Materials Science & Engineering
Bennion
Center
Learning Abroad
Courses
Getting Started
Making Progress
- Take MSE 2010
- Continue with your allied science sequence (talk to advisor)
- Study in the Student Epicenter (FASB 104) or the Breezeway (CME 3rd floor)
- Contact your advisor to be assigned your faculty mentor
- Take a Gen Ed. class that looks interesting (GEO 3030 is a great IR class!)
- Begin taking upper-division electives and explore internship opportunities
Finishing Up
- Meet with your advisor to review your degree audit
- Apply for graduation during your final fall semester
Community
Getting Started
- Visit student involvement tables in the fall (more info in Student Epicenter - FASB 104)
- Check out MSE's website for events & follow our social media
- Join the E-LEAP learning community for engineers
Making Progress
- Join an MSE student group
- Attend the Get Involved Fair and Engineering Club Rush to learn about student clubs/organizations on campus
- Apply to live in the Kennecott House or Crocker Science House, or become an RA for Kahlert Village
- Experience an alternative fall or spring break through the Bennion Center
- Consider becoming an E-LEAP peer mentor
Finishing Up
- Join the Materials Advantage Student Chapter
- Get involved with the department outreach committee (contact your advisor)
Knowledge & Skills
Getting Started
- Meet with a Career Coach in the CPDC
- Interview or job shadow someone in your field of interest
- Connect with an MSE professor to learn about their work & skills needed in their field
Making Progress
- Attend the STEM Job Fair in the fall to find internships (see CPDC calendar)
- Join a research team - talk to your current professors or explore faculty research areas
- Discuss & develop your research ideas with OUR and apply for research funding through UROP
- Meet with your advisor to explore technical electives
- Attend the Undergraduate Research Symposium to check out student research projects
Finishing Up
- Present your research at the annual department banquet and/or at the Undergraduate Research Symposium
Transformation
Getting Started
- Consider a minor, certificate, or second major to enhance your degree
- Visit the Lassonde Institute for entrepreneurial opportunities
- Meet with a Student Success Coach
Making Progress
- Begin senior thesis series with MSE 5090
- Explore and/or volunteer at the Natural History Museum of Utah
- Visit one of Utah's national parks
- Consider a learning abroad experience; complete Learning Abroad 101 to get started
- Check out requirements for the Engineering Entrepreneurship Certificate
- Participate in a workshop or training offered by the Counseling Center or Center for Student Wellness
Finishing Up
- Participate in graduation events across campus (look our for advisor emails with details)
- Attend the graduate seminar lectures series as a guest (presented weekly)
Impact
Getting Started
- Join an MSE student club or organization
- Meet with your advisor or a Student Success Coach to discuss issues that are important to you and ways to get involved
Making Progress
- Participate in or create your own community service project with the Bennion Center
- Organize study groups for you and your peers
- Volunteer at the Edible Gardens on campus or find volunteer opportunities through your student group(s)
- Check out the Nano Institute of Utah
- Apply to participate in the REU summer research program
Careers
Getting Started
- Start building your resume with a Career Coach
- Activate and customize your Handshake account to find jobs, internships, and career events
Making Progress
- Create a LinkedIn account
- Consider internships through the Hinckley Institute and/or meet with a CPDC internship coordinator
- Apply for research funding through UROP
- Attend Career Expo in the fall and spring semesters
- Conduct informational interviews with alumni or professionals in your field of interest
- Talk to your professors about whether graduate school is needed for your future career
Finishing Up
- Apply for jobs or graduate schools at least 6 months before graduation (see your advisor for details)
- Meet with a Career Coach to practice interviews & salary negotiation
Start Your Career Journey
Find support at the Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC)
About the Major
If you have a love for chemistry, physics, and engineering, Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) is the place for you. It is the only discipline in the College of Engineering that offers the opportunity to study science while earning an engineering degree.
Materials Scientists apply the principles of physics and chemistry to design and develop new materials for engineering applications. Without materials science, our world of computers, wireless phones, biomedical implants, aircrafts, autos, and compact disks would not exist. Materials science and engineering is critical to advancing technologies used to develop energy sources, protect the environment, preserve infrastructure, cure diseases, and improve communication.
As an MSE major at the U, you study fundamental science and engineering principles that apply to all types of materials, in addition to in-depth study of polymers and ceramics. You can take technical electives in areas such as nanostructured materials, metallurgy, photovoltaic materials, single crystal growth, microsystems design, biomaterials, and more, and gain hands-on experience with experimental techniques including X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, thermal analysis, and spectroscopy. In your final year, you complete a capstone design project that prepares you for real-world engineering design and applications. With a degree in Materials Science & Engineering, you acquire the technical skills and theoretical knowledge to succeed in a variety of science and engineering fields.
Materials Scientists apply the principles of physics and chemistry to design and develop new materials for engineering applications. Without materials science, our world of computers, wireless phones, biomedical implants, aircrafts, autos, and compact disks would not exist. Materials science and engineering is critical to advancing technologies used to develop energy sources, protect the environment, preserve infrastructure, cure diseases, and improve communication.
As an MSE major at the U, you study fundamental science and engineering principles that apply to all types of materials, in addition to in-depth study of polymers and ceramics. You can take technical electives in areas such as nanostructured materials, metallurgy, photovoltaic materials, single crystal growth, microsystems design, biomaterials, and more, and gain hands-on experience with experimental techniques including X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, thermal analysis, and spectroscopy. In your final year, you complete a capstone design project that prepares you for real-world engineering design and applications. With a degree in Materials Science & Engineering, you acquire the technical skills and theoretical knowledge to succeed in a variety of science and engineering fields.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
- Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and societal contexts.
- Function effectively on a team: provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- Understand structures, properties, processing and performance relationships.
Plan & Prepare
At the U, we plan for our students to have an exceptional Educational Experience identified by four broad categories we call the Learning Framework: Community, Knowledge & Skills, Transformation, and Impact. This major map will help you envision, explore, design, and plan your personalized Exceptional Education Experience with the Learning Framework at the core. In addition to assisting you in planning your coursework and navigating the requirements of your major, this map will help you incorporate other kinds of experiences to expand your knowledge, support your development, and prepare you for the future you want.