In this paper, we investigate the natural frequencies and buckling loads of functionally graded material (FGM) plates and shells, using a quasi-conforming shell element that accounts for the transverse shear strains and rotary inertia. The eigenvalues of the FGM plates and shells are calculated by varying the volume fraction of the ceramic and metallic constituents using a sigmoid function, but the Poisson ratios of the FGM plates and shells are assumed to be constant. The expressions for the membrane, bending and shear stiffness of FGM shell elements are more a complicated combination of material properties than a homogeneous element. In order to validate the finite element numerical solutions, the Navier solutions for rectangular plates based on the first order shear deformation theory are also presented. The present numerical solutions for composite and sigmoid FGM (S-FGM) plates and shells are verified by the Navier solutions and various examples of composite and FGM structures. The present results are in good agreement with the Navier theoretical solutions.