The required and recommended courses provide a firm background in materials science.Academics / Undergraduate Study / Materials Science and Engineering (BS)Curriculum & Requirements
We empower our students to become whole-brain engineers by integrating elements of left-brain thinking (analysis, logic, and math) with the high-level right-brain thinking that fosters intuition and creativity. The required and recommended courses have been selected to give students a broad exposure to various aspects of engineering and a firm background for materials science and engineering.
Incoming Freshmen should consider taking MatSci 190 Materials Science and Engineering Freshman Seminar (not offered FA23) or MatSci 395 Introductory Special Topics in Materials Science and Engineering (offered WI24). These elective classes introduce students to use of modern tools in materials science, as well as the correlation of structure with other properties of materials through lecture and laboratories. Students conduct their own research projects using skills developed in class labs.
Degree Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 48 courses, including the following:
Core Courses (32 courses)
- Mathematics (4 courses: MATH 220-1, MATH 220-2, MATH 228-1, MATH 228-2)
- Engineering analysis and computer proficiency (4 courses: GEN_ENG 205-1, or GEN_ENG 206-1, GEN_ENG 205-2, GEN_ENG 205-3, GEN_ENG 205-4, or GEN_ENG 206-4)
- Basic sciences (4 courses: Physics 135-2, 135-3 plus labs; Chem 131, 132 plus labs, 151, 152 plus labs or Chem 171, 172 plus labs)
- Design and communications (3 courses: 2 courses in Design Thinking and Communication and one of the following: COMM_ST 102-0, PERF_ST 103-0, PERF_ST 203-0)
- Social sciences/humanities (7 courses)
- Unrestricted electives (5 courses)
- Basic Engineering (5 courses)
- A.Material Science - 1 course
MAT_SCI 301-0 Materials Science Principles - B. Thermodynamics - 2 courses
MAT_SCI 314-0 Thermodynamics of Materials
MAT_SCI 315-0 Phase Equilibria and Diffusion of Materials - C. Fluids and Solids - 1 course
CIV_ENV 216-0 Mechanics of Materials - D. One additional course from the remaining five McCormick basic engineering categories: Computer architecture and numerical methods, Computer programming, Electrical science, Probability, statistics and quality control, and Systems engineering and analysis
- A.Material Science - 1 course
Materials Science and Engineering Major (16 courses)
- MAT SCI 316-1: Microstructural Dynamics
- MAT SCI 316-2 : Microstructural Dynamics
- MAT SCI 331 : Soft Materials
- MAT SCI 332 : Mechanical Behavior of Solids
- MAT SCI 351-1 : Introductory Physics of Materials
- MAT SCI 351-2 : Introductory Physics of Materials
- MAT SCI 361 : Crystallography & Diffraction
- MAT SCI 390 : Materials Design
- MAT SCI 391 : Process Design
- MAT SCI 396-1, 2 : Senior Project in Materials Science and Engineering
Technical Electives (5 courses)
These technical electives in engineering, natural sciences (usually chemistry or physics), and mathematics are chosen to fulfill an area of concentration.
- No more than 2 of the 5 courses may be 200-level courses.
- At least 2 of the 5 must be 300-level materials science and engineering courses.
- Examples of programs for concentrations in bio-materials, design and manufacturing, electronic materials, metals and ceramics, nanomaterials, polymeric materials, and surface science are described in a departmental manual for degree candidates.
- No more than 1 unit of 399 may be counted.
Additional Information
For more information about the BS in materials science and engineering and its requirements, please review the course sequence and pre-requisites document. Use the downloadable four-year course sequence spreadsheet to plan coursework.