Materials Science and Engineering
At the center of all human advancements, materials have shaped what is possible. Today, Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) serves as the hub of every major scientific and technological breakthrough, from transportation to energy, from medical implants to AI and quantum computing.
Materials Science and Engineering is where chemistry and physics come together to invent the materials of the future, such as:
Penn’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering program is at the forefront of combining technical depth with real world skills to prepare students for careers as start-up founders, management consultants, scientists and engineers, investors, policy makers, patent attorneys, and more.
Our students learn to create the materials that influence the future, all within a dynamic and close-knit department influenced by Benjamin Franklin’s belief that knowledge should serve humanity and a keen interest in applied scientific inquiry. Undergraduates can tailor their education to explore anything, from AI to inventing new products to launching their own venture, to conducting novel research to making art in our makerspaces.
Starting in their first year, students have the opportunity to pursue research, which is an invaluable way to gain technical depth and real world experiences. We are the only department that has a dedicated MSE undergraduate lounge, which was renovated with student input.
Despite being the smallest department in Penn Engineering, we have a disproportionately large number of:
Upon graduation, our students pursue consulting, finance, law school, industry, medicine, Ph.D. programs, and more.
