MIT's Department of Materials Science and Engineering is known as the world-wide leader of its field, based on its academic program, its highly regarded faculty, and the high caliber of its students.

Its continuing record of pioneering advances in engineering sciences and technologies stems from its ability to relate new developments and advances to engineering practice and its close relationship with industry. These advances are then incorporated in current teaching and research programs.

Faculty and student research ranges from the purely scientific to applied studies and involves perspectives of chemistry, physics, electronics, the artistic and historical aspects of materials, design, and entrepreneurial ventures.

Interests within the Department span the entire materials cycle from mining and refining of raw materials, to production and utilization of finished materials, and finally to disposal and recycling. There is a rich variety of problems of vital importance to the development of the science of metals, polymers, ceramics, glasses, electronic materials, biomedical materials, composites, and other materials awaiting solution. The Department has the theoretical and experimental resources available to attack these scientific and engineering problems successfully.