The Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering is an interdisciplinary degree that equips students with the knowledge and skills to design, develop and improve the materials used in nearly every modern technology. From semiconductors and biomaterials to metals and polymers, students explore how materials shape innovation across industries. The program blends scientific fundamentals with hands-on learning, preparing graduates to solve real-world challenges at the intersection of science and engineering.

Materials Science and Engineering at UT Dallas

Housed in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science, the BS in Materials Science and Engineering requires 120 credit hours, including 42 hours from the university’s core curriculum. The BS in Materials Science and Engineering can embed either the Certificate in Semiconductor Technology or the Certificate in Sustainable Energy Engineering without additional credit hours. The program is accepting applications for Fall 2026.

Strong high school preparation is recommended. Pre-engineering students should complete at least one semester of trigonometry and one year each of elementary algebra, intermediate and advanced algebra, plane geometry, chemistry and physics. This background supports success in college-level calculus, calculus-based physics and chemistry for science majors. Students should also be able to read with comprehension and write clearly and effectively.

Career Opportunities

Graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering are prepared for careers in a wide range of industries in the semiconductor, manufacturing, aerospace, biomedical and energy sectors. Common job titles include materials engineer, materials scientist, process engineer, quality control analyst, failure analysis engineer and research scientist. With their ability to work across disciplines and improve the performance and sustainability of materials, UT Dallas graduates are well positioned to lead in today’s technology-driven economy.

The degree also provides a strong foundation for graduate study in materials science and related fields, and many students pursue subsequent graduate degrees.

The Jonsson School operates one of the largest internship and cooperative education programs in the region, placing more than 1,200 undergraduate and graduate students

annually at Dallas-area high-tech companies, including Texas Instruments, Intel, Raytheon, Alcatel-Lucent and IBM.

About the Jonsson School

The Jonsson School is strategically located in the Technology Corridor, home of the second-largest high-tech economy in the U.S. The Jonsson School recently completed a major public-private initiative that greatly expanded its capabilities, including construction of a new state-of-the art 220,000-square-foot interdisciplinary research building, and recently opened a 200,000-square-foot engineering building. The school is home to six academic departments: 

• Bioengineering 
• Computer Science 
• Electrical and Computer Engineering 
• Materials Science and Engineering 
• Mechanical Engineering 
• Systems Engineering 

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science: Biomedical engineering, computational geospatial science**, computer engineering, computer science, data science*, cybersecurity technology and policy, electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, software engineering, systems engineering 

Bachelor of Arts: Engineering

Master of Science: Biomedical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, cyber security, technology and policy**, electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, software engineering, systems engineering and management***, telecommunications engineering 

Doctor of Philosophy: Biomedical engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, software engineering, telecommunications engineering 

*Joint program between School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. 

** Joint program between the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. 

*** Joint program between the Naveen Jindal School of Management and Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. 

Research

An enterprising spirit is the driving force in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at The University of Texas at Dallas. Leveraging the Jonsson School’s strengths in teaching and research, state-of-the-art facilities and current collaborative 

relationships in education, medicine and industry, the Jonsson School has developed five thrusts of state and national significance. 

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Energy Science and Technology
• Health Innovations 
• Semiconductor Science and Technology 
• Transportation Science and Engineering 

Six cross-cutting technologies include:

• Artificial intelligence
• Cybersecurity
• High-precision mechatronics
• Human interaction
• Imaging sciences
• Robotics engineering

Additional Facts

The Jonsson School’s rapid growth has helped propel its undergraduate programs into U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings of the nation’s top schools of engineering. 

The Jonsson School has significantly increased the size of its faculty in recent years, hiring top recent graduates of Stanford University, Cornell University, Purdue University, Georgia Tech and UCLA, as well as seasoned professionals from Rutgers University, University of Southern California, University of California, Davis, Sandia National Laboratories, Freescale Semiconductor and Texas Instruments. 

The Jonsson School features a variety of student organizations that are actively involved in both academic and social activities. Completely student-run, these include the Association for Computing Machinery, the Game Development Group, the National Society of Black Engineers, a chapter of the scientific research society Sigma Xi, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers. 

The Fast-Track Program enables exceptionally gifted undergraduate students to include up to 15 hours of master’s level courses in their undergraduate degree plans. When Fast-Track students graduate with a bachelor’s degree, they are automatically admitted to graduate school at UT Dallas. The hours required to complete the master’s degree are reduced by up to 15 hours by the number of Fast-Track graduate hours completed.