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Materials Science & Engineering Undergraduate Program

The Materials Science & Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Materials science and engineering is directed toward an understanding of the structure, properties, and processing of materials. Society demands new and improved materials with capabilities far superior to common metals, polymers, and ceramics. New materials are needed for high-speed transportation systems, surgical and dental implants, new generations of power plants, renewable energy sources, and solid-state electronic and photonics devices in computer and communication technology. Both the development of new materials and the understanding of present-day materials demand a thorough knowledge of basic engineering and scientific principles, including crystal structure, elastic and plastic behavior, thermodynamics, phase equilibria and reaction rates, and structural and physical and chemical behavior of engineering materials.

Materials engineers study phenomena found in many different engineering operations, from fracture behavior in automobiles to fatigue behavior in aircraft frames, from corrosion behavior in petro-chemical refineries to radiation-induced damage in nuclear power plants, and from the fabrication of steel to the design of semiconductors. Materials engineers are also increasingly involved in developing the new materials needed to attain higher efficiencies in existing and proposed energy conversion schemes and will play a central role in the development of new technologies based on composites and high-temperature superconductivity.

The undergraduate materials science and engineering program provides the background for activities in research, processing, and the design of materials. The curriculum is based on a common core of courses basic to engineering; courses taken during your first two years provide a strong foundation in fundamental engineering concepts.

Objectives

We educate students in the fundamentals of materials science and engineering, balanced with the application of these principles to practical problems; educate students as independent, critical thinkers who can also function effectively in a team; educate students with a sense of community, ethical responsibility, and professionalism; educate students for careers in industry, government, and academia; teach students the necessity for continuing education and self-learning; and foster proficiency in written and oral communications.

Students are encouraged to adhere carefully to all prerequisite requirements. The instructor is authorized to drop students from a course for which stated prerequisites have not been completed.

Honors Program

An Honors Program is available to qualified students in Materials Science & Engineering. It is a two-year program designed to challenge the most talented students in these majors. Students are invited to participate in their sophomore year. In the upper division coursework, students will complete either an honors thesis or a project that might involve local industry. Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.500 to continue in the program. Successful completion of the Honors Program will be acknowledged on the student's transcript.

The major requirements below are in addition to meeting University Degree Requirements & College Degree Requirements; unless otherwise noted. The minimum number of units required for the Materials Science & Engineering Bachelor of Science is 157.