Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) combines engineering, physics and chemistry principles to solve real-world problems associated with nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology, energy, manufacturing and other major engineering disciplines.
Everything is made of something. Materials scientists investigate how materials perform and why they sometimes fail. By understanding the structure of matter, from atomic scale to millimeter scale, they invent new ways to combine chemical elements into materials with unprecedented functional properties. Other branches of engineering rely heavily on materials scientists and engineers for the advanced materials used to design and manufacture products such as safer cars with better gas mileage, faster computers with larger hard drive capacities, smaller electronics, threat-detecting sensors, renewable energy harvesting devices and better medical devices. MSE is the field that leads in the discovery and development of the stuff that makes everything work. Materials scientists even work in museums, helping to analyze, preserve and restore artifacts and artwork.
Materials scientists work with diverse types of materials (e.g., metals, polymers, ceramics, liquid crystals, composites) for a broad range of applications (e.g., energy, construction, electronics, biotechnology, nanotechnology) employing modern processing and discovery principles (e.g., casting, additive manufacturing, coating, evaporation, plasma and radiation processing, artificial intelligence, and computer simulations).
Watch NOVA's Making Stuff: David Pogue showcases the materials
that shaped history, and those that may influence our future.
Students who major in MSE at Maryland tailor their education
by choosing a specialization area that covers one, or more of these topics:
BiotechnologyCeramicsCombinatorialEnergyLiquid crystalsMetalsMetamaterialsNanotechnologyPlasmaPolymersSemiconductors
Prospective Undergraduate Students:
We invite you to attend one of our events where you can learn more about the major,
interact with current students, and enjoy individualized sessions with faculty members.
If you have questions, please send an email to: mseundergrad@umd.edu
Prospective Graduate Students:
Contact Shenqiang Ren (sren@umd.edu) or Adaire Parker (nparker1@umd.edu) to schedule a visit.
Visit the MSE booth at the annual Mayland Day, typically held the last Saturday in April.
Explore a list of educational Materials Science & Engineering websites
Browse materials science videos on our YouTube Channel: MaterialsatUMD