Interested in a materials science and engineering degree?
People with a materials science and engineering degree investigate the structure, properties and processing of metals, ceramics, polymers and composites, and then applies that knowledge to the design of new materials. Students in the materials science and engineering major can also choose concentrations in biomedical materials engineering, manufacturing engineering, metallurgical engineering or polymeric engineering.
Current MSU research is in energy and sustainability, nanotechnology and materials, and biotechnology and medicine. Major research centers include the Composites and Materials Structures Center, one of the largest integrated facilities for polymer and composite research, and the Composite Vehicle Research Center, a center of excellence for designing and testing composite structures for lightweight, durable and safe vehicles. MSU also leads a scale-up facility in Detroit for the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI). IACMI is a partnership of industry, universities, national laboratories, and federal, state and local governments exploring ways to use composite materials to make automobiles lighter and more fuel-efficient.
Alumni Pursuits
Materials science and engineering graduates apply their understanding of the processing, application and sustainable use of engineering materials essential to the realization of new ideas coming from engineers, scientists, enterprises and society. A rigorous academic environment produces graduates who have mastered the analytical and technical skills needed to successfully compete as professionals, entrepreneurs or postgraduate scholars.
Alumni work at:
Automotive industry
Electronics companies
Aerospace companies
Biomedical companies
Alumni work as:
Aerospace engineers
Automotive engineers
Biomedical engineers
Electronics engineers
Manufacturing engineers
Materials research, design and testing engineers
January 2025
College of Engineering
Engineering Building,
428 S.Shaw Lane,
EAST LANSING,
Michigan,
48824, United States
MSU strongly encourages a college preparatory curriculum in secondary school.
Minimum English requirements
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Internet-based test: score of 79 with no sub score below 17; International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - Regular admission: Score of 6.5 or higher; Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Minimum score of 53; minimum sub score requirement of 48.
Application submission deadline: Regular Admission: February 1.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.