Therefore, a related department goal is to provide coordination and balance between the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and to ensure that each program is allocated the resources necessary to meet its goals. Within the overall field of materials science and engineering, students are offered both broad core and in-depth options. The broad core provides the needed background and understanding of all types of engineering materials, including metals, ceramics, polymers, electronic materials, and composites. Ceramic materials are resistant to high temperatures, chemically durable, strong, rigid, and exhibit a broad range of functional and electronic properties. Metallurgical engineering is concerned with the processing, fabrication, and utilization of metals, alloys, and other engineering materials.
Extractive metallurgy relates to the processing and refining of metals and their compounds.
Physical metallurgy is concerned with the structure and properties of materials, the development of new materials with improved properties, and the application and performance of materials in modern engineering systems and design. Electronic and optical materials are utilized in a variety of modern technology, from fiber optic communications to computer technology. Conducting materials of high purity are needed for many electronic applications. Fiber optics depend on glass fiber of special composition and are made using specific processes. Optical materials such as those used in lasers are specially modified using crystal growth and doping techniques.