Academic Programs Catalog

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):

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): 

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):

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):