Undergraduate Program
This program provides the basis
for developing, improving, and understanding materials and processes for electronic,
structural, and other applications. It draws from physics, chemistry, and other
disciplines to provide a coherent background for immediate application in engineering or
for subsequent advanced study. The emphasis is on fundamentals relating atomic- to
microscopic-scale phenomena to materials properties and processing, including design and
control of industrially important materials processes. Core courses and electives
combine rigor with flexibility and provide opportunities for focusing on such areas as
electronic materials, polymers, ceramics, biomaterials, structural materials, and metals
and mineral processing. There are also opportunities for combining materials science and
engineering with interests in areas such as medicine, business, law, or government.
The unifying theme of
understanding and interrelating materials synthesis, processing, structure, and
properties forms the basis of our MSAE program and is evident in the undergraduate
curriculum and in faculty research activities. These activities include work on
polycrystalline silicon for flat panel displays; high-temperature superconductors for
power transmission and sensors; semiconductors for laser and solar cell applications;
magnetic heterostructures for information storage and novel computation architectures;
electronic ceramics for batteries, gas sensors, and fuel cells; electrodeposition and
corrosion of metals; and the analysis and design of high-temperature reactors. Through
involvement with our research groups, students gain valuable hands-on experience and are
often engaged in joint projects with industrial and government laboratories.
The materials science and
engineering undergraduate curriculum requires sixteen courses in the third and fourth
years, of which four are restricted electives. This program allows students to
specialize in a subdiscipline of MSAE if they so choose. Students must take twelve
required courses and four electives. At least two electives must be in the Type A
category, and at most two may be in the Type B category. The Type B electives are listed
under different materials subdisciplines for guidance. Still, some courses listed under
different categories may appeal to students interested in a given area. For example,
CHEE E4252: Introduction to surface and colloidal
chemistry should also be considered by students interested in biomaterials
and environmental materials.
Type A electives are:
CHEE E4530: Corrosion of metals
CHEE E4252: Introduction to surface and colloidal science
BMEN E4300: Solid biomechanics
MSAE E4207: Lattice vibrations and crystal defects
MSAE E4250: Ceramics and composites
ELEN E4944: Principles of device microfabrication
Type B electives are:
Biomaterials
BMEN E4301: Structure, mechanics, and adaptation of bone
BMEN E4501: Tissue engineering, I: biological tissue substitutes
BMEN E4502: Tissue engineering, II: extracorporeal systems and implantible
devices
Electronic
Materials
APPH E3100: Introduction to quantum mechanics
ELEN E3000: Introduction to circuits, systems, and electronics
ELEN E3106: Solid-state devices and materials
ELEN E4301: Introduction to semiconductor devices
Environmental Materials
EAEE E4001: Industrial ecology of Earth resources
EAEE E4160: Solid and hazardous waste management
Mechanical
Properties of Materials
ENME-MECE E3105: Engineering mechanics
ENME E3114: Experimental mechanics of solids
ENME E4113: Advanced mechanics of solids
ENME E4114: Mechanics of fracture and fatigue
MECE E4608: Manufacturing processes
Soft
Materials and Surfaces
CHEE E4050: Principles of industrial electrochemistry
CHEE C3444: Organic chemistry (lecture)
CHEE E4252: Introduction to surface and colloidal chemistry
APMA E4400: Introduction to biophysical modeling
MSAE E3900: Undergraduate research in materials science
Alternative courses can be
taken as electives with the approval of the undergraduate adviser. Of the 24 points of
elective content in the third and fourth years, at least 12 points of restricted
electives approved by the adviser must be taken. Of the remaining 12 points of electives
allotted, a sufficient number must actually be taken so that no fewer than 64 points of
courses are credited to the third and fourth years. Those remaining points of electives
are intended primarily as an opportunity to complete the four-year, 27-point
nontechnical requirement, but any type of course work can satisfy them.