Materials Engineering
Materials engineers work with science and technology, investigating the properties and characteristics of various materials in order to test their suitability for practical applications in industry. Read on to find out more about the world of materials engineering.
Inside Materials Engineering
Materials engineers study specific substances at the atomic level using computers to replicate characteristics of those substances. Understanding material composition at the most basic level and the synthesis of new materials are of primary importance to material engineers, who select, design, develop, manufacture, test and evaluate materials that meet the specifications of various projects and products.
Undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs are available in materials engineering. These programs concentrate on the relationship between the structure and properties of materials, as explained through chemistry, physics and mathematics. In addition to computer application labs, topics of study at the undergraduate level can include chemical and physical processing of material, as well as composites design, nanotechnology, nanomaterials, the effects of radiation and engineering materials design. Graduate students may study processing and synthesis, structure and properties, metal corrosion, nanoscale science and nanophotonics, among other topics. Material engineering students can specialize as early as their undergraduate years in areas such as soft materials, biomaterials or material science. Graduate students may specialize further, whether on a specific material or in a type of research. Graduation from a master's program can lead to earning a Ph.D.
Materials engineering experts often find career opportunities with the government, as well as in the computer, electronics, transportation, metal fabrication and machinery manufacturing industries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of materials engineers was expected to grow nine percent from 2008-2018, which was as fast as the average compared to all occupations (www.bls.gov). The BLS also reported in May of 2010 that the median salary for this profession was $83,120.
Learn More About Materials Engineering
Aspiring materials engineers may choose from a variety of educational options to prepare them for successful careers in the field. These Education-Portal.com articles explore some of the instructional and professional routes available in materials engineering.
Degree Options
Plenty of schools have materials engineering programs, some of them with specializations in particular materials. The following articles provide details about an education in materials engineering, as well as talk about some top engineering schools.
Career Options
Materials engineers may work as researchers in the public or private sectors. The following includes info about a career in materials engineering, as well as details about specializing in a particular material.
Distance Learning Options
Online courses and programs are available for those who want the flexibility of earning a degree from home and want to upgrade their skills and knowledge in materials engineering or engineering in general. Here are some examples.
Materials Engineering Related Articles
- Related
- Recently Updated
- Popular
Materials Engineering Degree Program Information
Materials engineers create, test and evaluate known and new materials for specialized industry and manufacturing applications. Undergraduate...
Top Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering Schools
Aerospace and aeronautical engineering is the design and creation of spacecrafts and aircrafts. Avionics, propulsion, materials science,...
Dr. Lynford Goddard Talks Engineering Outreach with Education-Portal.com
University of Illinois professor Lynford L. Goddard has made quite a mark on the electrical and computer engineering (ECE) community. In...
Top Ranked Human Resource Management Degree Program - Kansas City, MO
Students who want to pursue a human resource management degree in the Kansas City area should consider enrolling at Ottawa University-Kansas...Top Ranked School for Medical Assisting Degrees - Indianapolis, IN
With about 30 different campuses spread throughout Indiana, Ivy Tech Community College - Central Indiana is located in Indianapolis, Indiana....- Top Ranked University with an Information Technology Major - San Francisco, CA
- Top Ranked School for Graphic Design - Charlotte, NC
- Best School for a Degree in Marketing - Bakersfield, CA
- Top Health Care Administration Degree Programs - Los Angeles, CA
- Top Degree Programs in Electronics - Anaheim, CA
Career Information for a Degree or Certification in Dental Support Services
Dental support services include workers who aid dentists and oral surgeons, such as dental assistants and dental hygienists. Dental...
Online CNA Programs
Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) work under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) to provide bedside care and assistance to patients...
Materials Engineering Related Videos
- Related
2 Popular Schools
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Masters degree applicants must have a Bachelors degree
- Doctorate degree applicants must have a Masters degree
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
-
Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
School locations:
- Online Learning
Distance Learning Programs
-
Non-Degree
-
- AS in Engineering Technology
-
Other Schools:
-
School locations:
- Iowa (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at Iowa State University include:
-
- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Engineering
- Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
- Biological and Agricultural Engineering
- Biomedical and Medical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering and Electronics
- Engineering Mechanics
- Industrial Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Math
- Mechanical Engineering
- Systems Engineering
-
School locations:
- Michigan (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of Michigan include:
-
- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Post Degree Certificate: Post Master's Certificate, Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Engineering
- Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
- Biomedical and Medical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering and Electronics
- Engineering - Architectural
- Engineering Mechanics
- Engineering Physics
- Environmental Engineering
- Geological Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Material Sciences
- Math
- Mechanical Engineering
- Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
- Plastics Engineering
- Systems Engineering
-
School locations:
- Washington (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of Washington include:
-
- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Engineering
- Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
- Biomedical and Medical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering and Electronics
- Industrial Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Math
- Mechanical Engineering
- Metallurgical Engineering
-
School locations:
- Florida (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of Florida include:
-
- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Post Degree Certificate: Post Master's Certificate
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Engineering
- Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
- Biological and Agricultural Engineering
- Biomedical and Medical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering and Electronics
- Environmental Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Math
- Mechanical Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
- Ocean Engineering
- Surveying
- Systems Engineering
-
School locations:
- Ohio (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of Cincinnati include:
-
- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Non-Degree: Certificate, Coursework
- Post Degree Certificate: Post Master's Certificate
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Engineering
- Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
- Biomedical and Medical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering and Electronics
- Engineering - Architectural
- Environmental Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Math
- Mechanical Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
-
School locations:
- Alabama (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at The University of Alabama include:
-
- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Post Degree Certificate: Post Master's Certificate
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Engineering
- Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Electrical Engineering and Electronics
- Engineering Mechanics
- Environmental Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Math
- Mechanical Engineering
- Metallurgical Engineering
-
School locations:
- Delaware (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of Delaware include:
-
- Graduate: Doctorate, Master
- Undergraduate: Associate, Bachelor
- Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering and Electronics
- Environmental Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Material Sciences
- Math
- Mechanical Engineering
- Ocean Engineering
-
School locations:
- Iowa (1 campus)
Areas of study you may find at University of Iowa include:
-
- Graduate: Doctorate, First Professional Degree, Master
- Undergraduate: Bachelor
- Engineering
- Biomedical and Medical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering and Electronics
- Industrial Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Math
- Mechanical Engineering
