For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and
Engineering
Materials science and engineering is the basis for all engineering. Improvements in the quality of life require knowledge of the processing and properties of current materials and the design, development and application of new materials. The Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE) curriculum provides an understanding of the underlying principles of synthesis and processing of materials and of the interrelationships between structure, properties, and processing. Students learn how to create advanced materials and systems required, e.g., for flexible electronic displays and photonics that will change communications technologies, for site specific drug delivery, for self-healing materials, for enabling the transition to a hydrogen-based economy, and for more efficient photovoltaics and nuclear systems for energy production. The curriculum uses concepts from both basic physics and chemistry and provides a detailed knowledge of what makes the materials we use every day behave 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. In the third year, students study the common, central issues related to MatSE. Seniors focus on application areas of MatSE (e.g., biomaterials, ceramics, metals, polymers, and electronic materials), which provide them with the detailed knowledge to be immediately useful to corporations or to provide an introduction to graduate study.
Areas of Concentration
The MatSE program provides five standard areas of concentration 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.
- Biomaterials: A relatively new focus area teaching the science and engineering of materials for use in biological applications, particularly in the human body. This concentration is based on basic and intermediate chemistry along with basic and intermediate biology concepts, with relatively less 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.
- Ceramics: Studies the science and engineering
of ceramic materials, including alloy design, composites, synthesis,
and processing methods. This concentration makes significant use of concepts
from both basic physics and basic chemistry.
- 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.
- Metals: Introduces the design and processing
of metals and alloys to achieve desired properties. This concentration
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 concentration primarily
uses concepts from basic and intermediate chemistry with relatively
less emphasis on physics concepts.
Overview of Curricular Requirements
The curriculum requires 131 hours for graduation and is organized as follows.
Orientation and Professional Development
These courses introduce the opportunities and resources your college, department, and curriculum can offer you as you work to achieve your career goals. They also provide the skills to work effectively and successfully in the engineering profession.
| Hours |
Requirements |
| 0 |
ENG 100—Engineering Lecture1 |
| (1) |
MSE 183—Freshman Materials Laboratory1,2 |
| 0 |
Total |
1. External transfer students take ENG 300—Engineering Transfer Lecture instead.
2.This optional course is highly recommended and may be used to help meet free elective requirements.
Foundational Mathematics and Science
These courses stress the basic mathematical and scientific principles upon which the engineering discipline is based.
| Hours |
Requirements |
| 3 |
CHEM 102—General Chemistry I |
| 1 |
CHEM 103—General Chemistry Lab I |
| 3 |
CHEM 104—General Chemistry II |
| 1 |
CHEM 105—General Chemistry Lab II |
| 4 |
MATH 221—Calculus I |
| 2 |
MATH 225—Introductory Matrix Theory |
| 3 |
MATH 231—Calculus II |
| 4 |
MATH 241—Calculus III |
| 3 |
MATH 385—Intro Differential Equations |
| 4 |
PHYS 211—Univ Physics, Mechanics |
| 4 |
PHYS 212—Univ Physics, Elec & Mag |
| 2 |
PHYS 214—Univ Physics, Quantum Phys |
| 34 |
Total |
Materials Science and Engineering Technical Core
These courses stress fundamental concepts and basic laboratory techniques that comprise the common intellectual understanding of materials science and engineering.
For All Concentrations
| Hours |
Requirements |
| 3 |
CS 101—Intro to Computing, Eng & Sci |
| 3 |
ECE 205—Intro Elec & Electr Circuits |
| 3 |
IE 300—Analysis of Data |
| 3 |
MSE 182—Intro to Materials Sci and Eng |
| 3 |
MSE 201—Phases and Phase Relations |
| 3 |
MSE 307—Materials Laboratory, I |
| 3 |
MSE 308—Materials Laboratory, II |
| 1 |
MSE 395—Materials Design |
| 4 |
MSE 401—Thermodynamics of Materials |
| 3 |
MSE 402—Kinetic Processes in Materials |
| 3 |
MSE 406—Thermal-Mech Behavior Matls |
| 4 |
TAM 206—Mechanics for MatSE |
| 36 |
Subtotal for all concentrations. See additional technical core requirements below. |
For the Concentration in Biomaterials
| Hours |
Requirements |
| 3 |
CHEM 232—Elementary Organic Chemistry I |
| 4 |
MCB 150—Molec & Cellular Basis of Life |
| 3 |
MCB 450—Introductory Biochemistry |
| 3 |
MCB 252—Cells, Tissues & Development |
| 13 |
Subtotal |
| 49 |
Total for the Concentration in Biomaterials. |
For the Concentrations in Ceramics, Electronic Materials, Metals, and Polymers
| Hours |
Requirements |
| 3 |
MSE 304—Electronic Properties of Matls |
| 3 |
MSE 403—Synthesis of Materials or
CHEM 232—Elementary Organic Chemistry I |
| 3 |
MSE 405—Microstructure Determination |
| 9 |
Subtotal |
| 45 |
Total for the Concentrations in Ceramics, Electronic Materials Metals, and Polymers |
Technical Electives
These courses stress the rigorous analysis and design principles practiced in the major subdisciplines of materials science and engineering embodied in the MatSE concentrations.
For the Concentration in Biomaterials
| Hours |
Requirements |
| 14 |
Area specialty courses selected from the list of area specialty courses established by the department. |
| 6 |
Area specialty courses in a different area specialty; both must be from the same area. |
| 20 |
Total |
For the Concentrations in Ceramics, Electronic Materials, Metals, and Polymers
Social Sciences and Humanities
The social sciences and humanities courses, as approved by the College of Engineering, ensure that students have exposure in breadth and depth to areas of intellectual activity that are essential to the general education of any college graduate.
| Hours |
Requirements |
| 18 |
Electives in social sciences and humanities approved by the College of Engineering and satisfying the campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities, including cultural studies western and non-western. |
Composition
These courses teach fundamentals of expository writing.
| Hours |
Requirements |
| 4 |
RHET 105—Principles of Composition |
| |
Advanced Composition (satisfied by completing the sequence MSE 307 and MSE 308 in the Materials Science and Engineering Technical Core ) |
| 4 |
Total |
Free Electives
These unrestricted electives give the student the opportunity to explore any intellectual area of unique interest. This freedom plays a critical role in helping students to define research specialties or to complete minors.
| Hours |
Requirements |
| 6 |
Free electives. Additional unrestricted course work so that there are at least 131 credit hours earned toward the degree. |
Area Specialty Courses
The courses listed below have been approved by the department to satisfy
the 14-15 credit hour requirements in each of the five areas of technical concentration.
| Hours |
Biomaterials Concentration |
| 3 |
MSE 470—Design and Use of Biomaterials |
| 3 |
MSE 472—Biomaterials Laboratory |
| 3 |
MSE 473—Biomolecular Materials Science |
| 5 |
Two area technical electives1 |
| Hours |
Ceramics
Concentration |
| 3 |
MSE 420—Ceramic Matls and Properties |
| 3 |
MSE 421—Cer Proc & Microstruc Devel |
| 3 |
MSE 422—Electrical Ceramics |
| 3 |
MSE 423—Ceramic Processing Laboratory |
| 3 |
Area technical elective1 |
| Hours |
Electronic
Materials Concentration |
| 3 |
ECE 440—Solid State Electronic Devices |
| 3 |
MSE 460—Electronic Matls & Proc, I |
| 3 |
MSE 461—Electronic Matls & Proc, II |
| 3 |
MSE 462—Electronic Materials Lab |
| 3 |
Area technical elective1 |
| Hours |
Metals
Concentration |
| 3 |
MSE
440—Adv Mechanical Prop of Solids |
| 3 |
MSE
441—Metals Processing |
| 3 |
MSE
442—Metals Laboratory |
| 3 |
MSE
443—Design of Engineering Alloys |
| 3 |
Area technical elective1 |
| Hours |
Polymers
Concentration |
| 3 |
MSE 450—Intro to Polymer Sci and Eng |
| 3 |
MSE 452—Polymer Laboratory |
| 3 |
MSE 453—Plastics Engineering |
| 6 |
Two area technical electives1 |
1. Selected from the departmental list of approved technical electives for areas of concentration.
Summary of Topics Courses for Areas of Concentration
Each area of concentration requires at least one course covering each of the topics processing, design, and characterization (senior lab). For the five standard areas of concentration in the MatSE curriculum outlined above, the relevant courses are categorized in the following table.
| Area of Concentration |
Processing |
Design |
Characterization (Senior Lab) |
| Biomaterials |
MSE 470* |
MSE 470* |
MSE 472 |
| Ceramics |
MSE 421 |
MSE 422 |
MSE 423 |
| Electronic Materials
| MSE 460 |
MSE 461 |
MSE 462 |
| Metals |
MSE 441 |
MSE 443 |
MSE 442 |
| Polymers |
MSE 453* |
MSE 453* |
MSE 452 |
*same course counts as both topics
Suggested Sequence
The schedule that follows is illustrative, showing the typical sequence in which courses would be taken by a student with no college course credit already earned and who intends to graduate in four years. Each individual’s case may vary, but the position of required named courses is generally indicative of the order in which they should be taken. The first two years of the Suggested Sequence is the same for all MatSE students. The third and fourth years vary with the Area of Concentration chosen. Refer to the appropriate third and fourth year sequence.
First year
| Hours |
First Semester |
| 3 |
CHEM 102—General
Chemistry I |
| 1 |
CHEM 103—General
Chemistry Lab I |
| 0 |
ENG 100—Engineering
Lecture |
| 4 |
MATH 221—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 |
| 15-14 |
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 231—Calculus
II |
| (1) |
MSE 183—Freshman Materials
Laboratory4 |
| 4 |
PHYS 211—Univ
Physics, Mechanics |
| 3-4 |
Elective
in social sciences or humanities3
or
RHET 105—Principles of Composition2 |
| 16-17 |
Total |
Second year
| Hours |
First Semester |
| 3 |
CS 101—Intro
to Computing, Eng & Sci |
| 4 |
MATH 241—Calculus
III |
| 3 |
MSE 201—Phases
and Phase Relations |
| 4 |
PHYS 212—Univ
Physics, Elec & Mag |
| 3 |
Elective
in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 17 |
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 |
Concentrations in Ceramics, Electronic Materials, Metals, and Polymers
Third year
| Hours |
First Semester |
| 3 |
IE 300—Analysis of Data |
| 3 |
MSE 307—Materials Laboratory,
I5 |
| 4 |
MSE 401—Thermodynamics
of Materials |
| 3 |
MSE 406—Thermal-Mech Behavior Matls |
| 3 |
Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 16 |
Total |
| Hours |
Second Semester |
| 3 |
MSE 304—Electronic Properties
of Matls |
| 3 |
MSE 308—Materials Laboratory,
II5 |
| 3 |
MSE 402—Kinetic Processes in
Materials |
| 3 |
MSE 405—Microstructure Determination |
| 3 |
Area specialty course6 |
| 3 |
Free Elective |
| 18 |
Total |
Fourth year7
| Hours |
First Semester |
| 3 |
MSE 403—Synthesis of Materials or
CHEM 232—Elementary Organic Chemistry I |
| 6 |
Area
specialty courses6 |
| 3 |
Area specialty course in a different area 6 |
| 3 |
Technical
elective8 |
| 3 |
Elective
in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 18 |
Total |
| Hours |
Second Semester |
| 1 |
MSE 395—Materials
Design |
| 6 |
Area
specialty courses6 |
| 3 |
Technical
elective8 |
| 3 |
Elective
in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 3 |
Free elective |
| 16 |
Total |
Concentration in Biomaterials
Third Year
| Hours |
First Semester |
| 3 |
CHEM 232—Elementary Organic Chemistry I |
| 3 |
IE 300—Analysis of Data |
| 3 |
MSE 307—Materials Laboratory I5 |
| 4 |
MSE 401—Thermodynamics of Materials |
| 3 |
MSE 406—Thermal-Mech Behavior Matls |
| 16 |
Total |
| Hours |
Second Semester |
| 4 |
MCB 150— Molec & Cellular Basis of Life |
| 3 |
MCB 450—Introductory Biochemistry |
| 3 |
MSE 308—Materials Laboratory II5 |
| 3 |
MSE 402—Kinetic Processes in Materials |
| 3 |
Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 16 |
Total |
Fourth year 7
| Hours |
First Semester |
| 9 |
Area specialty courses6 |
| 3 |
Area specialty course in a different area6,9 |
| 3 |
Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 3 |
Free Elective |
| 18 |
Total |
| Hours |
Second Semester |
| 3 |
MCB 252—Cells, Tissues & Development |
| 1 |
MSE 395—Materials Design |
| 5 |
Area specialty courses6 |
| 3 |
Area specialty course in a different area6,9 |
| 3 |
Elective in social sciences or humanities3 |
| 3 |
Free elective |
| 18 |
Total |
1. MATH 220—Calculus may be substituted, with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus.
2. RHET 105 may be taken in the first or second semester as authorized. The alternative is a social sciences or humanities elective.
3. Each student must satisfy the 18-hour social sciences and humanities requirements of the College of Engineering and the campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities.
4. This course is highly recommended for freshmen, who may use it to help meet free elective requirements.
5. Satisfies the General Education Advanced Composition requirement.
6. To be selected from the list of area specialty courses as established by the department to provide an acceptable level of study in the student's chosen area of concentration.
7. Strongly recommended is incorporation of one or more of an internship, co-op position, and a research project during summers or an academic semester, or both. For students who intend to continue in graduate school, recommended additionally is the undertaking of a research project (Senior Thesis) in the senior year. The project may take the place of 4-6 hours of free, technical, or area specialty electives.
8. Selected from the departmental list of approved technical electives.
9. Both area specialty courses in this category must be from one of the other MatSE areas of concentration.
