Majors, minors & more
Materials Science and Engineering
Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
- Offered as:
- Major
- Minor
- Graduate program
Overview
Materials scientists and engineers are concerned with how materials behave at all scales—from electrons to skyscrapers. They are interested in improving the performance of existing materials and in designing and fabricating new, higher performance materials that don’t exist in nature. An important part of designing new materials is to understand the structure of materials from the atomic level upwards.
- Scholarships and financial aid
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A variety of state, federal, and university-sponsored programs are available to help students with educational costs.
For all students at WSU
Washington State University awards millions of dollars in financial aid and scholarships to students every year based on financial need, academic merit, or a combination of the two.
To get all the financial help WSU can provide, start by doing these two things:
- Complete the University's general scholarship application so you can be eligible for scholarship consideration.
- Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) so WSU can consider you for aid (scholarships, grants, loans, etc.) based on financial need.
Click here for more info about WSU scholarships and financial aid
For engineering students
In addition to general university scholarships, students are eligible for corporate and privately supported scholarships and achievement awards offered by the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture.
- Careers in materials science and engineering
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Students who graduate with a degree in MSE are in great demand in all areas of the economy.
WSU graduates have gone on to work for a wide range of small, medium, and large companies. Most recently, they have been employed by such companies as Micron Technology, Hewlett-Packard, REC Silicon, Boeing, Intel, and Sikorsky Helicopter, among many others.Starting salaries typically range from $45,000 to $60,000 per year.
Materials scientists and engineers can work in a wide variety of areas. A degree in MSE can lead to careers in technical sales and marketing, consulting, patent law, business, and teaching. Many graduates go on to do research at leading schools in the U.S. or work in national laboratories.
MSE graduates may be involved in creating the following:- New composite materials for aircraft and space applications
- Materials for the next generation of integrated circuits
- Magnetic and optical materials for information storage
- New alloys with improved high-temperature stability, increased fracture toughness, and better fatigue resistance for power generation
- Polymer materials for sealants and coatings
- Ceramics with better fracture toughness for structural applications
- Biomaterials for use in the body