Composite Materials Engineering Program
WSU’s Composite Materials Engineering (CME) program prepares engineers who develop innovative and effective material solutions for a wide range of industries.
The program enrolls about 40 new students each year.
Graduates are equipped with skills to communicate and work effectively in diverse environments and grow professionally in their careers.
CME majors first complete the Pre-Engineering professional course sequence and General Education Program required graduation courses. Students then advance to core and elective courses in Composite Materials Engineering.
Students in this program get the best hands-on education in state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms.
Learn more about CME coursesEngineering for the Future
- What types of materials are going to be used in automobiles in order to achieve 54.5 mpg?
- What types of materials are allowing the major airplane manufacturers to achieve significant fuel savings?
- What types of materials are used in wind turbine blades producing renewable energy across the globe?
The answer to each question: composite materials.
If you’re interested in learning how to design, fabricate, test, and make highly efficient and lightweight products and structures of composite materials, this is the program for you.
Diverse Work Opportunities
With a CME degree, you’ll have a variety of work opportunities. Our graduates are sought out by employers in multiple industries. Some of these include the following:
| Industry | Composite Material Products |
|---|---|
| Aerospace | satellites, space shuttles, space telescopes, exploratory vehicles |
| Agriculture | farm equipment, body panels, cab interiors |
| Aircraft | lightweight jet, airplane parts |
| Automotive | body panels, suspension, interior parts |
| Biotechnology | prosthetics, implants, medical equipment |
| Construction | bridge materials, infrastructure applications |
| Defense | protective body and vehicle armor, jets, drones |
| Energy | poles and cross arms for power transmissions, turbine blades for wind energy |
| Marine | ships, submarines, boats, canoes, kayaks |
| Materials | new materials and manufacturing processes |
| Sporting Goods | bike frames, tennis rackets, golf clubs, fishing rods, skis, hockey sticks |
Program Partners
We partner with numerous companies in the region to ensure our curriculum meets real-world industry demands.
Some of these same companies have hired several of our students in the past.
- Benchmark Electronics
- Celanese
- Coda Composites Company
- CPI Core Molding
- Fastenal
- Natural Process Design
- PlastiComp
- RTP
- Syensgo (formerly Solvay)
- TRW Automotive Electronics
- Watlow
- We-no-nah Canoe
- Advanced Fiber Products | Onalaska, WI
- Geotek, Inc. | Stewartwille, MN
- Miken Sports | Caledonia, MN
- Plasticert | Lewiston, MN
- Strongwell | Chatfield, MN
- Trane | LaCrosse, WI
Take a Tour
Explore the learning spaces you’ll work in as a Composite Materials Engineering major, like the Manufacturing Lab, Machine Shop, and Mechanical Testing Lab.