With the increasing demand for improvement in overall system performance from all industrial sectors, there is a need to develop and produce new materials. The materials science and engineering curriculum provides the student with an understanding of the underlying principles of synthesis and processing of materials and of the interrelationships between structure, properties, and processing. The program covers all classes of materials, although in the senior year the student may elect to specialize in a particular class of materials. Options in ceramics, metals, polymers, and electronic materials are offered in the department, but other interdisciplinary options are possible through a suitable choice of electives. The program requires a minimum of 128 hours for graduation The Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is uniquely organized to prepare students for a career in this field.
Students have opportunities to learn about the entire spectrum of materials.
In addition to offering degrees in the traditional fields of ceramic engineering and metallurgical engineering, there is a new curriculum that is designed to educate students in the principles common to all materials and still permit emphasis in one area of materials science. Special curricular opportunities are available to those students who test out some introductory courses or have very specific educational goals. This course is highly recommended for freshmen, who may use it to help meet free elective requirements. Each student must satisfy the social sciences and humanities requirements of the College of Engineering and the campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities. Satisfies the general education Composition II requirement.