The Department of Materials Science and Engineering undergraduate and graduate programs are both nationally ranked and focus on the fundamental aspects of the interplay of the structure, processing, and properties of materials with a particular emphasis on ceramics.

One of the most impressive aspects of the students' learning is their access to our world class facilities. The Department contains extensive instructional and research facilities focusing on the manufacturing, control, and analysis of the wide variety of conventional and advanced materials including: ceramics glasses, composites and electrical, optical, and magnetic materials required by modern technology. Students that utilize the laboratory equipment and facilities learn to solve problems related to the design, processing and evaluation of conventional and specialty materials. Special equipment exposes our students to the preparation and evaluation of the newer types of ceramics, metals, polymers, and composites required in aerospace, advanced engine, biotechnology, photonics, and electromagnetic applications.

Another attractive feature of our Department is the small class sizes, which makes instruction more interactive. The curriculum includes a large number of laboratory courses, which provide hands on experience and learning to our students. Generally, the laboratories are located within the A-Wing of the Engineering Building, the McLaren Center for Ceramic Research, or the Fiber Optic Materials Research Building. Lectures are typically held within two new buildings, SERC - Science and Engineering Resources Center and ARC - Allison Road Classroom.