There are as many reasons to choose a school as there are students, but some criteria are more important than others. Accreditation from the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology is foremost among those. It is also important to understand the focus of each program under consideration. Some are geared to the practical needs of production and manufacturing, while others are more focused on pure research. Choice of a specialization within the field may also be a factor. One school's program may be strong in ceramics and semiconductors, for example, while another might focus on metals and composites.
Master's degree programs are shorter and less demanding than doctorate's degree programs. Ordinarily a master's program consists of two years' advanced course work, sometimes including a practical or research component. Some schools offer accelerated degrees, combined bachelor's and master's degrees or joint degrees with other disciplines such as management. Most graduate programs offer both master's and doctorate's degrees. Examples of schools with master's programs in materials engineering include the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo; Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh; and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
Doctorate's degree programs involve original research as well as courses. Students spend the first two years in advanced course work similar to that in a master's program. After this, the doctoral candidate performs original research in a chosen field, usually for three years. Most programs require students to write and defend a thesis or dissertation. The program generally includes some form of fellowship, stipend or other financial assistance for doctoral students. Examples of schools with doctoral programs in materials engineering include the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado; MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates growth of 9 percent in materials engineering positions through 2018. Jobs with manufacturers are in decline as those companies continue to outsource their engineering requirements, but research and new materials provide some growth potential. As for income, the 2009 BLS survey shows the middle 50 percent of materials engineers averaged $83,190 annually. The top 10 percent reported an average annual income of $125,660.