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)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 14.1801
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 17-2131

About the Program

The Materials Science and Engineering BS/MS program allows students to develop both technical depth and breadth in their professional and related areas, which enhances their professional productivity, whether in industry or as they proceed to a PhD program. Their undergraduate courses provide the necessary technical pre-requisite understanding and skills for graduate studies, a natural progression. Because the technical concepts of engineering are common, an MS in a related discipline is readily achieved.

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

*

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.

**

General Education Electives

***

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.

†

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

5 year, 3 coop: Non-thesis option

*

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.

**

General Education Requirements

***

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 advisor.

†

Students pursuing the non-thesis option must complete the undergraduate senior design sequence, in lieu of MATE 898 [WI]  (MS Thesis).

‡

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

5 year, 3 coop: Thesis option

*

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.

**

General Education Requirements

***

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.

†

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

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty

Emeritus Faculty