Department Profile

Welcome to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Michigan Technological University. I encourage you to explore this site to find out more about our program, what we do, and, more importantly, what we can do for you.

The Field of Materials Science and Engineering

Whether you are driving your car, listening to music on your iPod, calling someone on your cell phone, or flying across the country to visit a relative or friend, materials surround you. The world needs engineers and scientists who understand materials, in order to make them stronger, lighter, safer, greener, and more cost-effective. This is exactly what we do, and you can learn to do it also, with the education and experience we have to offer.

The World of Materials: As Limitless as Your Imagination

Our graduates are in great demand and accept positions in diverse industries. Careers are diverse, and you will have the opportunity to put many ideas into action. Bionic limbs, spacecraft, mountain bikes, cell phones, and many more innovations were all made possible by advances in materials science and engineering.

Discoveries often lead to major technological breakthroughs including

  • Nanotechnologies that make computers smaller and faster,
  • New materials that allow for energy conversion and storage for a cleaner environment,
  • Tough composites that enable athletes to enhance performance,
  • Quantum forces that create microscopic silicon chips that wire themselves, and
  • Biomaterials that help people live better, longer lives.

What Makes Our Program Unique?

Students benefit from an extraordinary educational environment. Our exceptional department offers students

  • Small class sizes allowing close interaction with faculty, staff and fellow students,
  • Hands-on learning that enables discovery by doing and using state-of-the-art equipment,
  • High-tech facilities and equipment, such as the atomic force and focused ion beam electron microscopes,
  • Real-world challenges through participation in industrial-sponsored Senior Design and Enterprise projects, internships, and co-ops,
  • Global opportunities through study abroad, and
  • Outstanding faculty and staff—exceptional mentors, teachers, and researchers who maintain an open-door policy.