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Department of Materials Science and Engineering
201 Materials Science and Engineering Building
1304 West Green Street
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-1441
Fax: (217) 333-2736
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and
Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering teaches how to make the stuff from
which stuff is made. Students learn how to design advanced materials
ranging from better polymers for synthetic fabrics and ceramic-metal
composites for jet engines, to advanced ceramic thin films for microelectronics
and biocompatible materials for implants in the body. The curriculum
uses concepts from both basic physics and chemistry and provides a
detailed knowledge of what makes the materials we use every day respond
as they do.
Students in the first two years take courses in general areas of science
and engineering as well as courses introducing the concepts in MatSE.
The curriculum is designed to allow relatively easy transfer to and
from other engineering disciplines within the first two years. In
the third year, students study the central issues related to MatSE
in general. Seniors focus on application areas of MatSE, which provide
them with the detailed knowledge to be immediately useful to corporations
or to provide an introduction to graduate study.
This degree program is designed to be completed in eight semesters
of study with no advanced placement (AP or IB) credit. The MatSE degree
requires a minimum of 128 hours for graduation and is consistent with
the professional component described in the introduction for the college.
The program has been ABET accredited.Formal statements of the mission
of the department and the goals of the undergraduate program as well
as further details may be found at the department
website.
Application Areas
The MatSE program provides five standard focus areas as well as the
option to design unique programs of interest to the student. Students
are encouraged to take technical electives outside of the department
in related disciplines of interest to them and of relevance to their
career goals.
- Ceramics: Students study the science and engineering
of ceramic materials, including alloy design, composites, synthesis,
and processing methods. This area makes significant use of concepts
from both basic physics and basic chemistry.
- Metals: Introduces the design and processing
of metals and alloys to achieve desired properties. This area
primarily uses concepts from basic and intermediate physics with
relatively less emphasis on chemical concepts.
- Polymers: Teaches the methods for molecular
design to achieve desired properties in polymer molecules and
polymer blends as well as processing methods. This area primarily
uses concepts from basic and intermediate chemistry with relatively
less emphasis on physics concepts.
- Electronic Materials: Describes the design
and engineering of materials primarily for the microelectronics
industries. Topics span the ceramics, metals, and polymers areas.
Concepts from basic and intermediate physics are used along with
basic chemistry.
- Biomaterials: A new focus area teaching the
science and engineering of materials for use in biological applications,
particularly in the human body. This area uses a strong focus
on basic and intermediate chemistry along with basic and intermediate
biology concepts, with relatively little use of physics topics.
This focus area includes a subset of the standard junior year
courses and requires additional chemistry and biology in the junior
year.
Educational Objectives
The educational objectives of the MatSE Department are
- To provide the foundation for entry-level industrial positions
in materials-related industries or advanced study programs through
in-depth instruction in both materials as a whole and in their
chosen concentration. An emphasis is placed on analysis, problem
solving, open-ended problems, and materials design methods.
- To develop teamwork, communication skills, and individual professionalism,
including ethics and environmental awareness.
- To encourage students to broaden their education in engineering
and science or expand their knowledge through student-selected
technical and free electives and cooperative engineering education,
internship, and study abroad programs.
- To teach students to learn and grow as individuals, contribute
to society, and to develop life-long learning and leadership skills.
Educational Outcomes
It is expected that the graduates will have an ability to
- apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to
materials topics,
- formulate engineering and science problems and develop practical
solutions, hypotheses, and experimental methods,
- design materials products, components, and processes,
- design, conduct, analyze, and interpret results of experiments,
- work effectively in multidisciplinary teams and provide leadership,
- achieve effective oral, graphic, and written communication,
- understand the impact of science engineering decisions in a
global, societal, economic, and environmental context,
- understand professional and ethical responsibility,
- recognize the value of and carry out life-long learning,
- understand contemporary issues and contribute effectively,
- use the techniques, skills, and modern tools necessary for
materials engineering and science practice,
- make a responsible contribution to society,
- be familiar with chemistry, physics, and advanced mathematics.
Working in MatSE
MatSE graduates work with engineers across the spectrum of design
and manufacturing. They design the materials that make the technologies
we rely on work better. Our graduates work as part of teams designing
high-technology devices. They move on to management. They get advanced
degrees and work as teachers and bench scientists.
Job Opportunities
Because advanced materials pervade all aspects of our society, MatSE
students are found working in all areas. MatSE graduates work for
all types of engineering and technology companies, ranging from small
businesses to huge corporations. Starting salaries are among the highest
in engineering. MatSE graduates work for microelectronics companies;
automotive, aircraft, space, and other vehicle manufacturers; chemical,
metal, glass, and other materials manufacturing industries; and many
others. All companies that manufacture mechanical, electronic, or
other devices can benefit from staff members with a strong understanding
of materials. MatSE students also go on to graduate school in science,
engineering, medicine, and business.
Suggested Sequence
First year
| Hours |
First Semester |
| 3 |
CHEM 102—General
Chemistry I |
| 1 |
CHEM 103—General
Chemistry Lab I |
| 0 |
ENG 100—Engineering
Lecture |
| 5 |
MATH 220—Calculus
I1 |
| 3 |
MSE 182—Intro
to Materials Sci and Eng |
| 4-3 |
RHET 105—Principles
of Composition2 or elective
in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 16-15 |
Total |
| Hours |
Second Semester |
| 3 |
CHEM 104—General
Chemistry II |
| 1 |
CHEM 105—General
Chemistry Lab II |
| 2 |
MATH 225—Introductory
Matrix Theory |
| 3 |
MATH 230—Calculus
II |
| 1 |
MSE 100—Materials
Lecture |
| 4 |
PHYS 211—Univ
Physics, Mechanics |
| 3-4 |
Elective
in social sciences or humanities3
or RHET 105—Principles of Composition2 |
| 17-18 |
Total |
Second year
| Hours |
First Semester |
| 3 |
CS 101—Intro
to Computing, Eng & Sci |
| 3 |
MATH 242—Calculus
of Several Variables |
| 3 |
MSE 201—Phases
and Phase Relations |
| 4 |
PHYS 212—Univ
Physics, Elec & Mag |
| 3 |
Elective
in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 16 |
Total |
| Hours |
Second Semester |
| 3 |
ECE 205—Intro
Elec & Electr Circuits |
| 3 |
MATH 385—Intro
Differential Equations |
| 2 |
PHYS 214—Univ
Physics, Quantum Phys |
| 4 |
TAM 206—Mechanics
for MatSE |
| 3 |
Elective
in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 15 |
Total |
Third year
| Hours |
First Semester |
| 3 |
IE 300—Analysis of Data |
| 3 |
MSE 307—Materials Laboratory,
I4 |
| 4 |
MSE 401/CHEM 484—Thermodynamics
of Materials |
| 3 |
MSE 403—Synthesis of Materials |
| 3 |
MSE 405—Microstructure Determination |
| 16 |
Total |
| Hours |
Second Semester |
| 3 |
MSE 304—Electronic Properties
of Matls |
| 3 |
MSE 308—Materials Laboratory,
II4 |
| 3 |
MSE 402—Kinetic Processes in
Materials |
| 3 |
MSE 406—Thermal-Mech Behavior
Matls |
| 3 |
Division specialty course5 |
| 3 |
Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 18 |
Total |
Fourth year6
| Hours |
First Semester |
| 3 |
Division
specialty course5 |
| 3 |
Division
specialty course or Senior Lab8 |
| 3 |
Technical
elective7 |
| 3 |
Elective
in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 3 |
Free elective |
| 15 |
Total |
| Hours |
Second Semester |
| 1 |
MSE 395—Materials
Design |
| 3 |
Division
specialty course5 |
| 3 |
Senior
Lab or division specialty course |
| 3 |
Technical
elective9 |
| 3 |
Elective
in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 3 |
Free elective |
| 16 |
Total |
1. It is recommended that freshmen
with appropriate background in analytical geometry take the MATH
235/245 calculus sequence, delaying MATH 225 until the sophomore
year, instead of MATH 220/230/242 .
2. RHET 105 may be taken in the first or second
semester of the first year as authorized. The alternative is a social
sciences or humanities elective.
3. Each student must satisfy the social sciences
and humanities requirements of the College of Engineering and the
campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities.
4. Satisfies the General Education Advanced Composition
requirement.
5. To be selected from the list of division specialty
courses as established by the department to provide an acceptable
level of study in the student's chosen area of specialization. One
of these selections in the senior year must be from the following
capstone design courses: MSE 428, 443, 453, and 462.
6. It is recommended that students who intend
to continue in graduate school undertake a research project in the
senior year.
7. Selected from the departmental list of approved
technical electives, which is available from the department.
8. This course includes an independent study.
9. Selected outside the area of concentration
from departmental list of approved technical electives. Area Specialty Courses
The courses listed below have been approved by the department to satisfy
the requirements in each of the four areas of technical specialization.
Students wishing to pursue other areas of specialization not listed
should consult with their academic adviser or the chief adviser for
the department. Each area of specialization would require at least
one course covering each of the topics processing, design, and characterization,
together with suitable electives. Such customized programs require
the approval of the department.
| Hours |
Ceramics
Concentration |
| 3 |
MSE 420—Ceramic Matls and Properties |
| 3 |
MSE 421—Cer Proc & Microstruc Devel |
| 4 |
MSE 423—Ceramic Processing Laboratory |
| 3 |
MSE 428—Process Design |
| Hours |
Electronic
Materials Concentration |
| 3 |
ECE 440—Solid State Electronic Devices |
| 3 |
MSE 460—Electronic Matis & Proc, I |
| 3 |
MSE 461—Electronic Matis & Proc, II |
| 4 |
MSE 462—Electronic Materials Lab |
| Hours |
Metals
Concentration |
| 3 |
MSE
440—Adv Mechanical Prop of Solids |
| 3 |
MSE
441—Metals Processing |
| 4 |
MSE
442—Metals Laboratory |
| 3 |
MSE
443—Design of Engineering Alloys |
| Hours |
Polymers
Concentration |
| 3 |
MSE 450—Intro to Polymer Sci and Eng |
| 4 |
MSE 452—Polymer Laboratory |
| 3 |
MSE 453—Plastics Engineering |
| 6 |
Division technical elective1 |
| Hours |
Biomaterials Concentration |
| 3 |
CHEM 232—Elementary Organic Chemistry I |
| 3 |
MCB 150—Molec & Cellular Basis of Life |
| 3 |
MCB 252—Cells, Tissue, & Development |
| 3 |
MCB 450—Introductory Biochemistry |
| 3 |
MSE 470—Design and Use of Biomaterials |
| 1 |
MSE 472—Biomaterials Laboratory |
| 3 |
MSE 473—Biomolecular Materials Science |
| 3 |
Elective in MatSE |
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