About the Program

Imagine designing the next generation of sustainable energy systems, more efficient and reliable computer chips, biomaterials for regenerative medicine and drug delivery, or using computational modeling to discover new materials. The Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) undergraduate program at Stanford prepares you to do just that by exploring the fundamental scientific and engineering principles that govern the properties and performance of materials used in all facets of engineering. This interdisciplinary major blends chemistry, physics, and engineering, offering you a highly flexible curriculum. Here, you will gain the foundational knowledge and hands-on skills needed to solve some of the world’s most pressing technological, environmental, and societal challenges.

What You'll Study

As an undergraduate in this program, you will dive into the fascinating relationship between the structure, processing, properties, and performance of materials. In this program, you will find:

• Specialized Focus Areas: You can choose from structured focus areas, such as biological properties of materials, materials for energy technology, or materials physics, or work with an advisor to design your own unique track, based on your specific interests.

• A Solid Interdisciplinary Foundation: Your coursework will span mathematics, science, and fundamental engineering, ensuring you have the broad analytical tools needed to succeed in graduate school for a variety of industry careers. 

• Hands-On Laboratory Experience: The program emphasizes experiential learning, allowing you to gain direct experience in laboratories and master the experimental techniques used by industry professionals.

• Undergraduate Research Opportunities: You can participate in cutting-edge research alongside faculty in our ten-week summer Undergraduate Research Program -  Engineering Materials for Advances in Energy, Biology, and Nanotechnology.