Materials science and engineering (MSE) is an interdisciplinary field where the scientific fundamentals of materials, their structure and properties, and their design and processing for real world applications are explored. Developing new equipment for materials development, and exploring new uses for existing and new materials are also essential tasks of MSE, particularly to meet the needs of modern technology. Examples of materials science research and applications development occurring in the MSE department include developing biomaterials for tissue engineering; composites and metals for aerospace; ceramics for energy applications; computational techniques for materials development; eco-materials for green technologies; genetically engineered molecules and semiconductors for electronics; magnetic materials for information storage/processing, biomedicine and energy conversion; and polymers for telecommunications and solar energy.
Materials science and engineering (MSE) is an interdisciplinary field where the scientific fundamentals of materials, their structure and properties, and their design and processing for real world applications are explored. Developing new equipment for materials development, and exploring new uses for existing and new materials are also essential tasks of MSE, particularly to meet the needs of modern technology. MSE offers two bachelor's degrees, one in MSE and another in MSE with a degree option in Nanoscience and Molecular Engineering. A BS-to-MS program is also available to highly qualified undergraduates. Preparing students for the wide variety of jobs that await them is the department's highest priority. Graduates of the department find employment in the aerospace, automotive, biomedical, chemical, construction, electronics, energy, and telecommunication industries. The department is proud to lay the foundation for successful careers in many sectors of the economy, from academia to industry.
Engineering Undeclared Students
See section on College of Engineering Admission for additional details on Direct-to-College admission and placement process for Engineering Undeclared students. The deadline to submit a request for placement in an engineering major occurs annually on July 1.
If the number of Engineering Undeclared students requesting the major exceeds the department capacity for such students, a matching process is implemented. Factors considered include performance in prerequisite courses, quality of overall academic record, content of personal statement, applicable work or extracurricular activities, and other special circumstances as disclosed by the applicant.
Engineering Undeclared students in good standing with respect to the continuation criteria described below may request placement into an engineering major after completion of minimum requirements as specified below:
Students in good standing who do not meet the placement requirements by July 1 will be placed into a major on a conditional basis pending the completion of all placement requirements. Additional advising resources will be available to these students. See section on College of Engineering Continuation Policy for Engineering Undeclared Students for additional details.
Other Current UW Students and Transfer Students
Current UW students without Engineering Undeclared status and transfer students may apply. Admission is competitive.
Students are encouraged to complete A A 210, CEE 220, ENGR 231, MATH 208 (unless MATH 136 is completed), and PHYS 123 (or PHYS 143) prior to autumn quarter.
Factors considered include performance in prerequisite courses, quality of overall academic record, demonstrated ability to complete a rigorous courseload, record of honors, content of personal statement, applicable work or extracurricular activities, and other special circumstances as disclosed by the applicant.
All students must make satisfactory academic progress in the major. Failure to do so results in probation, which can lead to dismissal from the major. For the complete continuation policy contact the department adviser or refer to the department website.
The Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering degree explores scientific fundamentals of materials, their structure and properties, and their design and processing for real world applications. Students also study the development of new equipment for materials development, and exploration of new uses for existing and new materials. Preparing students for the wide variety of jobs that await them is the department's highest priority. Graduates of the department find employment in the aerospace, automotive, biomedical, chemical, construction, electronics, energy, and telecommunication industries. The department is proud to lay the foundation for successful careers in many sectors of the economy, from academia to industry.
Minimum 180 credits
General Education Requirements
Basic Skills
Areas of Inquiry
Major Requirements (90 credits)
The Nanoscience and Molecular Engineering (NME) option credential explores scientific fundamentals of materials, their structure and properties, and their design and processing for real world applications. Students also study the development of new equipment for materials development, and exploration of new uses for existing and new materials. NME option students devote all of their materials science and engineering electives and their senior project to the subjects of nanoscience and molecular engineering. NME option students find employment in all areas of materials science and engineering, but are naturally focused on putting their NME skills to work. The department is proud to lay the foundation for successful careers in many economic sectors, from academia to industry.
Option specific admission
Admission is by self-selection and normally occurs after completion of NME 220, completion of the major prerequisite courses, and formal admission to the MSE major. Transfer students should indicate an interest on their major application and discuss their interests/background in the application personal statement.
Minimum 180 credits
General Education Requirements
Basic Skills
Areas of Inquiry
Option Requirements (94 credits)
Materials Science & Engineering offers a minor to provide enrolled students with the necessary fundamental materials science and engineering skills to enable specialized work with materials within their major discipline upon graduation, or to prepare for graduate studies in Materials Science & Engineering at the UW or elsewhere.
The Materials Science & Engineering minor provides students with the necessary fundamental materials science and engineering skills to enable specialized work with materials within their major discipline upon graduation, or to prepare for graduate studies in Materials Science & Engineering at the UW or elsewhere. Courses for the MSE minor are particularly chemistry- and physics- intensive so foundational skills in these disciplines are essential for success.
30 credits
The following courses serve as prerequisites for the departmental courses in the minor: MATH 124, MATH 125, MATH 126, MATH 207, and MATH 208 (or MATH 134, MATH 135, MATH 136); CHEM 142, CHEM 152 (or CHEM 143, CHEM 153, or CHEM 145, CHEM 155); PHYS 121, PHYS 122, PHYS 123 (or PHYS 141, PHYS 142, PHYS 143); MSE 170; English composition. Students should take these courses before beginning the minor program.
Student Outcomes and Opportunities
Contact department for requirements.
Contact department for requirements.
Contact department for requirements.
The development of new materials is crucial to advancing technology in fields such as air and space travel, renewable energy and energy storage, transportation, and electrical vehicle production, as well as computing tools. Fortunately, emerging fields such as data science, AI, cloud computing, quantum computing, computational simulation, and automation offer new opportunities to accelerate the materials development process. This program will provide students with a solid foundation in materials science and engineering fundamentals, while also offering hands-on training in data science techniques for materials development. Students will gain valuable skills in the use of versatile methods and computational tools for solving materials-related challenges. This certificate program focuses on the application of data science in engineering, in particular to data for materials science and engineering. Data in the field of materials science possesses its own unique characteristics. Leveraging data science and machine learning techniques can significantly accelerate advancements in materials research. However, it is crucial to note that the application of data science in materials science data necessitates specialized techniques. This curriculum is designed to encompass both fundamental aspects of Materials Science and techniques from Data Science.
Contact department for requirements.
Total credits: 15
Required courses (13 credits): MSE 542, 543, 544, 570, 571
Culminating experience (2 credits): ENGR 591, MSE 520
Contact department for requirements.
Contact department for requirements.
Contact department for requirements.
Contact department for requirements.
Contact department for requirements.
Contact department for requirements.
Contact department for requirements.
Master's Program
Overall details about the MSE Master's Program are available at https://mse.washington.edu/student/applied-masters
Master's Program Admission : https://mse.washington.edu/admission/graduate/amp
Ph.D Program
Overall details about the MSE Ph.D. Program are available at https://mse.washington.edu/student/doctorate
Ph.D. Program Admission: https://mse.washington.edu/admission/phd
Research Facilities and Labs
MSE research facilities and labs are detailed at https://mse.washington.edu/about/facilities.