Materials Science & Engineering BS / Materials Science & Engineering MS
Major: Materials Science and Engineering
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering (BSMSE) and Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering (MSMSE)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 225.5
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years)
About the Program
The BS/MS in Materials Science and Engineering is an accelerated degree program that provides academically qualified students the opportunity to develop technical depth and breadth in their major and an additional complementary related area, earning two diplomas (BS and MS) within the typical duration of earning the bachelor's degree alone. A natural progression from the student’s undergraduate courses, with the necessary technical prerequisite understanding and skills, prepares students for graduate-level studies. Students can still enjoy the benefits and rewards of the Drexel co-op experience and gain research experience by working with faculty. Salaries for students with MS degrees can range up to 25% higher than those with BS degrees alone.
For more information, visit COE Special Programs or the BS/MS webpage.
Admission Requirements
Students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.4 and have taken coursework sufficient to demonstrate a readiness to undertake graduate coursework.
Degree Requirements
| General Education/Liberal Studies Requirements | ||
| CIVC 101 | Introduction to Civic Engagement | 1.0 |
| COOP 101 | Career Management and Professional Development * | 1.0 |
| ENGL 101 | Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research | 3.0 |
| or ENGL 111 | English Composition I | |
| ENGL 102 | Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing | 3.0 |
| or ENGL 112 | English Composition II | |
| ENGL 103 | Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres | 3.0 |
| or ENGL 113 | English Composition III | |
| PHIL 315 | Engineering Ethics | 3.0 |
| UNIV E101 | The Drexel Experience | 1.0 |
| Technical Electives/Track Courses (Select one track) ** | 3.0 | |
6.0 credits of (GR) MATE Technical Electives count as 6.0 credits of (UG) Track Electives | ||
| Materials for Energy | ||
| Fundamentals of Solar Cells | ||
| Electrochemical Engineering | ||
| Fundamentals of Power and Energy | ||
| Introduction to Nuclear Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Renewable Energy | ||
| Theory of Nuclear Reactors | ||
| Nuclear Power Plant Design & Operation | ||
| Solar Energy Engineering | ||
| Renewable Energy Systems | ||
| Materials for Energy Storage | ||
| Fuel Cell Engines | ||
| Solar Energy Fundamentals | ||
| Materials for Sustainability | ||
| Introduction to Sustainable Engineering | ||
| Fundamentals of Solar Cells | ||
| Introduction to Renewable Energy | ||
| Solar Energy Engineering | ||
| Fundamentals of Environmental Biotechnology | ||
| Solid and Hazardous Waste | ||
| Environmental Life Cycle Assessment | ||
| Recycling of Materials | ||
| Environmental Effects on Materials | ||
| Materials for Medical Technology | ||
| Human Physiology I | ||
| Biochemistry | ||
| Biomechanics I: Introduction to Biomechanics | ||
| Biomaterials I | ||
| Biomaterials II | ||
| Cellular and Molecular Foundations of Tissue Engineering | ||
| Developmental and Evolutionary Foundations of Tissue Engineering | ||
| Medical Device Development | ||
| BioProcess Principles | ||
| Principles of Colloid Science | ||
| Chemistry of Biomolecules | ||
| The Chemistry Behind Drugs: Fundamentals of Medicinal Chemistry | ||
| Biomechanics | ||
| Computer-Aided Tissue Engr | ||
| Manufacturing | ||
| Polymer Process Technology | ||
| Organic Chemistry II | ||
| Synthetic Polymer Chemistry | ||
| Physical Chemistry of Polymers | ||
| Polymer Chemistry III | ||
| Engineering Reliability | ||
| Introduction to Microfabrication | ||
| Finite Element Methods | ||
| Introduction to Composites I | ||
| Introduction to Composites II | ||
| Introduction to Computer-Aided Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Computer-Aided Manufacturing | ||
| Manufacturing Process I | ||
| Manufacturing Process II | ||
| General Education Electives *** | 12.0 | |
| Business Elective (GE) † | 4.0 | |
| Free Electives | 6.0 | |
| Societal Impact Elective (GE) ‡ | 4.0 | |
| Foundation Requirements | ||
| BIO 107 | Cells, Genetics & Physiology | 3.0 |
| BIO 108 | Cells, Genetics and Physiology Laboratory | 1.0 |
| CHE 350 | Statistics and Design of Experiments | 3.0 |
| CHEC 353 | Physical Chemistry and Applications III | 4.0 |
| Chemistry Requirements ^ | 3.5-7.5 | |
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I | ||
| OR | ||
| General Chemistry I | ||
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry II | 4.5 |
| CHEM 241 | Organic Chemistry I | 4.0 |
| Engineering (ENGR) Requirements | ||
| ENGR 111 | Introduction to Engineering Design & Data Analysis | 3.0 |
| ENGR 113 | First-Year Engineering Design | 3.0 |
| ENGR 131 | Introductory Programming for Engineers | 3.0 |
| or ENGR 132 | Programming for Engineers | |
| ENGR 210 | Introduction to Thermodynamics | 3.0 |
| or MEM 210 | Introduction to Thermodynamics | |
| ENGR 220 | Fundamentals of Materials | 4.0 |
| or MATE 220 | Fundamentals of Materials | |
| ENGR 231 | Linear Engineering Systems | 3.0 |
| or CAEE 231 | Linear Engineering Systems | |
| or ECE 231 | Linear Algebra and Matrix Computations | |
| or MATH 201 | Linear Algebra | |
| ENGR 232 | Dynamic Engineering Systems | 3.0 |
| or CAEE 232 | Dynamic Engineering Systems | |
| or ECE 232 | Solving Dynamic Systems | |
| or MATH 210 | Differential Equations | |
| Mathematics Requirements ^^ | 4.0-10.0 | |
| Algebra, Functions, and Trigonometry and Calculus I | ||
| OR | ||
| Calculus and Functions I and Calculus and Functions II § | ||
| OR | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| MATH 122 | Calculus II | 4.0 |
| MATH 200 | Multivariate Calculus | 4.0 |
| Physics Requirements ^^ | 4.0-8.0 | |
| Preparation for Engineering Studies and Fundamentals of Physics I | ||
| OR | ||
| Fundamentals of Physics I | ||
| PHYS 102 | Fundamentals of Physics II | 4.0 |
| PHYS 201 | Fundamentals of Physics III | 4.0 |
| Professional Requirements | ||
| MATE 214 | Introduction to Polymers | 4.0 |
| MATE 230 | Fundamentals of Materials II | 4.0 |
| MATE 240 | Thermodynamics of Materials | 4.0 |
| MATE 245 | Kinetics of Materials | 4.0 |
| MATE 280 | Advanced Materials Laboratory | 4.0 |
| MATE 315 | Processing Polymers | 4.5 |
| MATE 345 | Processing of Ceramics | 4.5 |
| MATE 351 | Electronic and Photonic Properties of Materials | 4.0 |
| MATE 355 | Structure and Characterization of Crystalline Materials | 3.0 |
| MATE 366 [WI] | Processing of Metallic Materials | 4.5 |
| MATE 370 | Mechanical Behavior of Solids | 3.0 |
| MATE 375 | Materials Selection for Industrial Applications | 3.0 |
| MATE 410 | Case Studies in Materials | 3.0 |
| MATE 455 | Biomedical Materials | 3.0 |
| MATE 460 | Engineering Computational Laboratory | 4.0 |
| MATE 475 | Materials Data Analysis | 3.0 |
| MATE 491 [WI] | Senior Project Design I ± | 2.0 |
| MATE 492 | Senior Project Design II ± | 3.0 |
| MATE 493 [WI] | Senior Project Design III ± | 3.0 |
| Master's Degree Courses | ||
| Required Core Courses: | ||
| MATE 510 | Thermodynamics of Solids | 3.0 |
| MATE 512 | Introduction to Solid State Materials | 3.0 |
| Four additional Selected Core (SC) courses from the following: | 12.0 | |
| Structure and Properties of Polymers | ||
| Kinetics | ||
| Experimental Technique in Materials | ||
| Numerical Engineering Methods | ||
| Ceramics | ||
| Mechanical Behavior of Solids | ||
| Biomedical Materials I | ||
Any additional related courses if approved by the graduate advisor. | ||
| Technical Electives (TE) ¶ | 18.0 | |
| Thesis and Alternatives | 9.0 | |
| 9.0 credits of MATE 898 (MS Thesis) or 9.0 credits of Technical Electives (TE). | ||
| Total Credits | 225.5-239.5 | |
- *
Co-op cycles for Materials Science & Engineering are only Spring/Summer.
COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.
- **
Specialization tracks allow upper-class students to focus on a specific area of materials science and engineering through selection of three technical elective courses (minimum 9.0 credits, though 6.0 credits must be shared with graduate courses). This tailored specialization combined with foundational materials knowledge and co-op experiences gives students a customized education to prepare them for their future career and/or graduate school. Students choose from four pre-determined specialization tracks or create their own track. In addition to the specific courses listed for each pre-determined track, other courses may be accepted subject to approval by the MSE advisor. The pre-determined tracks are:
- Materials for Energy
- Materials for Medical Technologies
- Materials for Sustainability
- Manufacturing and Materials Processing
- ***
- †
Choose one of the approved Business Electives (GE): ECON 201, ACCT 110, OPM 200, ORGB 300 [WI] or approved by MSE advisor.
- ‡
Choose one of the approved Societal Impact Electives: SOC 244, SOC 346, SCTS 202, SCTS 205 or approved by MSE advisor.
- ^
CHEM sequence is determined by the student's Chemistry Placement Exam score and the completion of a summer online preparatory course available based on that score.
- ^^
MATH and PHYS sequences are determined by the student's Calculus Placement Exam score and the completion of any summer online preparatory courses based on that score.
- §
Some students may need a one-credit concurrent practicum course depending on their calculus exam score and summer preparatory review participation.
- ±
Students pursuing the non-thesis option must complete the undergraduate senior design sequence, in lieu of MATE 898 [WI] (MS Thesis). MSE students pursuing the thesis option are not required to take MATE 491 [WI] , MATE 492, MATE 493 [WI] , and are required to complete 9.0 credits of MATE 898 [WI] (MS thesis). In addition, these students need to complete an additional 8.0 credits of UG MATE Electives.
- ¶
Of the 18.0 technical elective credits, which may include up to 6.0 credits of MATE 897, at least 9.0 credits must be taken as Materials Science and Engineering (MATE) courses, while the rest may be taken within the College of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, or at other colleges if consistent with the student's plan of study (and given advance written approval by their advisor). At least 9.0 of these 18.0 technical electives must be exclusive of independent study courses or research credits.
Any graduate-level course (500-999) in a STEM field (BIO, CAEE, CHE, CHEM, ECE, MATH, MEM, PHYS) as approved by the MSE graduate advisor, excluding MATE 536, MATE 503, and MATE 504
Writing-Intensive Course Requirements
In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.
A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.
Sample Plan of Study
Students should complete undergraduate requirements in four years then convert to graduate status in their final year.
A full-time, academically qualified undergraduate student may take up to 9.0 quarter credits of graduate coursework with departmental permission while in an undergraduate degree program. This coursework may be counted to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements with departmental permission.
Students admitted to an accelerated degree program may take up to a total of 15.0 quarter credits of graduate coursework with departmental permission while in an undergraduate degree program. This graduate coursework must be counted to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements with departmental permission.
This graduate coursework may be used as Shared Credits toward an advanced degree. The course credits for each graduate course taken as an undergraduate student shall only be applied to one graduate degree with departmental permission.
Matriculated students should consult Drexel Central about maintaining Federal/State financial aid eligibility regarding graduate credits taken while in an undergraduate degree program.
Facilities
Nanobiomaterials and Cell Engineering Laboratory
This laboratory contains a fume hood with vacuum/gas dual manifold, vacuum pump and rotary evaporator for general organic/polymer synthesis; gel electrophoresis and electroblotting for protein characterization; bath sonicator, glass homogenizer and mini-extruder for nanoparticle preparation; centrifuge; ultrapure water conditioning system; precision balance; pH meter and shaker.
Ceramics Processing Laboratory
This laboratory contains a photo-resist spinner, impedance analyzer, Zeta potential meter, spectrafluorometer, piezoelectric d33 meter, wire-bonder, and laser displacement meter.
Layered Solids Laboratory
This laboratory contains a vacuum hot-press; creep testers, Ar-atmosphere glove-box, high-speed saw, and assorted high temperature furnaces; metallographic preparation facilities; high temperature closed-loop servo-hydraulic testing machines.
Mechanical Testing Laboratory
This laboratory contains mechanical and closed-loop servo-hydraulic testing machines, hardness testers, Charpy and Izod impact testers, equipment for fatigue testing, metallographic preparation facilities and a rolling mill with twin 6" diameter rolls.
Macromolecular Materials Laboratory
This laboratory contains a hybrid rheometer, inert environment glove box, size exclusion chromatography with multi-angle laser light scattering, HPLC and RI detector & MALS, centrifuge, rotovapor, and vacuum oven used for developing innovative synthetic platforms to generate functional soft materials with complex macromolecular architectures.
Mesoscale Materials Laboratory
This laboratory contains instrumentation for growth, characterization, device fabrication, and design and simulation of electronic, dielectric, ferroelectric and photonic materials. Resources include physical and chemical vapor deposition and thermal and plasma processing of thin films, including oxides and metals, and semiconductor nanowire growth. Facilities include pulsed laser deposition, atomic layer deposition (ALD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), sublimation growth, and resistive thermal evaporation. Variable-temperature high-vacuum probe station and optical cryostats including high magnetic field, fixed and tunable-wavelength laser sources, several monochromators for luminescence and Raman scattering spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with electron beam lithography, and a scanning probe microscope.
Nanomaterials Laboratory
This laboratory contains instrumentation for synthesizing, testing and manipulation of nanomaterials carbon and two dimensional carbides under microscope, high-temperature autoclaves, Sievert’s apparatus; glove-boxes; high-temperature vacuum and other furnaces for the synthesis of nano-carbon coatings and nanotubes; tube furnaces for synthesis of carbides and nitrides; potentiostat/galvanostat for electrochemical testings; ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectrophotometry; Raman spectrometers; Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) up to 1500 °C with mass spectrometer, Zeta potential analyzer; attrition mill, bath and probe sonicators, centrifuges; electro-spinning system for producing nano-fibers.
Functional Inorganic Materials Synthesis Laboratory
The laboratory contains equipment for the synthesis of inorganic and hybrid materials, including gas cabinets for NH3 and H2, a CVD furnace, and spin-coater; UV-Vis spectrophotometer; and a photodegradation test station with Xe 1000 W lamp.
Films and Heterostructures Laboratory
This laboratory contains an oxide molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) thin film deposition system; physical properties measurement system (PPMS) for electronic transport and magnetometry measurements from 2 to 400 K, up to 9 T fields; 2 tube furnaces; spectroscopic ellipsometer.
Powder Processing Laboratory
This laboratory contains vee blenders, ball-mills, sieve shaker + sieves for powder classification, several furnaces.
Soft Matter Research and Polymer Processing Laboratories
These laboratories contain computerized thermal analysis facilities including differential scanning calorimeters (DSC), dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) and thermo-gravimetric analyzer (TGA); tabletop tensile tester; strip biaxial tensile tester; vacuum evaporator; spin coater; centrifuge; optical microscope with hot stage; liquid crystal tester; microbalance; ultrasonic cleaner; laser holographic fabrication system; polymer injection molder and single screw extruder.
Natural Polymers and Photonics Laboratory
This laboratory contains a high purity liquid chromatography (HPLC) system; refractometer; electro-spinning and touch-spinning systems for producing nanofibers.
X-ray Tomography Laboratory
This laboratory contains a high resolution X-ray micro-tomography instrument and a cluster of computers for 3D microstructure reconstruction; mechanical stage, a positioning stage and a cryostage for in-situ testing.
MSE Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory
Contains an FTIR spectrometer, metallographic sample preparation, equipment, polymer 3D printers, polymer extruder and injection molder, Vickers hardness tester, inverted metallograph, multiple furnaces.
Materials Characterization Core (MCC)
The Department of Materials Science & Engineering relies on the Materials Characterization Core facilities within the University for materials characterization and micro- and nano-fabrication. These facilities contain a number of state-of-the-art materials characterization instruments, including high resolution and variable pressure field-emission scanning electron microscopes (SEMs) with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) for elemental analysis, Orientation Image Microscopy (OIM) for texture analysis, various in-situ and in-operando stages (cryo mat, heating, tensile, 3- and 4-point bending, and electrochemistry); two Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEMs) with STEM capability and TEM sample preparation equipment; a dual-beam focused ion beam (FIB) system for nano-characterization and nano fabrication; a Nanoindenter; an X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometer (XPS)/Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA) system; X-Ray Diffractometers (XRD); and an X-ray microscope (NanoCT) with an in-situ tensile/compression temperature controlled stage.
More details of these instruments, information on how to access them, and instrument usage rates can be found at Drexel University’s Materials Characterization Core webpage.