Materials science and engineering is an interdisciplinary field centered on understanding the physical properties of matter and designing materials with specific properties to serve a desired function. Materials scientists study the connections between the synthesis and processing of a material, its underlying structure, and its resulting properties. Materials engineers develop materials and manufacturing techniques and integrate these materials into commercial products.

This undergraduate major is comprised of 128 credit hours building a strong foundation in chemistry, physics and mathematics to explore the fundamental concepts and techniques critical to the field of materials science and engineering. Students have the flexibility to explore interdisciplinary studies or to focus in greater depth on one or more areas of concentration.

Together with a faculty mentor, students can create individualized degree plans that may center on one or more of the following concentration areas:

• Polymers and soft materials
• Computational materials science
• Corrosion engineering
• Materials design, processing and characterization
• Structural materials

The practicing materials scientist or engineer has a working knowledge of different processing, characterization, and modelling and simulation techniques, which allow them to solve fundamental materials challenges, enabling the development of new devices and technologies. Materials scientists and engineers play crucial roles in nearly all industry sectors including energy, defense, biomedical, semiconductors, transportation, infrastructure, and personal care products.