陶瓷工程师生产对许多先进和传统技术至关重要的材料：电子和光学组件，航空航天零件，生物医学组件，核组件，高温，耐腐蚀组件，燃料电池和电子包装。陶瓷工程师通常使用在高温下加工过的无机，非金属材料。在课堂上，陶瓷工程专业的学生学习了工程特性与陶瓷材料的化学和结构之间的关系，并继续将这些科学原理应用于新配方和制造工艺的设计中。陶瓷工程通常吸引那些对找到基础科学的实际应用特别是化学和物理学有浓厚兴趣的人，并且可以说是“科学与工程相交”的学科之一。设计发生在固体材料的原子或微观结构层面。
The materials science and engineering department offers a Bachelor of Science in ceramic engineering. Students majoring in ceramic engineering take a number of engineering management, metallurgical engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, math, science and humanities courses in addition to core ceramic engineering curriculum courses, as referenced in the curriculum map. As an undergraduate ceramic engineering student, you'll be designing the materials that make it possible for other engineering disciplines to advance, including: Glass fibers and optical devices for telecommunication networks, Electronic ceramics that make cell phones possible, High temperature materials that allow jet engines to operate at more efficient temperatures, and Biocompatible materials to replace diseased tissues.