Welcome to UC Davis Materials Science and Engineering
Why Study Materials Science and Engineering?
People with a knowledge and understanding of materials, the building blocks of the world, are needed to meet society's demands for better products. As one of the broadest fields in the engineering discipline, materials science and engineering has applications as diverse as infrastructure, medical devices, computers and safety systems in cars, trains and airplanes.
Read our "Why Study Materials Science and Engineering?" page to find out more about how your materials science and engineering knowledge can help change the world.
How to Become an Aggie
Applying to UC Davis is easy. The Undergraduate Admissions webpage is a great one-stop shop for anything and everything you need to know to join us here.
If you have questions related to admissions, please be sure to contact undergraduate admissions.
Transfer students
Transferring as a materials science and engineering major requires you to meet all requirements for the university, the College of Engineering and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
Since materials science and engineering coursework is rigorous, the department is considered a “UC Davis selective major,” meaning we require additional preparatory coursework. In addition to the requirements of the university and college, we require that applicants complete the equivalent of:
- Chemistry 2A/B/C
- Engineering 3 or Communication 1 or Communication 3
- Chemical Engineering (ECH) 60 or Engineering 6 or Engineering Computer Science (ECS) 32A
- Engineering 17 or Engineering 35
- Engineering 45
- Mathematics 21A/B/C/D
- Mathematics 22A/B
- Physics 9A/B/C/D
- English 3 or University Writing Program 1 or Comparative Literature 1 or Comparative Literature 2 or Comparative Literature 3 or Comparative Literature 4 or Native American Studies 5
Please note that simply completing these courses does not guarantee admission.
We recommend that you plan for transfer as early as possible in your undergraduate career. Visit Undergraduate Admissions for some resources on planning. Additional resources for California Community College students include ASSIST and Avenue E.
Once you’ve been admitted and decide to attend UC Davis, there will be an opportunity to attend a transfer orientation and meet your department advisors.
Visit the Transfer Admissions Website for Tips and Information on Applying.
Second Bachelor's Students
Materials Science and Engineering is one of only two programs on the UC Davis campus that accepts new undergraduate applicants seeking second bachelor’s degrees. Second baccalaureate applications to the College of Engineering will only be considered if the applicant’s first degree is not in engineering and if the lower division engineering selective major criteria has been completed.
Admission requires the approval of the dean of the College of Engineering and the executive director of Undergraduate Admissions. Admission under this status requires a superior academic record and clear evidence of a change in objective.
Competitive candidates should have a combined GPA for the preparatory courses listed below of 3.20 or higher. Overall UC-transferable coursework must meet a minimum 3.10 GPA. California Community College transfer students are given the highest priority, but we encourage all who are interested in the program to apply.
The following preparatory courses must be completed with a C or better:
- Chemistry 2A/B/C
- Engineering 3 or Communication 1 or Communication 3
- Chemical Engineering (ECH) 60 or Engineering 6 or Engineering Computer Science (ECS) 32A
- Engineering 17 or Engineering 35
- Engineering 45
- Mathematics 21A/B/C/D
- Mathematics 22A/B
- Physics 9A/B/C/D
- English 3 or University Writing Program 1 or Comparative Literature 1 or Comparative Literature 2 or Comparative Literature 3 or Comparative Literature 4 or Native American Studies 5
Second baccalaureate students in the College of Engineering whose first bachelor’s degree is from any UC campus will not be held to completing the UC Davis General Education requirement. NOTE: It is possible that UC reciprocity may not satisfy your upper-division composition requirement at UC Davis. Please consult with your UC Davis program advisor for details.
Visit the Special Admissions Website for More Information on Second Bachelor's.
Visit the Transfer Admissions Website for Tips and Information on Applying.
Freshmen students
Detailed requirements for admission to UC Davis can be found through Undergraduate Admissions. Freshmen students admitted to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering begin their undergraduate careers by building their fundamental math, physics, chemistry and materials science knowledge through introductory courses. We recommend that incoming freshmen enroll in the following subjects during their first quarter:
Math.
Lower-division composition (UWP 1, ENL 3, COM 1, COM 2, COM 3, COM 4 or NAS 5).
Note: students must satisfy their Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) before taking a lower-division composition course.
General education course or first-year seminar (optional).
Exact courses will be determined based on the scores students receive on their placement exams. Placement exams should be taken prior to course registration.