Materials Engineers design, characterize, and manufacture the “stuff” of our everyday world. Semiconductors, metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites are examples of the materials used to make everything around you - from your computer to the chair you are sitting in, from artificial body parts to the skin of the space shuttle. Materials scientists and engineers work in nanotechnology, biotechnology, aerospace, alternative energy, microelectronics and virtually every industry sector.<br><br>Major areas of study are the relationships between materials’ structure, properties, processing, and performance. The MatE program, offered by the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, stresses the roles of design, development, and process engineering, and also prepares the exceptional student for research and graduate study. The Department has excellent laboratory facilities for courses and student research.