Careers, Placement and Outcomes - Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department

The Program Educational Objectives (PEOs) of the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Program are to produce graduates who achieve some of the following within five years of receiving their Bachelor of Science degree:

Program Educational Objectives

  1. Practice the M&ME profession as demonstrated by
    1. Continued professional employment,
    2. Job promotion, and/or
    3. Expanded career responsibilities
  2. Obtain professional registration
    1. Professional Engineer (PE),
    2. Qualified Professional (QP), and/or
    3. Professional Certification
  3. Complete an advanced degree in M&ME or a related field
    1. Master of Science (MS)
    2. Masters of Engineering,
    3. Doctorate (PhD or ScD)
  4. Continue professional development as demonstrated by
    1. Society membership and participation,
    2. Master's in Business Administration (MBA),
    3. Continuing education through seminars and leadership training in Project Management, Health and Safety, and other career-relevant areas, and/or
    4. Engineering related volunteerism.

Student Outcomes

The Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering curriculum was developed in consonance with ABET criteria to ensure its graduates have the abilities to:

  1. identify, formulate, and solve complex Materials Science and Engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  2. apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
  3. communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  4. recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  5. function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
  6. develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  7. acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies
  8. apply advanced science, such as chemistry, biology, and physics), computational techniques and engineering principles to materials systems implied by the program modifier, e.g., ceramics, metals, polymers, biomaterials, composite materials
  9. integrate the understanding of the scientific and engineering principles underlying the four major elements of the field: structure, properties, processing, and performance related to metallurgical and materials systems appropriate to the field, and
  10. apply and integrate knowledge from each of the above four elements of the field using experimental, computational, and statistical methods to solve materials problems including selection and design consistent with the program educational objectives.

To satisfy these student outcomes, the curriculum has evolved to:

  1. train students to understand a wide range of metallurgical and materials engineering applications and methods
  2. prepare students to adapt to an ever-changing world and its demand for minerals, metals and materials, and
  3. provide students with practical, hands-on experiences through numerous laboratory courses, Senior Design projects, and field trips.

Students are encouraged to secure employment in metallurgical and materials engineering or related fields through summer internships and cooperative education programs. Internships and co-ops provide students with practical experience and helps guide their career choices, pay college expenses, and ultimately improve their marketability upon graduation.

Careers

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for Materials Engineers in 2023 was $104,100, and the highest 10% earned more than $165,580. Employment is projected to grow at 5% between 2022 and 2032, which is faster than the average for all occupations. Opportunities are available in a variety of industries where minerals, metals and materials are produced and consumed. These industries include but are not limited to mining, manufacturing, petroleum, iron/steel making, automotive, recycling, chemicals, paper/pulp, aerospace, maintenance, corrosion, and forensics.

Note From Career Services

The placement statistics provided here come from annual surveys completed by graduates. This annual survey is conducted for the purpose of facilitating the career decisions of currently enrolled and prospective students. Placement data are based on responses received from the graduates who participated in the Montana Tech annual Graduate Surveys. Each annual class is comprised of Summer, Fall and Spring graduates. A small portion of the survey was provided by secondary sources. A conscientious effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the career information included in this report. Because of the cyclical nature of the businesses and industries for which Montana Tech trains its students, placement statistics from any one year should not be viewed as representative long-term permanent results. The annual graduate survey should, instead, be viewed only as an informational resource in the career-planning process. Please contact Career Services if you have any questions about the survey information. For additional information view the entire survey online at: www.mtech.edu/career-services/surveys/index.html

Metallurgical and Materials Engineering - Baccalaureate
Metallurgical Engineering - Master
Metallurgical/Min Process Engineer - Master

Presentations

Enrollment and Graduate Data by Program