Academic Programs Catalog

College of Engineering

Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

Undergraduate Programs
Materials Science and Engineering

Materials Science and Engineering majors learn to select and create materials used to realize engineering designs in fields such as bioengineering, microelectronics and aerospace. They also learn how to manipulate the elements of matter into the atomic arrangements that ensure efficient and cost-effective materials performance, demanded by today’s advanced applications.

Through the core course work, students gain the scientific and engineering foundation needed to design metallic, ceramic, polymeric, and composite materials and, in turn, components manufactured from these materials. Students may enhance the knowledge they gain in metals, ceramics, and polymers by completing a concentration in biomedical materials, manufacturing, polymers, or metallurgy. Students may also choose to enroll in electives of complementary fields such as business, electronic materials, or statistics. Honors students are encouraged to request an honors option with the instructors of MSE courses listed in item 3.a. below.

The Bachelor of Science Degree program in Materials Science and Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Materials, Metallurgical, Ceramics and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Materials Science and Engineering

  1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 128 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering.

    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Materials Science and Engineering major is met by completing Materials Science and Engineering 466.  That course is referenced in item 3. a. below.

    Students who are enrolled in the College of Engineering may complete the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that is described in item 1. under the heading Graduation Requirements for All Majors in the College statement.  Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be used to satisfy the alternative track.
  2. The requirements of the College of Engineering for the Bachelor of Science degree.

    The credits earned in certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
  3. The following requirements for the major:
    a. All of the following courses (41 credits):
    CE 221 Statics 3
    CEM 152 Principles of Chemistry  3
    CEM 161 Chemistry Laboratory I 1
    ECE 345 Electronic Instrumentation and Systems 3
    ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids 3
    MSE 250 Materials Science and Engineering 3
    MSE 260 Electronic, Magnetic, Thermal and Optical Properties of Materials 3
    MSE 310 Phase Equilibria in Materials 3
    MSE 320 Mechanical Properties of Materials 3
    MSE 331 Materials Characterization Methods I 2
    MSE 360 Fundamentals of Microstructural Design 3
    MSE 370 Synthesis and Processing of Materials 3
    MSE 381 Materials Characterization Methods II 2
    MSE 466 Design and Failure Analysis (W) 3
    STT 351 Probability and Statistics for Engineering 3
    Electrical and Computer Engineering 302 and 303 may be substituted for Electrical and Computer Engineering 345.
    b. Four of the following courses (12 credits):
    ME 477 Manufacturing Processes 3
    MSE 425 Biomaterials and Biocompatibility 3
    MSE 460 Electronic Structure and Bonding in Materials and Devices 3
    MSE 465 Design and Application of Engineering Materials 3
    MSE 474 Ceramic and Refractory Materials 3
    MSE 476 Physical Metallurgy of Ferrous and Alluminum Alloys 3
    c. Complete at least 6 credits from 400-level courses within the College of Engineering.
    d. Complete at least 3 credits in courses selected from a list of approved technical electives available from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science.

Concentrations in Materials Science and Engineering

Students may elect to complete a more focused set of courses to enhance their ability to function at the interface with another scientific, engineering, or business discipline. Concentrations are available to, but not required of, any student enrolled in the Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering. Completing the Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering with a concentration may require more than 128 credits. The concentration will be noted on the student's transcript.

Biomedical Materials Engineering
To gain interdisciplinary skills in human biology and earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering with a biomedical materials engineering concentration, students must complete requirement 3. a. above and the following (25 credits):

1. All of the following courses (12 credits):
ANTR 350 Human Gross Anatomy for Pre-Health Professionals 3
CEM 251 Organic Chemistry I 3
or
CEM 351 Organic Chemistry I 3
ME 495 Tissue Mechanics 3
MSE 425 Biomaterials and Biocompatibility 3
2. One of the following courses (4 credits):
PSL 250 Introduction to Physiology 4
PSL 310 Physiology for Pre-Health Professionals 4
3. Two of the following courses (6 credits):
MSE 460 Electronic Structure and Bonding in Materials and Devices 3
MSE 465 Design and Application of Engineering Materials 3
MSE 474 Ceramics and Refractory Materials 3
MSE 476 Physical Metallurgy of Ferrous and Aluminum Alloys 3
ME 477 Manufacturing Processes 3
4. At least 3 credits from a list of approved technical electives.

Manufacturing Engineering
To gain interdisciplinary skills with business and design engineers for manufacturing projects and earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering with a manufacturing engineering concentration, students must complete requirement 3. a. above and the following (21 credits): 

1. All of the following courses (12 credits):
ECE 415 Computer Aided Manufacturing 3
ME 477 Manufacturing Processes 3
ME 478 Product Development 3
MSE 465 Design and Application of Engineering Materials 3
2. Three of the following courses (9 credits):
GBL 323 Introduction to Business Law 3
MSE 426 Introduction to Composite Materials 3
MSE 474 Ceramic and Refractory Materials 3
MSE 476 Physical Metallurgy of Ferrous and Aluminum Alloys 3
Completion of this concentration fulfills requirement 2. of the admission requirements for the Master of Science degree in Manufacturing and Engineering Management offered by The Eli Broad College of Business.

Metallurgical Engineering
To enhance the student’s ability to characterize, process, and design with metals in association with mechanical engineers and earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering with a metallurgical engineering concentration, students must complete requirement 3. a. above and the following (21 credits):

1. All of the following courses (18 credits):
ME 423 Intermediate Mechanics of Deformable Solids 3
ME 475 Computer Aided Design of Structures 3
ME 477 Manufacturing Processes 3
MSE 465 Design and Application of Engineering Materials 3
MSE 476 Physical Metallurgy of Ferrous and Aluminum Alloys 3
MSE 481 Spectroscopic and Diffraction Analysis of Materials 3
2. One of the following courses (3 credits):
ME 425 Experimental Mechanics 3
MSE 426 Introduction to Composite Materials 3

Polymeric Engineering
To gain interdisciplinary skills to facilitate interactions with chemical engineers and earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering with a polymeric engineering concentration, students must complete requirement 3. a. above and the following (22 credits):

1. All the following courses (19 credits):
CE 321 Introduction to Fluid Mechanics 4
CEM 251 Organic Chemistry I 3
or
CEM 351 Organic Chemistry I 3
or
CEM 352 Organic Chemistry II 3
CHE 472
Composite Materials Processing
3
CHE 473
Chemical Engineering Principles in Polymers and Materials Systems
3
MSE 426
Introduction to Composite Materials
3
Any approved 890-891 independent study or topics course
3
2. Complete at least 3 credits in courses selected from a list of approved technical electives available from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science.