inline-defaultCreated with Sketch.
inline-defaultCreated with Sketch.
HomeUniversitiesProgramsStudents & Alumni
search
Students
Bachelors

Materials Science and Engineering (BS)

North Carolina State University
Raleigh , United States
Visit Program Website
Students
Tuition Fee
Not Available
Start Date
Not Available
Medium of studying
Not Available
Duration
Not Available
Details
About Program
About University
Gallery
Contact School
Details
Program Details
Degree
Bachelors
Course Language
English
About Program

Program Overview

Materials Science and Engineering (BS)

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering at NC State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering degree. The program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.


Admission

Students complete the standard set of engineering first-year courses, which include courses in the humanities, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and computing. Students may apply to join the Department of Materials Science and Engineering as degree-seeking students via the CODA process.


Curriculum

At NC State, Materials Science and Engineering students are trained to understand the complexities of all classes of material. Our curriculum begins with core courses in thermodynamics, kinetics, and structure, building a strong foundation before advancing to mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties.


Hands-on learning is a cornerstone of the program, with two laboratory courses that immerse students in analytical techniques to characterize materials at all scales and measure their properties. Our program covers cutting-edge technologies like nanomaterials, biomaterials, advanced functional materials, materials forensics, computational modeling, and AI-driven materials optimization.


With five technical electives, students can tailor their education with courses in materials processing, engineering, chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, biological sciences, computer science, data science, and beyond. This flexibility allows students to prepare for diverse career paths in industry or pursue graduate studies.


In our two-semester capstone senior design project, students apply their knowledge to solve practical materials challenges with industry partners. Working in teams, you'll tackle hands-on problems and bridge classroom learning with real-world impact.


Opportunities

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering offers two undergraduate concentrations (Biomaterials and Nanomaterials) and an Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's (ABM) Program.


The ABM program gives students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in five years. Four graduate courses (12 credit hours) can be taken while still an undergraduate student and can be double-counted towards both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.


Plan Requirements

  • Course List Code | Title | Hours
    • Math
      • MA 141 | Calculus I | 4
      • MA 241 | Calculus II | 4
      • MA 242 | Calculus III | 4
      • MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3
      • ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3
    • Sciences
      • CH 101 & CH 102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory | 4
      • CH 201 & CH 202 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 4
      • CH 220 or CH 221 | Introductory Organic Chemistry or Organic Chemistry I | 3
      • CH 222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1
      • PY 205 & PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | 4
      • PY 208 & PY 209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 4
    • Economics
      • EC 205 or EC 201 or ARE 201 | Fundamentals of Economics or Principles of Microeconomics or Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | 3
    • Ethics Elective (verify requirement)
    • Required Courses
      • MSE 201 | Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials | 3
      • MSE 255 | Experimental Methods for Structural Analysis of Materials | 2
      • MSE 260 | Mathematical Methods for Materials Engineers | 3
      • MSE 270 | Materials Science and Engineering Seminar | 1
      • MSE 300 | Structure of Materials at the Nanoscale | 3
      • MSE 301 | Introduction to Thermodynamics of Materials | 3
      • MSE 320 | Introduction to Defects in Solids | 3
      • MSE 335 | Experimental Methods for Analysis of Material Properties | 2
      • MSE 355 | Electrical, Magnetic and Optical Properties of Materials | 3
      • MSE 360 | Kinetic Processes in Materials | 3
      • MSE 370 | Microstructure of Inorganic Materials | 3
      • MSE 380 | Microstructure of Organic Materials | 3
      • MSE 420 | Mechanical Properties of Materials | 3
      • MSE 423 | Introduction to Materials Engineering Design | 1
      • MSE 470 | Materials Science and Engineering Senior Design Project | 3
      • MSE 480 | Materials Forensics and Degradation | 3
    • Electives
      • MSE Processing Elective (choose 1 course) | 3
      • Engineering Elective (choose 1 course) | 3
      • Technical Electives (choose 3 courses) | 9-11
    • Technical Writing
      • ENG 331 or ENG 333 | Communication for Engineering and Technology or Communication for Science and Research | 3
    • Orientation Courses
      • E 101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving | 1
      • E 102 | Engineering in the 21st Century | 2
      • E 115 | Introduction to Computing Environments | 1
    • GEP Courses
      • ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4
      • GEP Humanities | 6
      • GEP Social Sciences | 3
      • GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2
      • GEP Elective | 3
      • GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3
      • GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
      • GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement)
      • World Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
    • Total Hours | 126

MSE Processing Electives

  • Course List Code | Title | Hours
    • MSE 440/540 | Processing of Metallic Materials | 3
    • MSE 445/545 | Ceramic Processing | 3
    • MSE 455/555 | Polymer Technology and Engineering | 3
    • MSE 456/556 | Composite Materials | 3
    • MSE 460/560 | Microelectronic Materials | 3

Engineering Electives

  • Course List Code | Title | Hours
    • Any MSE Processing Elective
    • CE 214 | Engineering Mechanics-Statics | 3
    • CE 225 | Mechanics of Solids | 3
    • CSC 110 | Computer Science Principles - The Beauty and Joy of Computing | 3
    • CSC 111 | Introduction to Computing: Python | 3
    • CSC 113 | Introduction to Computing - MATLAB | 3
    • CSC 116 | Introduction to Computing - Java | 3
    • E 304 | Introduction to Nano Science and Technology | 3
    • ECE 331 | Principles of Electrical Engineering | 3
    • ISE 311 | Engineering Economic Analysis | 3
    • MAE 206 | Engineering Statics | 3
    • MAE 208 | Engineering Dynamics | 3
    • MAE 214 | Solid Mechanics | 3
    • MSE 409/509/NE 409/509 | Nuclear Materials | 3
    • MSE 465/565 | Introduction to Nanomaterials | 3
    • MSE 485 | Biomaterials | 3
    • MSE/ECE/PY 489 | Solid State Solar and Thermal Energy Harvesting | 3
    • MSE 490 | Special Topics in Materials Science and Engineering | 1-4
    • MSE 495 | Materials Engineering Projects (Department Approval Required) | 3
    • NE 202 | Radiation Sources, Interaction and Detection | 4
    • TE 205 | Analog and Digital Circuits | 4
    • Other engineering electives (with departmental approval)
    • 500-level courses (with departmental approval)

Technical Electives

  • Course List Code | Title | Hours
    • Any MSE Processing Elective
    • Any Engineering Elective
    • BCH 451 | Principles of Biochemistry | 4
    • CH 223 | Organic Chemistry II | 3
    • CH 315 | Quantitative Analysis | 3
    • CH 401 | Systematic Inorganic Chemistry I | 3
    • CH 437 | Physical Chemistry for Engineers | 4
    • MA 305 | Introductory Linear Algebra and Matrices | 3
    • MA 351 | Introduction to Discrete Mathematical Models | 3
    • MA 401 | Applied Differential Equations II | 3
    • MA 402 | Mathematics of Scientific Computing | 3
    • MA 405 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3
    • MEA 463 | Fluid Physics | 3
    • PY 328 | Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics | 3
    • PY 407 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 3
    • PY 411/511 | Mechanics I | 3
    • PY 412/512 | Mechanics II | 3
    • PY 414/514 | Electromagnetism I | 3
    • PY 415/515 | Electromagnetism II | 3
    • Other technical electives (with departmental approval)
    • 500-level courses (with departmental approval)

Ethics Electives

  • Course List Code | Title | Hours
    • EED 414/514 | Ethics for Engineering Education | 3
    • IDS 201 | Environmental Ethics | 3
    • PHI 214 | Issues in Business Ethics | 3
    • PHI 221 | Contemporary Moral Issues | 3
    • PHI 227 | Data Ethics | 3
    • PHI/STS 325 | Bio-Medical Ethics | 3
    • PHI 375 | Ethics | 3
    • STS 302 | Contemporary Science, Technology and Human Values | 3
    • STS 304 | Ethical Dimensions of Progress | 3

Semester Sequence

This is a sample plan of study.


  • Plan of Study Grid First Year
    • Fall Semester
      • CH 101 & CH 102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory | 4
      • ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4
      • E 102 | Engineering in the 21st Century | 2
      • MA 141 | Calculus I | 4
      • EC 205 or EC 201 or ARE 201 | Fundamentals of Economics or Principles of Microeconomics or Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | 3
    • Spring Semester
      • CH 201 & CH 202 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 4
      • E 101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving | 1
      • E 115 | Introduction to Computing Environments | 1
      • MA 241 | Calculus II | 4
      • PY 205 & PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | 4
      • GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1

Career Opportunities

Earning a Bachelor of Science in MSE offers graduates a wealth of exciting career opportunities across diverse industries. The interdisciplinary nature of an MSE education prepares individuals to work in roles that involve designing, developing, and optimizing materials that drive innovation and address societal needs.


  • Starting Salary: Graduates in MSE typically earn an average starting salary of $70,000 to $90,000 per year.
  • Common Industries:
    • Materials Science
    • Electronics and Semiconductors
    • Aerospace
    • Energy
    • Sustainability
    • Biomedical
    • Automotive
    • Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare
    • Environmental Engineering
    • Consumer Goods
    • Regenerative Medicine
    • Diagnostics
  • Career Titles:
    • Ceramics Engineer
    • Composite Engineer
    • Consulting Engineer
    • Corrosion Engineer
    • Data Engineer
    • Defectivity Design Engineer
    • Design Engineer
    • Engineering Technician
    • Failure Analysis Engineer
    • Field Applications Scientist
    • Manufacturing Engineer
    • Materials Engineer
    • Materials Scientist
    • Metallurgical Engineer
    • Packaging Engineer
    • Patent Examiner
    • Plastics Engineer
    • Polymer Materials Engineer
    • Pre-Sales Engineer
    • Principal Scientist
    • Process Engineer
    • Product Designer
    • Product Engineer
    • Project Manager
    • Quality Engineer
    • Quality Control Engineer
    • Renewable Energy Materials Engineer
    • R &D Engineer
    • Sales Engineer
    • Semiconductor Processing Engineer
    • Systems Engineer
See More