BS in Materials Science and Engineering

Materials scientists and engineers design, develop, and produce both traditional and new advanced materials with diverse applications intended for use in a wide variety of industries. These include traditional materials-intensive industries such as the structural clay, foundry, white ware, polymers, plastics, fibers, textiles, composite materials, and automotive industries. Also included are high performance technology industries such as semiconductor, defense, biomaterials, aerospace, and communication industries. The broad career responsibilities of this discipline require competence in science, engineering, mathematics, and the social sciences. The curriculum develops skills in problem solving, engineering analysis, and design, as well as oral and written communication. The Department of Materials Science and Engineering offers two areas of concentration within the Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering. The Inorganic Materials Concentration provides for more in-depth study of the engineering and science of materials such as ceramics, glasses, metals, optical, and electronic materials; while the Polymeric Materials Concentration provides more emphasis on the chemistry and processing of plastics, elastomers, fibers and fibrous materials, films, coatings and adhesives. Students select either the Inorganic Materials Concentration or the Polymeric Materials Concentration when they declare their major at the completion of the General Engineering requirements. Both concentrations in Materials Science and Engineering integrate laboratory with classroom experiences to prepare students for life-long learning and exciting career opportunities. Courses covering thermodynamics, kinetics, mechanical behavior, processing, fabrication and characterization of materials prepare students for careers in industry and for professional and graduate school. In addition to the common educational objectives of all engineering programs, baccalaureate degree graduates in Materials Science and Engineering will be able to: Demonstrate learning consistent with ABET Criteria 2014 for materials engineering programs; Perform well in the laboratory and plant environments; and Serve the local, national, and international materials communities. Specifically, the ABET Engineering Criteria 2014 requires that baccalaureate degree graduates in Materials Science and Engineering be able to: Apply advanced science (such as chemistry and physics) and engineering principles to materials systems implied by the program modifier, e.g., ceramics, metals, polymers, composite materials; Demonstrate an integrated understanding of the scientific and engineering principles underlying the four major elements of the field; structure, properties, processing, and performance related to materials systems appropriate to the field; Apply and integrate knowledge from each of the above four elements of the field to solve materials selection and design problems; Utilize experimental, statistical, and computational methods consistent with the program educational objectives.