4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program
The Materials Science and Engineering and Business Administration program at UC Berkeley combines two Bachelor of Science degrees in a four-year integrated curriculum, bringing together engineering principles, materials innovation, and business leadership. Designed for students interested in developing advanced materials and turning technical ideas into practical products or ventures, the program builds expertise in materials science, engineering design, entrepreneurship, finance, and strategic decision-making.
Curriculum Structure
First Year: Students establish a strong foundation in mathematics, chemistry, physics, engineering, and materials science. Courses such as MATH 51, CHEM 1A & 1AL, MAT SCI 45 & 45L, and ENGIN 7 introduce mathematical and scientific principles, materials properties, and engineering problem-solving, while the M.E.T. cohort course UGBA 196: Managing Technological Innovation introduces the connection between technology and business.
Second Year: The curriculum advances into materials engineering, statistics, physics, economics, and business fundamentals. Students study MAT SCI 151: Polymeric Materials, PHYSICS 7B and 7C, and UGBA 10X, while courses such as MATH 53 and an approved statistics or data course strengthen quantitative analysis and technical decision-making.
Third Year: Students deepen their understanding of materials structure, performance, and engineering applications while developing business leadership and communication skills. Core courses include MAT SCI 102: Bonding, Crystallography, and Crystal Defects, MAT SCI 103: Phase Transformations and Kinetics, MAT SCI 113: Mechanical Behavior of Engineering Materials, and UGBA 101A and 101B in microeconomic and macroeconomic analysis. The M.E.T. cohort course UGBA 196: Entrepreneurship and Strategic Growth connects innovation with business development.
Fourth Year: The final year emphasizes advanced materials applications, characterization, sustainability, and business strategy. Students take MAT SCI 104 & 104L: Materials Characterization and Laboratory, MAT SCI 131: Additive Manufacturing Processes and Systems for Advanced Materials, and a MAT SCI 120-series course, alongside business subjects such as UGBA 102A: Financial Accounting, UGBA 103: Introduction to Finance, UGBA 104: Introduction to Business Analytics, and UGBA 106: Marketing. The curriculum prepares students to connect engineering knowledge with product development and organizational decisions.
Focus Areas
Materials science and engineering, materials characterization, polymeric materials, electronic materials, mechanical behavior of engineering materials, additive manufacturing, materials lifecycle and sustainability, business analytics, finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, technological innovation, strategic growth.
Learning Outcomes
Apply mathematics, science, and engineering principles to solve complex materials-related problems; understand relationships between materials structure, properties, processing, and performance; evaluate engineering designs with consideration for safety, environmental, social, and economic factors; use business and analytical knowledge to support innovation and strategic decisions; communicate technical and business ideas effectively; develop leadership and lifelong learning skills.
Professional Alignment (Accreditation)
The Materials Science and Engineering undergraduate degree is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The undergraduate Business Administration program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Reputation (Employability Rankings)
Berkeley M.E.T. combines engineering and business education with career coaching, internship opportunities, company engagement, and a close-knit cohort model. The university's official program information emphasizes preparing graduates for technology innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership; no program-specific employment rate or salary figure was identified in the official sources reviewed.
Students gain practical experience through a curriculum that connects materials engineering with innovation, entrepreneurship, and business decision-making. The M.E.T. program provides professional development, career coaching, company excursions, and internship opportunities, while the engineering curriculum includes a dedicated materials characterization laboratory and opportunities for approved undergraduate research.
Students can build practical experience through:
Materials Characterization Laboratory: MAT SCI 104L provides laboratory learning associated with materials characterization.
Undergraduate Research: Students may use approved research work, including MAT SCI H194 Honors Undergraduate Research, toward an engineering elective when permitted by program requirements.
Additive Manufacturing: MAT SCI 131 introduces additive manufacturing processes and systems for advanced materials.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation: UGBA 196 courses cover Managing Technological Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Strategic Growth.
Internships: M.E.T. students can pursue summer internships; internships are supported by the program but are not a degree requirement.
Entrepreneurial Fellows Program: Selected students can undertake 10–12-week summer internships with affiliated startups. The program lists accelerator networks including SkyDeck, Y Combinator, Techstars, EvoNexus, and SAP.iO.
Company Engagement: M.E.T. organizes company Meet & Greets, company excursions, and networking opportunities with employers.
Career Development: Students can access career coaching, Berkeley’s Career Center, a dedicated recruiting pipeline, and Handshake.
Collaborative Learning: The M.E.T. Collaboration Space provides a hub for students to meet, work on projects, and support one another.
Graduates of Materials Science and Engineering and Business Administration develop a combination of technical engineering knowledge, commercial awareness, and innovation skills. This dual-degree background can support careers in materials development, manufacturing, product innovation, technology management, consulting, and entrepreneurship. Berkeley M.E.T. also prepares students to launch ventures or contribute to innovation within established organizations.
Potential Career Roles:
Materials Engineer, Materials Scientist, Materials Research and Development Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Product Development Engineer, Materials Characterization Engineer, Additive Manufacturing Engineer, Technical Product Manager, Technology Innovation Manager, Engineering Project Manager, Operations Analyst, Business Development Associate, Technology Consultant, Sustainability Analyst, Entrepreneur or Startup Founder
Students can develop their professional experience through the following university-supported opportunities:
Career Services: M.E.T. provides dedicated career coaching, professional development, recruiting opportunities, and access to Berkeley's Career Center and Handshake.
Internship Opportunities: The Entrepreneurial Fellows Program connects selected students with affiliated startups for 10–12-week summer internships.
Industry Engagement: Company Meet & Greets, company excursions, and employer networking provide opportunities to interact with organizations recruiting M.E.T. students.
Industry Exposure: M.E.T.'s published internship experience includes organizations such as Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, NASA, and SpaceX. These are examples of past student internship destinations, not guaranteed placements.
Accreditation Value: The ABET-accredited engineering degree and AACSB-accredited undergraduate business program provide recognized academic accreditation for the two areas of study.
Graduate Outcomes: The program describes pathways into startup creation, innovation leadership in established companies, and social-impact ventures. No program-specific graduate employment percentage or salary figure was located in the official sources reviewed.
Further Academic Progression: Graduates can consider postgraduate study in Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Management, Business Analytics, Technology Management, or related research fields. Students interested in advanced technical research may pursue a master's or Ph.D. in a relevant engineering discipline, while those seeking broader business leadership development may explore graduate business education such as an MBA. These are potential academic pathways rather than guaranteed or automatic progression routes.


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