Materials Engineering

1. Materials Engineering Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

2. Materials Engineering Overview: Materials Science and Engineering is a field of engineering that encompasses the spectrum of materials types and how to use them in manufacturing. Materials span the range: metals, ceramics, polymers (plastics), semiconductors, and combinations of materials called composites. Everything we see and use is made of materials: cars, airplanes, computers, refrigerators, TVs, dishes, silverware, athletic equipment of all types, DVDs, and biomedical devices such as replacement joints and limbs. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

3. Materials Engineering Overview (continued): New materials technologies developed through engineering and science will continue to make startling changes in our lives in the future, and materials engineers will continue to be key in these changes and advances. Materials Engineers deal with the science and technology of producing materials that have properties and shapes suitable for practical use. Activities range from primary materials production, including recycling, and the design, development, and manufacturing of new materials. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

4. Materials Engineering Preparation: A bachelor's degree in engineering is required for almost all entry-level engineering jobs. Most major universities have academic BS degree granting programs in one of the specialty areas of Materials Science and Engineering. The majority of undergraduate programs provide a survey across the spectrum of materials. Other programs focus in one particular class of materials like Ceramics, Metallurgy, or Polymers. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

5. Materials Engineering Preparation (continued): Admissions requirements for engineering schools include a background in mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus) and science (biology, chemistry, physics), and courses in English, social studies, humanities, and computer and information technology. Focus on becoming as well-rounded as possible by taking a variety of humanities courses, and include business and communication courses whenever possible. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

6. Materials Engineering Preparation (continued): Those interested in a career in Materials Engineering should consider reviewing engineering programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. Accreditation is based on an evaluation of an engineering program's student achievement, program improvement, faculty, curricular content, facilities, and institutional commitment. A list of universities offering accredited degrees in Materials Engineering is available at the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life– Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

7. Materials Engineering Day in the Life: Materials engineers bring advances in the auto, aerospace, construction, manufacturing, electronics, computer, and communications industries by developing new or improved metals, plastics, ceramics, semiconductors and composites. They work to increase the strength of steel, toughen ceramics, lower the cost of composites and make faster computer circuits. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

8. Materials Engineering Day in the Life (continued): Teams and Coworkers In a manufacturing operation most tasks are conducted by cross-functional teams of people. Materials engineers are generally part of a support group integral to these teams for various functions -- from design concept through manufacturing processes to final product evaluations. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment –Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

9. Materials Engineering Day in the Life (continued): Tasks Therefore the work done under the heading of Materials Science Engineering has an unprecedented impact on our quality of life. Although the field deals with materials, it encompasses an incredible diversity of topics and problems constituting the four elements of the field -- processing, structure, properties, and performance. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

10. Materials Engineering Day in the Life (continued): Industry Sectors There are four general sectors of industry that employ materials engineers: Primary Materials Producing Manufacturing Service Other (such as education, government, law firms, healthcare, finance, insurance, and wholesale/retail are some of the other employers of materials engineers) Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

11. Materials Engineering Earnings: According the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for materials engineers is $81,820. According to a July 2009 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the average starting salary for materials engineers who have earned a Bachelor's degree is $57,349. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment –Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

12. Materials Engineering Employment: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, materials engineers hold about 24,400 jobs in the United States. A sample list of employers of Manufacturing Engineers is available at the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

13. Materials Engineering Career Path Forecast: According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, materials engineers are expected to have employment growth of 9 percent between 2008 and 2018, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Growth should result from increased use of composite and other nontraditional materials developed through biotechnology and nanotechnology research. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment –Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

14. Materials Engineering Career Path Forecast (continued): Growth should be strong for materials engineers working on nanomaterials and biomaterials. As manufacturing firms contract for their materials engineering needs, most employment growth is expected in professional, scientific, and technical services industries. Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment –Career Path Forecast–Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.

15. Materials Engineering Resources: More information about Materials Engineering is available at the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center, including employer lists, accredited Materials Engineering programs, suggestions for precollege students, profiles of Materials Engineers, a free monthly careers newsletter, and a PDF that summarizes the field. Associations: ASM International American Ceramic Society Materials Research Society The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society Overview –Preparation – Day in the Life – Earnings – Employment – Career Path Forecast – Resources Developed by the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center.