<p>If you don't have a MatE degree, what degree should you get to work as a MatE?</p>
<p>ChemE is pretty related to Mat E.
so its pretty good.</p>
<p>but its better getting a Mat E degree, especially in the graduate level.</p>
<p>ChemE or Mechanical (the coursework might not be related, yet they seem to pop up in industry quite frequently).</p>
<p>It really depends upon what sort of materials engineering you want to end up in. I found that a lot of my structural mechanics classes as a structural engineer overlapped with the metallurgist MatsE guys. I was surprised to find the other day that I'm actually completely qualified to do crack propagation investigations for Lockheed-Martin for their F-16 research department. So... if you're into metals, might be something to look into.</p>
<p>If you want to be the kind of MatsE person who deals with adding one chemical to another to get new and interesting forms of goo, then probably best to stick with either chem eng or MatsE.</p>
<p>Any reason why you're not going for outright material science degrees? Do you just not like MatsE programs, or do you already go to a college that doesn't have a MatsE program?</p>
<p>Also consider studying solid state physics as an EE if you are interested in electronic materials. The electronic materials speciality within materials engineering is very similar to taking many semiconductor EE courses as electives.</p>
<p>airbarr, the latter would be true in my case. There are only two universities in my province that offers a MatE degree, and I don't want to go to either of them. One of them is extremely competitive, and the other does not seem to have a good curriculum.</p>
<p>I reckon that explains why the first one is extremely competitive, then. ;)</p>
<p>The competition is within the school. It bellcurves people way down. I don't like the stress.</p>
<p>I think every degree in engineering is basically a Mat E degree. In Canada when we get our Iron Ring (a tradition which you lot in America liberally borrowed) you have to accept the "heart-breaking perversity of inanimate things" i.e. working with materials.</p>
<p>This once again depends on your school's program</p>
<p>but I'd say go ahead with Mechanical Engineering or Chemical ENgineering</p>
<p>It really depends on what kind of MatE you want to work with. EE has a lot of overlap with MatE when it comes to microelectronics fabrication.</p>
<p>If you know what school you want to attend look into the ChemE, MechE and EE curriculum. </p>
<p>My Mechanical Engineering program includes significant work in Material Science and there might be others programs that follow as well.</p>
<p>If not you can always supplement a core engineering degree with Chemistry/Physics classes and pursue MatSci in grad school.</p>