Cornell University has been a leader in undergraduate education in Materials Science and Engineering since the very first MS&E department was founded here in 1963.
Cornell MS&E has been ranked among the top 10 MS&E Departments for nearly 40 years. We are currently #3 on the National Research Council's official ranking in terms of research and #7 in Undergraduate Education, according to US News. MS&E undergraduates take classes from, and often work side by side with, some of the best researchers and teachers in the world. MS&E undergraduate admissions are highly competitive. If admitted, you will be among a very diverse, smart, interesting, and motivated class of your peers.
The philosophy of Cornell's MS&E undergraduate (and graduate) programs is that if you understand the fundamentals, you will have the tools you need to solve any problem. Cornell MS&E graduates are recognized as excellent problem-solvers in a wide range of technical fields and are sought after by the best graduate schools, as well as by industry, government, and non-profit institutions.
At Cornell MS&E, interdisciplinary research and teaching is applied to solve the most pressing and interesting problems facing humanity today. Future technologies will require integration of different materials and systems into the same device. Cornell MS&E has taken the lead in defining four strategic focus areas in both research and teaching: Nanotechnology, Energy and Environmental Technology, Biotechnology and Life Sciences, and Information and Communications Technology.
Cornell faculty routinely include undergraduate students as regular members of their research groups. These students work alongside faculty members, postdoctoral associates, and graduate students on leading edge materials research in a wide range of areas. These students are often included as co-authors on scholarly papers and frequently travel to international meetings to present their results.
Cornell MS&E is a small department. Typically, only 30 to 40 students are accepted into the MS&E undergraduate major every year. As a Cornell MS&E major, you will know your classmates and professors personally, and they will know you. MS&E students not only work together, but they often play together as well. Our alumni often report that some of their best and longest-lasting friendships were forged right here in Bard Hall.
The Cornell MS&E department has worldwide influence. The department has been a world leader in innovative materials research for 45 years. In addition, Cornell MS&E graduates are leaders in industry, academia, government, and non-profits.
