1st
academic department of its kind in the world
Established in 1958, Northwestern’s Department of Materials Science has been a pioneer for more than 60 years.
Bachelor of Science in Materials Science & Engineering
Why study materials science and engineering?
Materials scientists and engineers develop, test, and improve materials such as metals, ceramics, plastics, and composites for high-technology applications and needs. Northwestern’s Materials Science and Engineering Department, the first of its kind, consistently ranks among the nation’s premier programs.
The bachelor of science in materials science and engineering is broad-based, encompassing a wide range of materials, and enables students to understand the scientific principles that govern the relationships among processing, structure, properties, and materials performance. Students also learn how to integrate these principles in the systematic design of new materials.
Imagine yourself:
- Synthesizing new materials to be used for battery storage
- Predicting material properties based on computational techniques
- Identifying possible materials for ultra-high temperature applications based on machine learning
- Combining soft materials and inorganic nanomaterials to fabricate wearable wireless biosensors for health monitoring
- Exploring new ways to bond materials to create composites with extreme thermal conductivity
- Fabricating new types of transistors to make AI computing more energy efficient
- Developing new biodegradable polymers
Introduction to Materials Science & Engineering
Undergraduates who are thinking about majoring in materials science should consider taking one of our introductory electives (MatSci 195 or MatSci 190). These introduce the field of materials science and engineering through hands-on projects in energy materials and electron microscopy.
Why Northwestern?
Learn from world-class faculty members in institution where the discipline was born
World-renowned faculty
With more than 20 national academy members and 7 highly cited researchers, our students learn from top faculty.
#2
ranked undergraduate program in the US
by U.S. News & World Report
Meet Our Graduates
Catherine Klapperich’94
Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University
Klapperich’s innovative research focuses on developing medical devices for women’s health, including diagnostic devices that can be used in low-resource settings and at the point of care.
Rohan Luthra’25
PhD Student, Colorado School of Mines
“I had a wonderful time in the materials science first-year seminar, where we got to conduct our own research project…I also have greatly appreciated the focus that so many of my classes have had on presentation, helping me improve my communication skills.”
Curriculum
The basics at-a-glance
Accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET), our program provides outstanding classroom and laboratory instruction combined with opportunities to take part in leading-edge research.
Coursework
Students must complete 48 courses, including required courses in mathematics, engineering, and science; and 15 materials science major courses and 6 technical electives, which allow the student to concentrate in an area of interest.
Engineering First
Comprised of two integrated course sequences, Engineering Analysis and Design Thinking and Communication (DTC), our innovative first-year curriculum provides students with the fundamentals of a successful engineering education, and lets them experience real engineering early in their undergraduate careers.
Research Opportunities
Our department encourages all students to participate in collaborative, interdisciplinary research. Undergraduates have significant opportunities to conduct research under the guidance and supervision of our department faculty.
Areas of Concentration
Our curriculum provides students with the core materials science and engineering fundamentals, while offering the option to select one of these nine areas of concentration:
Study Options
Supplement your degree with complementary knowledge or experience in another area
Undergraduate (Departmental) Honors
Students with a strong academic record may be admitted to McCormick’s Honors Program any time during their junior or pre-senior year.
Certificates and Minors
Students can pursue complementary certificates and minors, including the Minor in Materials Science. The Segal Design Certificate and the Sustainability and Energy Certificate are also popular among MatSci students.
Beyond the Classroom
Gain the experiences and connections that will prepare you for the next step in your career
Broaden your perspective by studying abroad
Northwestern encourages undergraduates to study abroad, offering staff support to align academic and personal goals with international credit-bearing experiences, including the Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) program, which provides summer research internships at leading German universities and institutions.
MatSci Club and Material Advantage Chapter
The MatSci Club and Northwestern’s Material Advantage Chapter welcome students from any major to explore materials science through faculty research talks, company visits, alumni panels, peer mentoring, academic and career advice, and fun social events like dry-ice ice cream making, cookie decorating, and chocolate making.
Jumpstart your career through the Co-op Program
The Cooperative Engineering Education Program allows you to receive up to 18 months of engineering experience working in industry while you pursue a degree in a highly-ranked program.
Career Paths
Where do we go from here?
Graduates are well prepared to practice as materials scientists and engineers, excel in graduate study, work to advance the field, or apply their knowledge in other areas, including law, medicine, or business.
While at Northwestern, our students benefit from professional development opportunities that prepare them for the next step in their careers. They have access to internships and extensive career placement resources via both Northwestern Engineering Career Development and Northwestern Career Advancement.
Where our alumni work in industry
Where our alumni attend graduate school
Visit Northwestern
We encourage you to visit our campus and learn about the Northwestern Engineering first hand.