Materials Science Engineering Degree Requirements

Materials Science Engineering Degree Requirements

Educational requirements throughout given industries range from four years Bachelor’s degrees to more advanced Masters and Doctorates. Companies and institutions looking to employ Material Science Engineers typically look for a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, though in a few, very rare instances, mixes of formal education and practical working experience can be acceptable for some entry-level positions, in lieu of a formal degree. As Material Science Engineering is considered an “interdisciplinary science,” and covers a broad range of applied physical sciences, specific focuses of study can weigh heavily on available career options after schooling.

Ranging from thermodynamics, chemical and biochemical research, synthetic materials creation and testing and even forensic engineering and investigation, it is often advisable for students entering the field of Material Science Engineering, to fully investigate potential and desired career goals while going through their studies, so as to ensure the appropriate skills and education are attained in pursuit of their end goals. For example, should a student with a strong focus on thermodynamics and mineral-based composite materials enter the fields of blast furnace design or rocketry, their skills, and education may not be as well suited for bio-medical or bio-mechanical design as one with a stronger focus in bio-mechanics or biochemistry? As such, within such a diverse field as Material Science and Engineering, it can be helpful to fully explore available career options either before enrolling in a degree program and while entering the introductory level courses of such, so as to adequately define one’s focus of study going forward.

In general, as a broadly applicable field of study with many avenues open to graduates and post-graduates throughout numerous professional sectors, Material Science and Engineering maintains a respectable average salary in terms of national averages. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that in 2012, the mean salary for a Materials Engineer was $85,150 annually. In comparison, Onet.com reported a rise in this for 2013 with a reported mean salary of $87,330 per year, with these totals naturally varying between industries and according to educational and experiential backgrounds. Job growth in this particular sector is reported to be effectively flat between 2012 and 2022, according to the BLS, experiencing neither substantial losses nor gains in term of total net employment.

However within the state of California alone, numerous opportunities can be found consistently in the areas of aerospace and defense, medical device design and manufacturing, applied physics research and development (both commercial and academic,) as well as in general consumer products and electronics manufacturing. Additional opportunities in the energy, automotive and information technology sectors can also be found throughout the country and are themselves possessing of growth potential as each of these industries continues to evolve rapidly in light of technological advances.

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