Considering the MSE major?
Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) is the study of how atoms and molecules form the materials that make up our world — and how we can design, process, and engineer them to solve global and societal challenges.
From batteries to bridges, computer chips to medical implants, MSE drives every major engineering innovation. It combines chemistry, physics, and computation to understand, enhance, and invent materials that improve society and the environment.
If you like physics, chemistry, computing, or designing solutions for sustainability and technology, consider a Materials Science and Engineering major.
Why Materials Science and Engineering at Michigan?
- Top-10 MSE undergraduate program in the U.S. (U.S. News & World Report)
- 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio — small classes and close mentorship
- Small department with a strong sense of community
- $85K starting salary and rising — one of the most in-demand majors across all engineering fields
- Abundant departmental scholarships for undergraduate students, exceeding $230K+
What our graduates do
Our graduates improve the quality of life on our planet through the discovery, design, development, and deploymentof advanced engineering materials.
Where our graduates go
- Automotive and aerospace: GM, Ford, Hyundai, Boeing, SpaceX
- Tech and startups: First Solar, Warmilu,
- Materials/manufacturing: Alcoa, Hydro, US Steel, Dow, BASF
- Healthcare: Kaiser Permanente, Stryker, Medtronic
- Electronics: Apple, Intel
- Consumer products: Proctor and Gamble, Kimberley Clark, General Mills
- Graduate schools: MIT, Northwestern, Stanford, UM Ross
Job titles
- Materials Engineer
- Product Development Engineer
- R&D Packaging Engineer
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Research Materials Scientist
- Quality Engineer
Meet our Alumni
Career possibilities for MSE majors are literally limitless! Now more than ever materials scientists and engineers are in demand across a wide variety of industries. Our featured alumni below are perfect examples. "Materials engineer," "consultant," "CEO," and "marketing executive" are just a few of their titles. But while they may have chosen very different career paths, our alums do have one important thing in common: They all credit their MSE education for their career success. Beyond learning Fe-C phase diagrams and semiconductor band gaps, our alumni say that their MSE knowledge and skill sets allowed them to grow (quickly!) into key leadership and expert roles.
Read some stories about our alumni.
Academic concentrations
While every MSE student builds a strong foundation in structure, properties, processing, and performance of materials, you have considerable flexibility to tailor your electives so your experiences align with your interests.
1. Materials for Energy, Sustainability and Manufacturing
If you are motivated by solving large-scale challenges — such as batteries, solar cells, lightweight alloys for vehicles, recycling, and additive manufacturing — you will find relevant elective courses in the MSE curriculum. Foundational courses like MATSCIE 220: Introduction to Materials and Manufacturing (which introduces metals, polymers, ceramics and composites in manufacturing contexts) and MATSCIE 250: Principles of Engineering Materials give you early exposure to how materials are processed and used in real engineering. Later on, you can also choose electives such as MATSCIE 470: Physical Metallurgy, or those dealing with advanced alloys, processing, and sustainability-oriented topics.
2. Electronic and Quantum Materials
If your interests lie in semiconductors, magnetic and optical materials, or quantum-enabled technologies, the MSE program offers electives that connect materials science to modern devices. Courses like MATSCIE 400: Electronic, Magnetic, and Optical Materials for Modern Device Technology provide an in-depth understanding of how materials enable computing, sensing, and communication. Students interested in this pathway often combine these classes with electives in EECS or Applied Physics to explore how materials underpin today’s and tomorrow’s electronics.
3. Computation, Data, and the AI Age of Materials
Today’s materials engineers use algorithms as readily as they use microscopes. Michigan MSE integrates computation, modeling, and data science across the curriculum to prepare students for this digital revolution. Electives such as MATSCIE 454: Computational Approaches in Materials Science and Engineering show how coding, simulation, and data analytics can accelerate discovery — from predicting alloy properties to optimizing microstructures. Students can even link MSE electives with CSE courses in machine learning to deepen their quantitative and AI-driven skill sets. These electives are ideal for students who want to be at the forefront of data-enabled innovation — where materials meet artificial intelligence.
Minors
Why an MSE Minor?
The understanding and selection of materials is a common requirement in many professional engineering disciplines: ME, AERO, NERS, BME, EECS, Naval, CEE, etc. Pursuing a minor in Materials Science and Engineering is a smart way to broaden your skill set and increase your overall marketability.
Requirements
- Minimum of 19 credits including the following 4 courses required of ALL MSE minors:
- MATSCIE 220 (Introduction to Materials and Manufacturing) or MATSCIE 250 (Principles of Engineering Materials)
- MATSCIE 350: Structures of Materials (F)
- MATSCIE 330: Thermodynamics of Materials (F)
- MATSCIE 335: Kinetics of Materials (W)
The 5th course must be a MATSCIE course. We suggest that, for most departments, you take MSE 242, Physics of Materials (W). Please note that you should consult with an advisor on the 5th course prior to taking it.
Required courses
Contact an advisor
If you've just declared MSE as your major (congrats and welcome!), please set up an appointment as soon as possible so we can begin acclimating you to the department and start mapping out an academic plan that will best fit your post-graduation plans. After that, feel free to contact us for ANY reason, including: discussing career goals, how to fit study abroad opportunities into your curriculum, clarifications about minor/major/SUGS program, how to find an internship or a research project/mentor, graduate school applications...or just say hi! You can also check out our Video FAQs.
We would like to see you (in person or online) at least once per semester.
Please email us or schedule an advising appointment online. We hope to see you soon! (2146 HH Dow Building on North Campus).
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Undergraduate Program Advisor |
Undergraduate Academic Advisor |
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Kathy Sevener |
Molly Thornbladh |
Accelerated master's
Sequential Undergraduate-Graduate Studies (SUGS)
Complete your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in only five years with SUGS by taking some graduate-level classes during your undergraduate years, so you can save yourself one semester and complete the master's with only two additional semesters.
Outside the classroom
- Social events: Trivia nights, Halloween party, wellness and meditation workshops, pumpkin painting
- Outreach events: High school ambassadors, materials teachers' camps
Learn by doing
- Michigan Materials Society (MMS) — student-run organization connecting peers with industry, outreach, and fun events.
- Undergraduate research and industry internships in sustainability, quantum materials, and additive manufacturing.
- Project teams: Concrete Canoe, Baja, Solar Car, MFly, MASA
- Immersive lab experiences and courses in the state-of-the-art Van Vlack Undergraduate Laboratory (MSE 360, 365, 577, among others)
- Blacksmithing club
- Experiential Learning - Michigan Engineering Immersed
Professional organizations
- ASM International
- TMS (The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society)
- ACerS (American Ceramic Society)
- AIST (American Institute of Steel Technology)
- SME (Society for Manufacturing Engineering)
- Material Advantage (umbrella student organization for all major materials professional societies)
- MRS (Materials Research Society)
- APS (American Physical Society)
- AIChE (American Institute of Chemical Engineers)