structure of matter and manipulation that results in materials and properties that contribute to many fields. UPenn encourages its students to take advantage of its immense resources and acquire as much hands-on work experience as possible through its group and independent research opportunities.
Pennsylvania State University—University Park
Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences’ Department of Materials Science and Engineering is a top 10 program that emphasizes state-of-the-art technology and encourages students to think at the forefront of the field. Students are required to take at least one computational materials science course and every student must specialize their focus of study by choosing a specialization. Specializations include: synthesis and processing; structure and characterization; properties; and technical electives. Penn State is the only school in the country that offers students the chance to participate in a competitive international internship program in this specific field of engineering.
Materials science and engineering is one of the most challenging fields of engineering to study. If you have any additional questions or want to talk about your interest in the field further, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.