A BS degree in materials science and engineering is for future product-makers. Undergrads will learn about the physical strengths and shortcomings of materials, such as metals and plastics, and use such materials to create better products — everything from smoother-riding baby strollers to medical equipment that can withstand an electrical surge. On their way to a final design project, baccalaureate students get a strong foundation in physics and chemistry during their first two years before moving into core courses in materials science, including:
- Materials Processing
- Mechanical Behaviors of Materials
- Design of Microstructure
- Introduction to Polymer Engineering
Master's students should expect to work on a graduate thesis after exploring more in-depth a section of materials science and engineering they want to continue research in after school. Examples of areas could be nanomaterials, computational materials science or biomaterials. Courses include:
- Phase Transformations in Crystalline Materials
- Ceramic Processing
- Fundamentals of Thin Film Materials
- Advanced Electron Microscopy and Diffraction