Materials Engineering MS
The Materials Engineering Master of Science (MatE MS) program has a strong emphasis on research to foster knowledge, skills and activities that prepare students for real-world problems under the guidance of faculty working in areas including batteries, quantum materials, simulations, composites, semiconductors, multiferroics, nanomaterials, and polymers. Our curriculum is customizable with a wide range of technical electives to choose from to tailor student's career goals. The program offers both full-time and part-time study options leading to the MatE MS degree.
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Why study MatE MS at SJSU?
Gain hands-on experience
Multi-disciplinary research
Core classes in the evenings and late afternoon
Work With Faculty on Research Projects
- Batteries
- Semiconductors
- Computation
- Biomaterials
- Biomedical Devices
- Nanocomposites
- Polymers
What MatE MS Students Say About The Program
"Materials engineering is the unsung hero of technical innovation. It is effectively the gate keeper to technical advancement; hence material is used as the markers through history such as the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, and Silicon Valley. As materials engineers, we are the quiet enablers of future innovation, from carbon-capture membranes, long-lasting batteries, to quantum computers.”
Khoi Nguyen
’23 MS MatE
MatE MS Graduates at Work
With a MatE MS degree, students have the ability to work across various careers and disciplines.
Snapshot of Career Pathways
- Research and Development
- Semiconductor Processing Engineer
- Metallurgical Engineer
- Plastic Engineer
- Battery Manufacturing
- Composite Engineer
Where are MatE MS Graduates Getting Jobs?
- Apple
- Meta
- IBM
- Lockheed
- Tesla
- Intel
- Stryker
- Lam Research
Visit the Career Center to view all the resources available to help you explore career pathways and opportunities to engage with employers.
Admission Requirements
The Master of Science (M.S.) in Materials Engineering admits students for the Fall and Spring. This program is STEM-eligible.
Deadlines
The Spring application closes October 1 for International Students and December 1 for Domestic Students, unless otherwise stated on the Graduate Admissions Deadline webpage. We offer rolling admissions, so you can expect to hear from us promptly once your application has been referred to the department from Graduate Studies.
Application Process
SJSU follows a two-step graduate admissions process:
Step 1
Apply through Cal State Apply.
Step 2:
Eligibility Requirements
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the program or need assistance, please email our team at chemical-materials-engineering@sjsu.edu.
Funding Resources
- Scholarship opportunities from the College of Engineering and SJSU
- Limited Teaching Assistant and Grader positions available for qualified students
- Joining a faculty-led research project with funding for student researchers
- Internships at local companies and national labs
Program Courses
The Master of Science (M.S.) in Materials Engineering is a 30 unit program. To complete the program, students must take 5 core courses and choose 3 technical electives (9 units) from various areas tailored to your career goals. In addition, there are 6 units required for Culminating Experience.. Descriptions of all of the courses are available on the SJSU Catalog. Program courses are subject to change.
Program Learning Outcomes
The MatE MS Program is designed to produce graduates who:
- Are able to solve complex engineering problems and tasks, and use engineering, science and statistics principles to justify recommendations.
- Are able to evaluate the impact of their work on society, including ethical, economic, global and environmental aspects.
- Can deliver effective presentations of engineering results in written and oral formats.
- Have life-long learning skills and are able to apply their engineering knowledge to critically evaluate relevant literature and new technologies or systems.
- Are effective leaders, capable of working in diverse environments.
- Are able to apply their engineering education to a variety of career paths.
Faculty Spotlight
Dr. Zhang's research group uses multiscale modeling to investigate and optimize the physical properties of inorganic materials for novel electronics and renewable energy applications. Her current research focuses on understanding the behavior of point defects and dopants in transition metal oxides using density-functional theory. This approach effectively tailors materials properties, and the goal is to develop energy-efficient neuromorphic devices. Her background is in atomistic modeling of oxide materials for sustainable energy and environmental applications.
Dr. Shenli Zhang
Assistant Professor
Student Spotlight
Christina is working on mitigating the global plastic waste crisis through her research!
Prior to starting the Materials Engineering MS program, Christina contemplated returning to school for an advanced degree for some time, and says that she "chose SJSU not only for its strong focus on hands-on research, but for the flexibility it gave me to continue working full-time. Its proximity to my workplace made it possible for me to fully commit to both my career and my research." Her "current project focuses on polymer degradation through catalytic pyrolysis, investigating how zeolite catalysts can influence the thermal breakdown of polymers. With the potential this work has for environmental remediation, [she] hope[s] it can help contribute to efforts in mitigating the global plastic waste crisis that directly impacts both the environment and human health."
About the program
- The MatE MS program is taught by faculty with extensive research or industrial experience.
- Our program has a strong emphasis on research to foster knowledge skills and activities that prepare students for real-world problems under the guidance of faculty working in areas including batteries, solid electrolytes, additive manufacturing, quantum materials, molecular dynamic simulations, multiferroics, and nanomaterials.
- Our curriculum is customizable with a wide range of technical electives to choose from to tailor student's career goals.
- Most of our core and elective courses are offered in the evenings to make it accessible for working students.
- Our graduates get hired by industry leaders like Apple, Meta, Western Digital, Agilent, PacBio, Genentech, Six Sigma, by government agencies like NASA and LLNL, and by startups. Many of our students find jobs in industry even before they graduate. Many of our students work on industry sponsored projects at their work or internship.
