Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) is concerned with the study of the structure, properties and applications of materials. The foundations of materials science and engineering are the basic sciences of physics, chemistry, and mathematics. An engineer working with the great variety of materials responses at the electrical, optical, magnetic, mechanical, and chemical levels must have a solid scientific foundation and breadth of basic knowledge from the physical sciences and engineering.

Many applications today require broad-based materials knowledge. A materials engineer may specialize in a specific class of materials (magnetic materials, nanostructured materials, polymers, biological materials, etc.) or a specific area of materials science (electrical properties, mechanical properties, materials processing, materials testing, etc.), but should possess a broad background in materials science and engineering. Increased emphasis on cost, weight, and size reduction, while still improving product performance, creates challenges for monolithic materials, and opportunities for composites, nanostructures and other new materials. Miniaturization of components frequently is limited by the interactions of dissimilar materials at a microscopic and nanometer scale. A materials engineer must be able to optimize the overall performance of complex systems involving several materials.