Materials Science and Engineering undergraduate program
Source: https://engineering.cmu.edu/education/undergraduate-studies/curriculum/programs/mse.html Parent: https://engineering.cmu.edu/education/undergraduate-studies/curriculum/index.html
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The Department of Materials Science and Engineering’s (MSE) undergraduate program prepares students to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying engineering, science, and mathematics principles. Students may choose to pursue additional majors or minors to enhance their experiences gained in Materials Science and Engineering.
Graduates of the program go on to work at companies like Epic, GlobalFoundries, Intel, Merck, and Nike and pursue graduate degrees at academic institutions such as CMU, Duke University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Northwestern University, and the University of Michigan.
Degree programs
- *Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering*Students in the Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering program gain the knowledge and skills to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems. They apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specific needs by considering public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
- Integrated Master’s/Bachelor’s in Materials Science and Engineering\ The Integrated Master’s/Bachelor’s (IMB) program allows students who excel academically to achieve both a bachelor’s and master’s degree without needing to apply separately. Designed to provide extensive knowledge and technical proficiency, this program enhances students’ preparedness for careers in the industry. Typically completed in eight to ten full academic semesters at CMU, this comprehensive experience ensures graduates are well-equipped for their professional endeavors.
Student experience
Chart your own course at the intersection of technology, creativity, and innovation. With a diverse array of over 400+ student-run organizations, deep industry connections with the world's most pioneering companies, and unparalleled access to cutting-edge technology and workspaces, CMU offers a boundless range of academic pursuits and experiential opportunities that will go beyond what you imagined possible.
Related organizations
- Society of Women Engineers
- National Society of Black Engineers
- Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
News
[Mar 20
News & Events
What a scoop! Engineering alumnus thrives in the newsroom
After years of study and research in materials science and geology, Darius Dixon’s curiosity, investigative spirit, and love of language urged him toward a career in the fast-paced world of journalism.](https://engineering.cmu.edu/news-events/news/2026/03/20-what-a-scoop.html)
[In season nine of Rethink the Rink, students solve issues associated with goalie chest protectors, including impact absorption, mobility, and functionality.
Polymers, prototypes, and Penguins](https://engineering.cmu.edu/news-events/news/2026/03/17-rethink-the-rink.html)
[Mar 12
News & Events
Graduate Student Spotlight: Henry Stanton
In addition to his coursework, Henry has capitalized on opportunities for hands-on research related to Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing as he has worked toward his Master's degree during the past year.](https://www.mse.engineering.cmu.edu/news/2026/03/12-graduate-spotlight.html)
[Feb 18
News & Events
Engineering Leadership Skills from the Track to the Classroom
MSE student Kara Mathias, who is a member of the Carnegie Mellon cross country and track & field teams, was selected to attend the NCAA Division III Student Immersion Program during the organization’s annual conference.](https://www.mse.engineering.cmu.edu/news/2026/02/18-ncaa-leadership.html)
[Feb 9
Advanced Manufacturing
Successful part production advances digital twin modeling project
Researchers have completed their first successful production of a challenge part, which will advance efforts to optimize additive manufacturing of custom components used in aeroengines.](https://engineering.cmu.edu/news-events/news/2026/02/09-digital-twin-modeling.html)
[Feb 3
Advanced Manufacturing
Early research opportunities spur discovery
Last summer, MSE students completing their first year of undergraduate studies took advantage of the opportunity to complement their classroom experience with research efforts.](https://www.mse.engineering.cmu.edu/news/2026/02/03-undergrad-research.html)
[Jan 29
Artificial Intelligence
Accelerating materials innovation through AI and data science
By leveraging expertise in materials and artificial intelligence from across departments, researchers from Carnegie Mellon are exploring solutions to the challenges facing materials discovery.](https://engineering.cmu.edu/news-events/news/2026/01/29-accelerating-materials-innovation.html)
[A recent study analyzed the variations in operations across the global blast furnace fleet and its impact on carbon dioxide emissions, finding that emissions could have been reduced both globally and nationally if each furnace had operated at either its own historical minimum emissions intensity or the observed national minimum.
Leveraging blast furnace operations to reduce emissions](https://www.mse.engineering.cmu.edu/news/2026/01/20-blast-furnace-reductions.html)
[Jan 12
Health & Biomedicine
Carnegie Mellon awarded ARPA-H contract to develop 3D bioprinted liver
A CMU-led project team aims to build a 3D bioprinted liver that supports regeneration in acute liver failure patients, with the potential to transform transplant medicine.](https://engineering.cmu.edu/news-events/news/2026/01/12-3d-bioprinted-liver.html)
[Jan 9
Health & Biomedicine
Cracks exposed: tungsten challenges identified
Recent work from the department of materials science and engineering at Carnegie Mellon investigates the processing challenges associated with tungsten, finding that solidification cracking is an additional failure.](https://www.mse.engineering.cmu.edu/news/2026/01/09-tungsten-challenges.html)
[Dec 4
Health & Biomedicine
Chamorro awarded Kaufman grant
Juan Chamorro has been named as a recipient of a New Investigator Research Grant from the Charles Kaufman Foundation. The awards are designated to provide support for early career faculty who are conducting innovative, fundamental scientific research.](https://www.mse.engineering.cmu.edu/news/2025/12/04-kaufman-award.html)
[Dec 2
Health & Biomedicine
Hands-on experience leads Rales Fellow to role as Additive Manufacturing Engineer
As a graduate student, Cameron Drewery found that learning to weld at TechSpark was one of her most hands-on and favorite classroom experiences. A member of the first cohort of CMU’s Rales Fellows Program, Drewery is now working as an additive manufacturing engineer for Nikon AM Synergy.](https://www.mse.engineering.cmu.edu/news/2025/12/02-drewery-am.html)
[Wei Wang (Ph.D. ‘09), who is a Laboratory Fellow at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), is a key contributor in developing battery technologies that are safer, more cost-effective, and efficient for grid-scale energy storage applications.
Powering research to empower our grid](https://www.mse.engineering.cmu.edu/news/2025/11/18-powering-grid.html)
[Nov 5
Health & Biomedicine
Laughlin receives ASM recognition
Emeritus Professor David Laughlin recently received the J. Willard Gibbs Phase Equilibria Award from ASM International at their annual meeting.](https://www.mse.engineering.cmu.edu/news/2025/11/05-asm-laughlin.html)
[Oct 29
News & Events
Akinci appointed Dean of College of Engineering
Burcu Akinci has been appointed the next Dean of CMU’s College of Engineering, effective January 1, 2026.](https://engineering.cmu.edu/news-events/news/2025/10/29-akinci-appointed-dean.html)
[Oct 16
News & Events
Why Spider Silk is Hard to Spin: New Physics of Biopolymer Flows
A recent study uses advanced molecular simulations to explore why silks are so difficult to process into materials.](https://www.mse.engineering.cmu.edu/news/2025/10/16-rethinking-biopolymers-rules.html)
[Oct 14
News & Events
Marom elected as APS Fellow
Noa Marom has been elected as a Fellow of the American Physical Society. The Fellowship is a distinguished honor, recognizing excellence in physics as well as exceptional service to the physics community.](https://www.mse.engineering.cmu.edu/news/2025/10/13-marom-aps.html)
[Oct 8
News & Events
Summer of discovery
Five students who participated in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program enriched their studies by conducting research related to the biomedical applications of their respective engineering fields.](https://engineering.cmu.edu/news-events/news/2025/10/10-summer-of-discovery.html)