Materials science and engineering is about the processing, structure, properties, and performance of materials, such as metals and their alloys, semiconductors, ceramics, glass, polymers, composites, biomaterials, and nanomaterials. Materials scientists and engineers apply principles of math, physics and chemistry to design, produce, characterize, and utilize materials in all hardware that are essential to modern society. Examples range in size and properties from the nanometer-thick atomic layers in CPU transistors for data center and smart phones, the single-crystal superalloy blades in turbine engines, to the coated steels used in transcontinental pipelines and power lines. The Materials Science and NanoEngineering curriculum provides students with the requisite skills and educational background to contribute to the solution of many materials and nanoengineering problems, allows graduates to work in a fascinating field, and makes it possible to become a leader in one of the most challenging areas of technology.
The department's graduate degree programs include a non-thesis professional master's degree as well as research degrees which include a thesis. These programs, in their comprehensive educational and research activities, collaborate with other departments at Rice and other institutions and industry in Houston, including those in the Texas Medical Center. Collaborations are also extended to universities in the United States, Europe, Asia, North and South America. International collaborations include joint research activities as well as faculty and student visitor exchanges.
