Overview

The University of Michigan undergraduate program in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) covers scientific and engineering principles as well as their application to realistic problems. In developing these principles, students use chemistry and physics to understand how properties of materials depend on chemical bonding, atomic and molecular arrangements, crystal structures, and microstructures. Students apply these principles in the laboratory, often using sophisticated research instruments and software. They learn to use optical and electron microscopes to characterize microstructure and to examine structural imperfections. They use diffraction techniques to identify phases, to determine the orientation of crystallites, and to measure crystal distortions. They use scanning electron microscopes to examine fracture surfaces and to analyze microscopic features. Students also learn how to use variations in composition and structure and different methods of processing to control properties of materials, recognizing that costs and environmental factors are also important. The program also introduces undergraduates to computational materials science tools and concepts, which facilitates understanding and application of the fundamentals to real engineering problems. The MSE undergraduate program gives students a broad foundation in all classes of materials, including metals, polymers, ceramics, and materials used in the manufacture of solid-state electronic devices. The program has generous provisions for electives to suit individual interests. By choosing appropriate electives, a student can also obtain a second bachelor’s degree either in Engineering or in any program of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (through an additional semester or year of work). Study abroad and co-op programs are encouraged and facilitated.  Undergraduate students are an important and active part of MSE, and many students participate in the Michigan Materials Society, an active student professional society. Small classes encourage direct student/faculty interaction, and students are urged to participate in faculty research programs. Our program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012 - telephone: (410) 347-7700. 

Our undergraduate program is one of the top undergraduate program in materials science and engineering in the United States. In 2012, the University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering was ranked #4 by the U.S. News and World Report. Please join us to be among the best and the brightest to experience the curriculum at the forefront of the field, built on excellence and innovations in education.