Academics & Admissions
The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) is concerned with designing, making, and characterizing new materials that will have societal impact. Students apply to Stanford from all over the world to be part of a degree program that consistently ranks among the top materials engineering programs in the U.S.
What is Materials Science and Engineering?
Materials science and engineering is an interdisciplinary field involving the relationships between structure and properties of materials and how to take advantage of them in applications. Our students and faculty do research down to the infinitesimally small to achieve breakthroughs of global significance, working at the atomic and molecular levels to engineer matter that will enable the materials, devices, and systems essential for cutting-edge solar energy production, energy storage, information technology, medicine, and more.
Materials Science and Engineering Degree Programs
Stanford’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) focuses on the structures and properties of nanoscale components. This exciting area of engineering informs the direction of the curriculum.
Undergraduate
The undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree program in Materials Science and Engineering provides training in the fundamentals of materials engineering, in both soft and hard matter. Our curriculum entails a combination of basic lecture-based courses, advanced classes, and instructional laboratories.
Coterminal
Stanford undergraduates may work simultaneously toward a bachelor’s (BS) and master’s (MS) degree in Materials Science and Engineering. Students may apply for admission to this coterminal program after they have earned 120 units toward graduation.
Graduate
The Department of Materials Science and Engineering offers three graduate-level degree programs: master’s (MS), doctoral (PhD), and Engineer degree.
Stories & Voices
Learn more about Materials Science and Engineering from our faculty, alumni, and staff.
Funding & Financial Aid
Stanford is committed to providing a comprehensive need-based financial aid program that makes it financially possible for admitted undergraduate students to attend. At the graduate level, Materials Science and Engineering students have several funding options, including fellowships, assistantships and loans.
Careers & Life After Stanford
Want to know where a Materials Science and Engineering degree can take you? Learn more about Stanford’s BEAM (Bridging Education, Ambition, and Meaningful Work) program, meetups, labs, career coaching and more.
Take a Virtual Tour of Stanford
Explore Stanford’s beautiful campus and historic buildings from wherever you are.