The scope of practice for graduates of the M.Eng. in Material Engineering is quite wide, and it varies depending upon the specific industry of interest and the size of the firm for which an engineer works. Some of the tasks required of most material engineers include: [30]

• Selecting the appropriate materials for various purposes
• Synthesizing and developing new materials (or combinations of materials)
• Testing materials in relation to various potential material failures, such as corrosion, combustion, fracture, and exposure to various chemicals
• Assessing the qualities of various materials according to several standards, such as durability, flexibility, and electrical conductivity
• Monitoring material reactions during short and long term usage
• Computer modeling and design
• Quality control

Modern society relies heavily on the expertise of material engineers for a wide-range of products, including cars, airplanes, silverware, biomedical devices, clothing, and more. All of these items require materials specifically engineered for their purpose, with new advances frequently made possible by the development of new materials and applications, which means that work in the field of material engineering has a major, direct impact on society and can even shape the course of science and material technology.

Cutting-edge technology that impacts quality of life

Material engineers work at the forefront of developing technologies that can change the course of history. What do iron and bronze have in common with the internet? Advances in the understanding of metals within the field of material engineering resulted in the development of the fiber optics that created the internet.

Similarly, it is hard to imagine life without laptops, tablets, and cell phones, many of which are powered by lithium ion batteries. The creation of lithium ion batteries required the development of novel electrode materials that could function under highly variable conditions. [15]

Many developments in technological, biomedical, aerospace, and other fields have come secondary to the development of the materials required to support those advances. These advances in the field of material engineering have undoubtedly changed our everyday lives. If working at the cutting edge of advancement, paired with a higher-than-average median salary is appealing to you, a Master of Material Engineering degree and a career in this field may be a great fit.[8]

Material engineering professionals can be found in a wide variety of work environments. They are most frequently employed in offices, factories, or laboratory environments where they use computers and design equipment. [8] Material engineers can work in a variety of fields, including: re are four primary sectors that employ material engineers:

1. Aerospace product and parts manufacturing
2. Engineering services
3. Primary metal manufacturing
4. Computer and electronic product manufacturing
5. Research and development [8]

Some material engineers work for large companies where they may be part of multidisciplinary design teams, while others are self-employed and work as consultants. [9] Most material engineers work full time, 30 to 40 hours per week. [8] About one-third of material engineers worked more than 40 hours per week in 2014. [9]

Specific employers of graduates of the Master of Material Engineering degree include Fortune 500 companies, consulting firms, government, and military. The Fortune 500 is an annual list of top-grossing companies compiled by Fortune Magazine. Material engineers are employed by a growing number of these companies:

• Aerospace firms such as Goodrich and United Technologies, frequently target material engineering professionals.
• Pharmaceutical companies including Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, and Merck.
• Technology giants such as Sun Microsystems, Sunoco, and Xerox. [19]

Aside from these large organizations, material engineers are frequently employed by development firms and in research laboratories. Some material engineers will find employment in the military, helping to create, select and test materials for specialized operations, [21] or with a government agency such as NASA. [22]

Although job growth is stable overall, the largest material engineering employment fields include aerospace product and parts manufacturing (3,450 jobs); architectural, engineering and related services (2,750 jobs); semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing (2,620 jobs); and research and development (2,010 jobs). [5][18]

States with the highest employment rates for Material Engineers include California, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. [5][18]

There are several areas of specialization within the field of material engineering. Specializations (also known as concentrations) are generally categorized according to the type of materials the engineer would like to have specialized knowledge of. [29]

In order to specialize in a given area, students must complete a certain number of courses that provide content knowledge and skills in that area. The specific number of required courses to obtain a specialization varies across universities and states. You should consider your specialization carefully, ensuring that it closely aligns with your career goals and material engineering interests.

Some of the most common specializations include: [29]

• Ceramics: Works with ceramic materials with the goal of incorporating them into the manufacture of products. [8]
• Composite Materials: Combines different materials to produce hybrid and advanced materials for use in specialty products such as vehicles. [8]
• Electronic Materials: Develops and creates materials used in various forms of technology, including semiconductors and computers.
• Metallurgy: Works with metallic alloys and other forms of metal; often employed in mining, metal processing, and manufacturing sectors. [31]
• Polymers: Focuses developing and choosing materials to create plastics, rubber, and fibers for use in manufacture. [29]
• Materials Science: Focuses on the properties of many materials, often with “a particular focus on material failure issues,” such as “fracture, fatigue, and corrosion.” [29]

There are currently two types of accreditation in the United States: institutional accreditation and specialized or programmatic accreditation. [43] Institutional accreditation is offered by regional and national accreditation bodies, and involves a review process of the institution as a whole. [43]

ABET does not accredit institutions; rather, it accredits specific programs within institutions that have already achieved institutional accreditation. [43] ABET recognizes that programs vary widely even within single institutions. [43] This means that each ABET-accredited program has been reviewed separately and has achieved ABET standards.

ABET-accredited programs are viewed with a high level of respect within the engineering profession. Attaining ABET-accreditation means that programs have passed a critical and objective review of quality, precision and safety. [42] Knowing that a program has been ABET accredited “provides assurance that a college or university program meets the quality standards of the profession for which that program prepares graduates.” [43]

ABET accreditation is an intensive 18-month process. Programs sometimes begin to prepare for accreditation up to a year before the process begins. The accreditation process consists of five steps: [45]

• A readiness review
• An evaluation by the accreditation panel
• A self-study of areas that require improvement
• An on-site visit
• A 30-day window for the program to make any required changes before the final decision

ABET sets minimum standards for educational quality, safety, and precision. [43] Not all ABET-accredited programs are identical, and course offerings may differ between programs. However, because ABET sets a minimum standard for education in the Material Engineering field, graduates can be confident that they will receive adequate preparation to enter their field regardless of which ABET-accredited program they choose.

ABET accreditation is not associated with program cost increase. Some unaccredited programs may cost less than ABET-accredited programs, but this is not always the case. [45] Many online M.Eng. in Material Engineering programs are ABET accredited. [46]

There are three main areas in which students benefit from attending an ABET-accredited program:

Educational Experience

Your degree is a major investment in your future. Choosing an ABET-accredited program ensures that you will receive the educational preparation that you are paying for. You can be confident that when you graduate, you will meet global standards for technical preparation. [48]

Employment

Completing an ABET-accredited Master of Material Engineering program enhances employment opportunities. Many employees look for graduates who have completed an ABET-accredited program. The credential also opens doors for you to work globally, because ABET accreditation is internationally recognized and respected. [48]

Licensure

Some employers actively seek out employees who have completed an ABET-accredited program, as this is generally required for licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE). Holding a degree from an ABET-accredited program is required by most state licensure boards. [44]

Once a program is ABET accredited, it does require re-accreditation every six years. [43] It is rare for programs to lose ABET accreditation, but it can happen. Generally, programs are given warnings and a period of time to implement any required changes; however, lack of conformity to ABET standards can result in the revocation or non-renewal of a program’s ABET accreditation. [45]

If the program you graduated from loses accreditation after you have graduated, but was accredited at the time of your graduation, there is no loss to you in terms of career, credentials, or licensure. Your degree will still be recognized as accredited. [51]

Engineering employers across the United States are moving toward requiring licensure of their employees, but some sectors require this more often than others. Many states have set a legal requirement of PE licensure for consulting engineers or those who work in private practice. [54]

As well, government employers are requiring employees to have Professional Engineer status with more frequency than before. This is especially true of engineers in management or supervisory roles, or of those employed to teach engineering by colleges and universities. [54]

In the future, it is possible that PE licensure will be required to practice engineering more generally across the United States, which means that a PE license is recommended for those seeking optimal employment within the field of material engineering. [54]

Obtaining state licensure is one of the main reasons that engineers pursue advanced education in the engineering industry. [11] A Master of Engineering degree is not yet required for obtaining PE licensure by all states, but a degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program and a minimum of four years’ post-college work experience is required. [55]

Regardless of its current requirement status, because an M.Eng. in Material Engineering focuses on building technical skills through coursework, this degree can provide ideal preparation for the technical PE and FE exams. Achieving this degree can also open doors for engineers to obtain supervised employment with a licensed PE in the field, for which a minimum of four years are required for licensure. [1]

For those who have graduated from an unaccredited engineering program, graduating from an ABET-accredited master’s in engineering degree will satisfy the requirements of some states for beginning the process of obtaining a PE license. It is recommended that you obtain the full criteria of your state’s licensing board to ascertain your options. [55]

Material engineering has been practiced by humans for thousands of years. Humans seem to have a natural inclination to build and improve upon technologies, and materials have been central to those processes since the dawn of human existence.

Historians and anthropologists frequently define whole eras based upon the materials created or used within them: for example, the Stone, Iron, and Bronze ages. [59] Modern material engineering descends from advances in metallurgy made by ancient civilizations, including the Greek and Roman Empires. [59] [60]

Academic study of materials began in these ancient civilizations through the study of alchemy and transmutation, beliefs that persisted well into the 17th century. [59] It was not until the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, with an application of the scientific method, that a deeper understanding of materials developed into today’s material engineering academic discipline and practice. [59]

For much of the history of material engineering, those who worked with materials did not require any particular education or certification. Until as recently as a century ago, anyone could work as an engineer without proof of competency. [54]

With a rise in concern about public safety and welfare related to engineering projects, the first engineering licensure law was passed in 1907 by the state of Wyoming. [54] This development came as people began to realize that incompetent engineering and engineering design could have disastrous consequences. [54]

Soon after, the first organization with a mandate to decide qualifications for licensure, the Council of State Boards of Engineering Examiners (CSBEE), was developed. By 1950, all states plus Alaska, Hawaii, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico had passed engineering licensure laws, and had joined the council, now renamed the National Council of State Boards of Engineering Examiners (NCSBEE).

By 1970, the two licensure exams (FE and PE) had been developed, and the NCSBEE had become the National Council of Engineering Examiners. In 1989, Surveying was added to the Council’s purview, leading to the organization’s most recent name, the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying. By the late 1990s, most of the current standards for becoming a Professional Engineer in material engineering were established. [54]