B.S. Materials Science & Engineering

Degree Prep

The B.S. Materials Science and Engineering degree requires a solid background in math and basic science and enjoy hands-on laboratory work. Placement exams are given at the beginning of each semester in the areas of chemistry and mathematics. Students who have not taken an advanced placement exam in these areas while in high school are encouraged to take the exams prior to the start of classes.

Degree Roadmap

B.S. Materials Science and Engineering 4-Year Plan (PDF)

Current Materials Science and Engineering course catalog
Catalogs are released each year with up-to-date course listings. Students reference the catalog released during their first year of enrollment. For catalog related questions, email registrar@uidaho.edu or call 208-885-6731.

During your first two years you will build a strong foundation in chemistry, math, and physics courses. Students are encouraged to develop individual interests through the selection of technical electives.

Upper division courses will teach you how to apply the principles of chemistry to engineering design, and prepare you to design your own solutions to many of the world's chemical and biological challenges. Students complete their study through our nationally recognized Senior Capstone Design Program culminating each spring with the Engineering Design EXPO.

Transfer Students — There are many transfer pathways at the University of Idaho. The Office of Admissions can provide resources and answer questions about the transfer process and help you work with departments and colleges.

Degree Requirements

Required course work includes Materials Science and Engineering (B.S.M.S.E.) requirements and the university requirements (see regulation J-3).

Professional Licensing

Completion of the program will count towards eligibility for the Professional Engineer's License (PE) to practice Engineering, which requires a four-year degree from an ABET-accredited school, four years of experience under a PE, and passing the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) and Principles of Practice in Engineering (PE) Exams.

Questions?

First-Year undergraduates — please email first-year Materials Science & Engineering student advisor Roopal Jani or call 208-885-0250.

Faculty Advisor Transition Process — in spring semester of the freshman year, undergraduates transition to a faculty advisor specific to their degree area. This process is facilitated between the Micron Student Center and individual departments.

Transfer Students — if you have 13 or less transfer credits please email Student Services or call 208-885-6470. If you have 13 or more credits please email mse@uidaho.edu or call 208-885-7572.

If you have any questions about who your advisor is, please email Student Services or call 208-885-6470.

Scholarships

• U of I Awards more than $30 million in scholarships each year, more than any other institution in Idaho.
• Engineering students receive more than $1 million in scholarships annually.
• Earn more than $60,000 in scholarships over the course of four years through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE). Eligible first-year and transfer students are considered simply by filling out their U of I admission application. There’s no separate application or deadline.
• All first-time students and first-time transfer students are automatically considered for merit- and need-based scholarships and financial aid when filling out the admissions application and FAFSA. There are no separate scholarship applications required to be considered.
• All continuing students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. No separate applications are required. Complete the FAFSA to be considered for need-based scholarships and federal financial aid.

Browse all need- and merit-based scholarships or contact our Student Services team to get all your scholarship questions answered.

Paid Employment Related to Your Major

• Cooperative Education Program (Co-op) – Get paid up to $20,000 for a six-month session working with Micron, HP, BorgWarner, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in-between your junior and senior years.

Internships & Summer Programs

• Idaho National Laboratory Undergraduate Internships – Earn a nationally competitive wage during a 10- to 16-week internship at the nation’s leading center for nuclear energy research and development. For students pursuing STEM fields.
• Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) – Funded through the Department of Energy, this student training and outreach program teaches students how to assess and make recommendations toward energy savings, waste reduction and productivity on an industrial site. Open to undergraduate and graduate students in all engineering and computer science disciplines.
• NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium (ISGC) - Mentor-directed, career-related internship programs that contribute to NASA’s mission. Sessions are held in fall, spring and summer and are open to full-time undergraduate and graduate students.
• Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) – Receive a $4,000 student fellowship and $1,000 stipend to work on faculty-mentored projects full-time in any field of study.
• DAAD Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE Germany) Programs – RISE Germany offers undergraduate students the opportunity to complete a summer research internship at top German universities and research institutions.

Financial Aid

For financial aid deadlines and eligibility requirements, visit the University of Idaho Financial Aid Office.

Hands-On Learning

ALL U of I College of Engineering students, especially undergraduates, participate in hands-on activities through:

• Idaho’s only Grand Challenge Scholars Program - Preparing undergraduates to solve the biggest challenges facing society in the 21st century.
• Nationally-ranked Senior Capstone Design Program - Emphasizing the design process and the creation of a thoughtfully engineered, tested and validated outcome or prototype. Interdisciplinary teams showcase their work at our annual Engineering Design EXPO.

Clubs & Organizations

Our college offers 20+ clubs and organizations tied to international and national engineering organizations, including national competition teams.

Learn about clubs related to your major:

• American Institute of Chemical Engineers (ASABE)
• Humanitarian Engineering Corps (HEC)
• Material Advantage (MatAdv)
• National Organization for Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCCHE)
• National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
• Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
• Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
• Tau Beta Pi - Engineering Honor Society (TBP)
• Vandal Clean Energy Club