Materials Engineering

The goal of the materials engineering undergraduate curriculum is to provide an understanding of the underlying principles of synthesis, characterization and processing of materials and the interrelationships among structure, properties and processing. The program prepares students for professional careers in a wide variety of industries, as well as for advanced study in this field. It also provides students with the opportunity to broaden their education in engineering and science or to expand their knowledge in a particular technical area by offering course foundations in four core areas: biomaterials, manufacturing with materials, sustainable materials processing and design of materials (including nanomaterials). 

The first year of the program establishes fundamentals in math, chemistry and physics with an introduction to design, communications and societal issues in Engineering. In second year, students are introduced to the structural and analytical characterization of materials, mechanics of solids, thermodynamics, diffusion and kinetics, fundamentals and processing of organic materials and engineering statistics. Third-year is devoted to core courses in electrical and quantum mechanical properties of matter, thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, phase transformations, process design, mechanical behaviour along with a full year materials manufacturing and design laboratory. Fourth-year has core courses in environmental degradation of materials and materials selection in design plus technical electives in the four core areas (for technical electives outside the calendar list provided please consult with the Associate Chair, Undergraduate). The fourth year of study also culminates in a senior design course, which integrates what students have learned in their prior studies. The technical aspects of the curriculum are complemented by communications, humanities and social sciences courses and by materials on leadership, ethics, team building and environmental responsibility which are distributed throughout the curriculum. 

For students interested in pursuing an engineering minor, review the information in the Calendar on minors. By selecting courses that meet both MSE requirements and the requirements of the respective minor, a student can complete a minor during their studies.