Learn more about the departmentFacts and FiguresSetting ourselves apart20+national academy membershipshighly cited researchersSeven faculty rank in the top 1% of citations in materials science and chemistry according to Clarivate Analytics.#2ranked graduate program in the United Statesaccording to US News and World Report13affiliated research centers and institutesView list of centersView more factsResearch AreasInterdisciplinary research that enables tomorrow’s technologiesFor more than 60 years, we have defined the intellectual frontiers of materials research. In the 20th century, advances included metal alloys and ceramics in jet engines that are drivers of globalization, and reliable hard drives that enabled the big data revolution. Our faculty have also laid a foundation for major advances in 21st-century technologies, from batteries and fuel cells for a sustainable energy future to biomaterials that can improve human health and quality of life.Scientific Studies in the ArtsLearn MoreBiomaterialsLearn MoreCeramicsLearn moreCompositesLearn MoreEnergyLearn MoreMagnetic MaterialsLearn MoreMaterials for Electronics and PhotonicsLearn MoreMaterials Synthesis & ProcessingLearn MoreMaterials Theory, Computation, and DesignLearn MoreMetalsLearn MoreNanomaterialsLearn MorePolymersLearn MoreSelf-AssemblyLearn MoreSurfaces and InterfacesLearn MoreCollaborationBuilding strength through internal and external collaborationsOur department collaborates with most other Northwestern engineering and science departments, as well as with and outside institutions, such as the . We also work closely with national laboratories, including nearby , home of the and the .ProgramsTop-ranked programs, built for successIn our consistently highly-ranked programs, materials science and engineering students learn the scientific principles governing the interrelation among processing, structure, properties, and materials performance. They then learn to integrate these principles in the systematic design of new materials from faculty members who are renowned for their pioneering work. Students at all levels conduct leading research in the field.UndergraduateBachelor of Science in Materials ScienceCombined BS/MS Degree ProgramMinor in Materials ScienceExplore special programs in this department and across McCormickGraduateJoint Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science & EngineeringMaster of Science in Materials Science and EngineeringPhD in Materials Science and EngineeringMaster’s degree students may be interested in the ., Watch our video: Northwestern Materials Science: Historic Leadership, Innovative Learning, Interdisciplinary Research The first academic department of its kind in the world, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern University leads the field in materials innovation and education., These areas include nanomaterials, biomaterials, electronic materials, metals, ceramics, and polymers with applications in energy, sustainability, medicine, and additive manufacturing. Strong interdisciplinary and collaborative research is a hallmark of materials science and engineering at Northwestern..