Materials Science and Engineering Major

PREPARES YOU TO USE CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS, AND BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES IN CREATING AND MANIPULATING THE STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF ADVANCED MATERIALS

Key to the explosive growth in modern technology is the development of advanced materials by materials science engineers and scientists. New materials from nanostructured and biomedical materials to electronic ceramics and copolymers are paving for the way for the new fields, new ideas, and new technologies that are changing the way we live and work.

Penn's nationally-ranked Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) program stresses core principles (thermodynamics, structure, bonding, and phase transformations) and areas of concentration (nanoscale materials, biomaterials, polymers, ceramics, mechanical properties, and electronic materials). The program offers students advantages seldom found in other MSE programs: the opportunity to tailor the curriculum to their own interests and guaranteed research experience; a broad education that is also suited to a Management & Technology degree or business major, and an excellent student-faculty ratio.

Educational Objectives of the MSE Program

The undergraduate program in Materials Science and Engineering strives to prepare to:

• excel in careers in materials science and engineering practice and research in materials-relevant industries such as biomedical, electronics, energy, telecommunications, and transportation;
• use our rigorous and creative program to excel in other career paths;
• excel in top-ranked engineering graduate programs and professional schools;
• be quantitative, critical, creative, and independent thinkers who use their technical expertise to address societal needs; and
• be recognized leaders in their chosen fields.

MSE Sample Curriculum