-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EhNyVTPn4Rt9NAYg4BMZ3IIDfA24qpfXPzbJ/suOi36SJyttWjzvdHqKc+9T2Wh+
 gjyUu0Eu3i10ON+zfEyBGg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001051323-03-000013.txt : 20030723
<SEC-HEADER>0001051323-03-000013.hdr.sgml : 20030723
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030723134344
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001051323-03-000013
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030722
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030723

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MATERIAL SCIENCES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000755003
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COATING, ENGRAVING & ALLIED SERVICES [3470]
		IRS NUMBER:				952673173
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0228

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2300 E PRATT BLVD
		CITY:			ELK GROVE VILLAGE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60007
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8474398270

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CALLAHAN MICHAEL J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001051323
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CHEMICALS & ALLIED PRODUCTS [2800]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08803
		FILM NUMBER:		03797950

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 E RANDOLPH DR
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3128616000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 E RANDOLPH DRIVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001051323d20030722f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-22</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000755003</issuerCik><issuerName>MATERIAL SCIENCES CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>MSC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001051323</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>CALLAHAN MICHAEL J</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>PRESIDENT AND CEO</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle
><transactionDate><value>2003-07-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>200</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>9.03</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8700</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-22</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4<
/transactionFormType><transactionCode>P</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9800</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>9.2</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>18500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>MICHAEL J CALLAHAN</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----