Materials Science (MS) | University of Alabama in Huntsville

Skills & Competencies

Skills developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET via SOC 17-2131.00

Skills

Complex Problem SolvingScienceReading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeakingMathematicsWriting

Knowledge

Engineering and TechnologyChemistryPhysicsMathematicsProduction and Processing

Abilities

Oral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionOral ExpressionDeductive ReasoningInductive ReasoningCategory FlexibilityWritten ExpressionProblem SensitivityInformation OrderingMathematical Reasoning

Tasks

Analyze product failure data and laboratory test results to determine causes of problems and develop
Design and direct the testing or control of processing procedures.
Monitor material performance, and evaluate its deterioration.

Technology

Analytical or scientific softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareObject or component oriented development softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareDevelopment environment software

Tools

Abrasion testersAccelerated weathering machinesAccelerometersAcoustic impediography equipmentAdhesion testersAdiabatic bomb calorimetersAmmetersAnalytical balancesAtomic absorption AA spectrophotometersAtomic force microscopesAttritorsBall millsBalling drumsBand sawsBenchtop centrifuges

Work Values

SupportWorking ConditionsIndependenceAchievementRecognitionRelationships

Career Pathways

Occupations this program prepares you for

Auto-populatedfrom O*NET + BLS

Occupations matched to this program, with median wage, top wage, growth, and openings
SOC	Occupation	Method	Wage	Growth	Openings
Match confidence: medium17-2131.00	Materials Engineers	title_inference	—	—	—

Program Pathways

Credentials this program stacks toward

No program pathways.

What You'll Learn

Key competencies developed through this program

Auto-populatedfrom NSX Competency Framework

Mastery: advanced (Level 4)(based on Master's Degree)

Organizational failure analysis strategy — establish frameworks and standards for systematic product failure investigation across business units, driving continuous improvement in materials reliability at enterprise scale.
Materials testing and quality governance — set organizational policies for testing, process control, and quality assurance, ensuring alignment with industry standards and regulatory requirements across all product lines.
Materials performance and lifecycle strategy — lead enterprise-wide programs to monitor, model, and manage material deterioration, informing long-range product design and asset management decisions.
Research and development direction — define strategic priorities for new materials development programs, allocating resources and guiding multidisciplinary teams toward breakthrough product and process innovations.
Technical and economic decision authority — evaluate high-stakes design objectives against technical feasibility, cost, and risk at the portfolio level, advising executive leadership on materials investment strategies.
Advanced processing technology roadmaps — lead the development and industrialization of novel alloy modification and thermal processing capabilities, positioning the organization at the forefront of materials engineering practice.
Cross-enterprise materials standards — establish and champion companywide standards for fabrication, joining, and materials selection, influencing industry consortia and standards bodies on best practices.
Engineering talent development — build and sustain a high-performing materials engineering function by designing career pathways, mentoring senior engineers, and cultivating organizational knowledge management systems.
Innovation culture and intellectual leadership — foster a culture of scientific curiosity and systematic experimentation, driving adoption of emerging analytical tools, computational methods, and novel materials across the organization.
Strategic stakeholder engagement — represent the organization's materials engineering capabilities to customers, regulatory agencies, and industry partners, translating complex technical knowledge into strategic business value.

Program Details

Detailed information about this program

No detailed information available.

Requirements

What you need to earn this credential

No requirements listed.

Financial Aid

Eligible funding programs

No funding information available.

Scholarships

No scholarships listed.