Materials Science & Engineering
Designing the materials that everything else is built from.
Materials science and engineering studies the structure, properties, and performance of metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites, and how to engineer new materials for specific uses, lighter alloys, stronger composites, better batteries. It blends chemistry, physics, and engineering design.
Lab work is central: characterizing materials with specialized equipment, testing mechanical and thermal properties, and often working on applied research projects tied to energy, electronics, or manufacturing.
Typical courses you might take
- ✓Materials Science Fundamentals
- ✓Thermodynamics of Materials
- ✓Mechanical Behavior of Materials
- ✓Materials Characterization
- ✓Polymers & Composites
- ✓Electronic & Metallic Materials
- ✓Materials Processing
- ✓Senior Research Project
Sample four-year plan
Illustrative, not a registration planOne possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.
- ✓Materials Science Fundamentals
- +General education requirement
- ✓Thermodynamics of Materials
- +General education requirement
- ✓Mechanical Behavior of Materials
- +General education requirement
- ✓Materials Characterization
- +Free elective
- ✓Polymers & Composites
- +Free elective
- ✓Electronic & Metallic Materials
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Materials Processing
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Senior Research Project
- +Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)
Skills you'll build
This major might be a good fit if you...
- ★Strong in chemistry and physics
- ★Curious about why materials behave the way they do
- ★Enjoys lab-based research
- ★Interested in energy, electronics, or advanced manufacturing
Common minors & double-major pairings
Chemistry · Physics · Mechanical Engineering
Roles this major could lead to
Factual, day-to-day descriptions from our Career Role Encyclopedia, not a guarantee this major leads to any specific job.
Mechanical Engineer
Designs and tests mechanical systems, machines, and physical products.
Chemical Engineer
Designs industrial processes that turn raw materials into products.
Manufacturing Engineer
Designs and improves the processes used to produce products at scale.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Materials Science & Engineering major?
Designing the materials that everything else is built from.
What courses do Materials Science & Engineering majors take?
Typical coursework includes classes like Materials Science Fundamentals, Thermodynamics of Materials, Mechanical Behavior of Materials, among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.
What skills do you build in a Materials Science & Engineering program?
Materials Science & Engineering coursework typically builds skills like Analyzing material structure and properties, Using lab characterization equipment, Applying thermodynamics and chemistry to design problems, Materials selection for engineering applications.
Is Materials Science & Engineering a good major for me?
It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Strong in chemistry and physics" or "Curious about why materials behave the way they do" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.
What can you do with a Materials Science & Engineering degree?
Majors in this field often go on to roles like Mechanical Engineer, Chemical Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer. See our Career Role Encyclopedia for more, a major shapes what you study, not a guarantee of any specific job.
What other majors pair well with Materials Science & Engineering?
Common minor or double-major pairings include Chemistry, Physics, Mechanical Engineering.
How is Materials Science & Engineering different from Chemical Engineering?
They're related but distinct. Materials Science & Engineering: Designing the materials that everything else is built from. Chemical Engineering: Turning chemistry into large-scale processes, from fuel to medicine. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.
How long does it take to earn a Materials Science & Engineering degree?
Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.
Printed from majoratlas.com/majors/materials-science-engineering