What is materials science

Students who major in MSE at Maryland tailor their education by choosing a specialization area that covers one, or more of these topics:. Prospective Undergraduate Students: We invite you to attend one of our virtual events where you can learn more about the major, interact with current students, and enjoy individualized sessions with faculty members. If you have questions, please send an email to: mseundergrad umd.

Skip to main content. Materials Science is an interdisciplinary subject, spanning the physics and chemistry of matter, engineering applications and industrial manufacturing processes.

Modern society is heavily dependent on advanced materials, for example, lightweight composites for faster vehicles, optical fibres for telecommunications and silicon microchips for the information revolution.

Materials scientists study the relationships between the structure and properties of a material and how it is made. They also develop new materials and devise processes for manufacturing them. Materials Science is vital for developments in nanotechnology, quantum computing, batteries and nuclear fusion, as well as medical technologies such as bone replacement materials.

This diverse programme spans the subject from its foundations in physics and chemistry to the mechanical, electrical, magnetic and optical properties of materials, and the design, manufacture and applications of metals, alloys, ceramics, polymers, composites and biomaterials. This work is supported by excellent laboratory and teaching facilities. The programme also offers an opportunity to develop an introductory understanding of entrepreneurship learning how to write a business plan, raise capital and start a company.

There are also voluntary options to learn a foreign language with the University's Language Centre. The Oxford Materials degree includes in its fourth year the special feature of an eight-month full-time research project, where you will join a research team either here at Oxford in one of the strongest Departments of Materials in the UK or, occasionally, at an overseas university or in an industrial laboratory additional costs may be associated with a project outside Oxford.

You will learn how to break down a complex problem, design an experiment or model, manage a project and communicate your results. These research skills are transferable to many career paths and are valued highly by employers.

Students are encouraged to undertake a voluntary summer project in industry or a research laboratory. A voluntary industrial tour to an overseas destination is organised in most Easter holidays. Recent destinations include Singapore, Sweden, France and China. Typically the work in preparation for each tutorial or class will be expected to take six to eight hours. Year 4 consists of a supervised research project spanning three extended terms. Lectures throughout Years may be attended by the full year groups of around 40 undergraduate students; normally Materials Year 3 Options Courses lectures will be attended by a smaller number of undergraduates plus a small number of research students.

Some Year 1 classes, which support the lectures, are attended by the full year group of around Tutorials supporting the Year 1 and Year 2 Materials lecture courses are usually 2 to 4 students with a tutor.

The Year 1 and 2 Mathematics lectures are supported by small group tutorial classes, typically up to 6 students per group.

The Year 3 Options lectures are supported by small group tutorial classes, typically students per group. The majority of tutorials and lectures are delivered by staff who are Professors or Associate Professors. Many are world-leading experts with years of experience in teaching and research. Some teaching may also be delivered by post-doctoral researchers or postgraduate research students. To find out more about how our teaching year is structured, visit our Academic Year page.

First University examinations: four written papers; continual assessment components equivalent to a fifth paper. Examples of current options courses are available on the Materials Science website. At the start of Year 3 it is possible to transfer to a 3-year BA degree in Materials Science, graduating at the end of Year 3.

See essential further information about this on the course website. The BA is not accredited. Final University examinations, Part I: six written papers; continual assessment components equivalent to a further two papers. Research project full-time. Additional elements include Project management, Ethics and sustainability, Presentation skills and an optional foreign language course. Examples of project titles are available on the Materials Science website.

Final University examinations, Part II equivalent to 4 papers : project dissertation submitted and assessed; oral examination of project dissertation. For important additional detail on course content, progression and assessment, please visit the Materials Science website.

This programme outline is for illustrative purposes and details may change from time to time. Year 3 is currently under review - see the Materials Science website for the latest information. The content and format of this course may change in some circumstances. Read further information about potential course changes. Wherever possible, your grades are considered in the context in which they have been achieved.

See further information on how we use contextual data. If English is not your first language you may also need to meet our English language requirements. All candidates must follow the application procedure as shown in applying to Oxford. The information below gives specific details for students applying for this course. While recent discoveries focused on manipulation of atomically-thin 2D materials, the new breakthrough can be used to Have We Detected Dark Energy?

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