Materials Science & Engineering, BS
for the degree of Bachelor of Science Major in Materials Science & Engineering
department catalog page: Materials Science & Engineering
department website: https://matse.illinois.edu
department faculty: Materials Science & Engineering Faculty
overview of college admissions & requirements: Engineering Catalog
college website: https://engineering.illinois.edu/
Materials science and engineering is the basis for all engineering. Improvements in the quality of life require knowledge of the processing and properties of current materials and the design, development and application of new materials. The Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE) curriculum provides an understanding of the underlying principles of synthesis and processing of materials and of the interrelationships between structure, properties, and processing. Students learn how to create advanced materials and systems required, e.g., for flexible electronic displays and photonics that will change communications technologies, for site specific drug delivery, for self-healing materials, for enabling the transition to a hydrogen-based economy, and for more efficient photovoltaics and nuclear systems for energy production. The curriculum uses concepts from both basic physics and chemistry and provides a detailed knowledge of what makes the materials we use every day behave as they do.
Students in the first two years take courses in general areas of science and engineering as well as courses introducing the concepts in MatSE. In the third year, students study the common, central issues related to MatSE. In the senior year, students focus on an area of MatSE of their greatest interest, providing them with the detailed knowledge to be immediately useful to corporations, become entrepreneuers, or to provide the underpinning knowledge for graduate study. Note: students interested in biomaterials take a specific set of courses to provide them with a background in biology and chemistry while maintaining a strong engineering focus.
A combined B.S.-M.S. Materials Science and Engineering degree program is available. Its admission and course requirements are described in the College of Engineering program information section and the department's website.
for the degree of Bachelor of Science: Major in Materials Science & Engineering
Overview of Curricular Requirements
The curriculum requires 128 hours for graduation and is organized as follows.
Orientation and Professional Development
These courses introduce the opportunities and resources your college, department, and curriculum can offer you as you work to achieve your career goals. They also provide the skills to work effectively and successfully in the engineering profession.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 100 | Engineering Orientation 1 | 0 |
| MSE 183 | Freshman Materials Laboratory 2 | 1 |
| Total Hours | 1 | |
| 1 | External transfer students take ENG 300 instead. |
| 2 | This optional course is highly recommended for freshmen and may be used to help meet free elective requirements. |
Foundational Mathematics and Science
These courses stress the basic mathematical and scientific principles upon which this engineering discipline is based.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 103 | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| CHEM 104 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 105 | General Chemistry Lab II | 1 |
| MATH 221 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| MATH 225 | Introductory Matrix Theory | 2 |
| MATH 231 | Calculus II | 3 |
| MATH 241 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 285 | Intro Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYS 211 | University Physics: Mechanics | 4 |
| PHYS 212 | University Physics: Elec & Mag | 4 |
| PHYS 214 | Univ Physics: Quantum Physics | 2 |
| Total Hours | 34 | |
| 1 | MATH 220 may be substituted, with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus. |
Materials Science and Engineering Technical Core
These courses stress fundamental concepts and basic laboratory techniques that comprise the common intellectual understanding of materials science and engineering.
For All Students
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CS 101 | Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci | 3 |
| ECE 205 | Electrical and Electronic Circuits | 3 |
| IE 300 | Analysis of Data 1 | 3 |
| or STAT 400 | Statistics and Probability I | |
| MSE 182 | Introduction to MatSE | 2 |
| MSE 201 | Phases and Phase Relations | 3 |
| MSE 206 | Mechanics for MatSE | 4 |
| MSE 307 | Materials Laboratory I | 3 |
| MSE 308 | Materials Laboratory II | 3 |
| MSE 395 | Materials Design | 3 |
| MSE 401 | Thermodynamics of Materials | 3 |
| MSE 402 | Kinetic Processes in Materials | 3 |
| MSE 406 | Thermal-Mech Behavior of Matls | 3 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
| 1 | The replacement of IE 300 with STAT 400 is not allowed for students in the Biomaterials Area unless one of their biomaterials area topical lectures and one of their topical lectures outside the biomaterials area are deemed by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) to be an engineering course. The extra hour of credit for STAT 400 may be used to help meet free elective requirements. |
For the Biomaterials Area
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 232 | Elementary Organic Chemistry I | 3 or 4 |
| MCB 150 | Molec & Cellular Basis of Life | 4 |
| MCB 450 | Introductory Biochemistry | 3 |
| MCB 252 | Cells, Tissues & Development | 3 |
| Subtotal | 13 | |
| Total for the Biomaterials Area | 49 | |
For All Other Areas
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSE 304 | Electronic Properties of Matls | 3 |
| MSE 405 | Microstructure Determination | 3 |
| Subtotal | 6 | |
| Total for all non-Biomaterials Students | 42 | |
Technical Electives
These courses stress the rigorous analysis and design principles practiced in the major subdisciplines of materials science and engineering embodied in the MatSE focus areas.
For the Biomaterials Area
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Biomaterials area topical lectures selected from the list of topical lectures established by the department. 1 | 5 | |
| MSE 404 | Laboratory Studies in Materials Science and Engineering 2 | 3 |
| MSE 470 | Design and Use of Biomaterials | 3 |
| Topical lectures outside the biomaterials area. | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 17 | |
| 1 | |
| 2 | Each section of MSE 404 is 1.5 hours. Students take 2 unique sections of MSE 404 for 3 hours. |
For All Other Areas
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Topical lectures selected from the list of courses established by the department. No more than 6 hours may be from introductory topical lectures. 1 | 12 | |
| MSE 404 | Laboratory Studies in Materials Science and Engineering 2 | 6 |
| Technical electives selected from the list of approved courses established by the department. 3 | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
| 1 | |
| 2 | Each section of MSE 404 is 1.5 hours. Students take 4 unique sections of MSE 404 for 6 hours. |
| 3 |
Liberal Education
The liberal education courses develop students' understanding of human culture and society, build skills of inquiry and critical thinking, and lay a foundation for civic engagement and lifelong learning.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Electives from the campus General Education Social and Behavioral Sciences list. | 6 | |
| Electives from the campus General Education Humanities and the Arts list. | 6 | |
| Electives either from a list approved by the college, or additional courses from the campus General Education lists for Social and Behavioral Sciences or Humanities and the Arts. | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 18 | |
Students must also complete the campus cultural studies requirement by completing (i) one western/comparative culture(s) course, (ii) one non-western culture(s) course, and (iii) one U.S. Minority Culture(s) course from the General Education cultural studies lists. Most students select liberal education courses that simultaneously satisfy two or more cultural studies requirements. Courses from the western and non-western lists that fall into free electives or other categories may also be used satisfy the cultural studies requirements.
Composition
These courses teach fundamentals of expository writing.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| RHET 105 | Writing and Research | 4 |
| Advanced Composition (satisfied by completing the sequence MSE 307 + MSE 308 in the Materials Science and Engineering Technical Core) | ||
| Total Hours | 4 | |
Free Electives
These unrestricted electives, subject to certain exceptions as noted at the College of Engineering Advising Website, give the student the opportunity to explore any intellectual area of unique interest. This freedom plays a critical role in helping students to define research specialties or to complete minors.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Free electives. Additional unrestricted course work, subject to certain exceptions as noted at the College of Engineering advising Web site, so that there are at least 128 credit hours earned toward the degree. 1 | 6 | |
| 1 |
Topical Lecture Courses
The courses listed below have been approved by the department as topical lectures for all focus areas.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Biomaterials Area | ||
| MSE 470 | Design and Use of Biomaterials | 3 |
| Topical Lectures 1 | 5 | |
| All Other Areas | ||
| MSE 420 | Ceramic Materials & Properties | 3 |
| MSE 421 | Ceramic Processing | 3 |
| MSE 422 | Electrical Ceramics | 3 |
| ECE 340 | Semiconductor Electronics | 3 |
| MSE 460 | Electronic Materials I | 3 |
| MSE 461 | Electronic Materials II | 3 |
| MSE 440 | Mechanical Behavior of Metals | 3 |
| MSE 441 | Metals Processing | 3 |
| MSE 443 | Design of Engineering Alloys | 3 |
| MSE 450 | Polymer Science & Engineering | 3 |
| MSE 453 | Plastics Engineering | 3 |
| Topical lectures 1 | 0-12 | |
| 1 | Selected from the departmental list of approved topical lectures for focus areas. |
for the degree of Bachelor of Science: Major in Materials Science & Engineering
Suggested Sequence
The schedule that follows is illustrative, showing the typical sequence in which courses would be taken by a student with no college course credit already earned and who intends to graduate in four years. Each individual's case may vary, but the position of required named courses is generally indicative of the order in which they should be taken. The first two years of the Suggested Sequence is the same for all MatSE students. The third and fourth years vary with the Focus Area chosen. Refer to the appropriate third and fourth year sequence.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| CHEM 102 | General Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 103 | General Chemistry Lab I | 1 |
| ENG 100 | Engineering Orientation | 0 |
| MATH 2211 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MSE 182 | Introduction to MatSE | 2 |
| RHET 105 (or Liberal education elective)2,3 | Writing and Research | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 14 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CHEM 104 | General Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 105 | General Chemistry Lab II | 1 |
| MATH 225 | Introductory Matrix Theory | 2 |
| MATH 231 | Calculus II | 3 |
| MSE 1834 | Freshman Materials Laboratory | 1 |
| PHYS 211 | University Physics: Mechanics | 4 |
| RHET 105 (or Liberal education elective)2,3 | Writing and Research | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 17 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CS 101 | Intro Computing: Engrg Sci | 3 |
| MATH 241 | Calculus III | 4 |
| MSE 201 | Phases and Phase Relations | 3 |
| PHYS 212 | University Physics: Elec Mag | 4 |
| Liberal education elective3 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ECE 205 | Electrical and Electronic Circuits | 3 |
| MATH 285 | Intro Differential Equations | 3 |
| MSE 206 | Mechanics for MatSE | 4 |
| PHYS 214 | Univ Physics: Quantum Physics | 2 |
| Liberal education elective3 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours: | 63 | |
All students except Biomaterials Area
| Third Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| IE 300 or STAT 4005 | Analysis of Data | 3 |
| MSE 3076 | Materials Laboratory I | 3 |
| MSE 401 | Thermodynamics of Materials | 3 |
| MSE 406 | Thermal-Mech Behavior of Matls | 3 |
| Liberal education elective3 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MSE 304 | Electronic Properties of Matls | 3 |
| MSE 3086 | Materials Laboratory II | 3 |
| MSE 402 | Kinetic Processes in Materials | 3 |
| MSE 405 | Microstructure Determination | 3 |
| Topical lecture (intro level suggested)7 | 3 | |
| Liberal education elective3 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 18 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Topical lecture courses7,8 | 6 | |
| MSE 4049 | Laboratory Studies in Materials Science and Engineering | 3 |
| Technical elective10 | 3 | |
| Liberal education elective3 | 3 | |
| Free elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 18 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MSE 395 | Materials Design | 3 |
| MSE 4049 | Laboratory Studies in Materials Science and Engineering | 3 |
| Topical lecture7,8 | 3 | |
| Technical elective10 | 3 | |
| Free elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours: | 66 | |
Biomaterials Area
| Third Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| CHEM 232 | Elementary Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| MSE 3076 | Materials Laboratory I | 3 |
| MSE 401 | Thermodynamics of Materials | 3 |
| MSE 406 | Thermal-Mech Behavior of Matls | 3 |
| MCB 150 | Molec Cellular Basis of Life | 4 |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MCB 252 | Cells, Tissues Development | 3 |
| IE 300 or STAT 4005 | Analysis of Data | 3 |
| MSE 3086 | Materials Laboratory II | 3 |
| MSE 402 | Kinetic Processes in Materials | 3 |
| Liberal education elective3 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| MSE 470 | Design and Use of Biomaterials | 3 |
| MCB 450 | Introductory Biochemistry | 3 |
| Topical lecture in biomaterials area7 | 2 | |
| Topical lecture outside of biomaterials area7 | 3 | |
| Liberal education elective3 | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| MSE 395 | Materials Design | 3 |
| MSE 4049 | Laboratory Studies in Materials Science and Engineering | 3 |
| Topical lecture in biomaterials area7 | 3 | |
| Topical lecture outside of biomaterials area7 | 3 | |
| Liberal education elective3 | 3 | |
| Free elective | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 18 | |
| Total Hours: | 66 | |
| 1 | MATH 220 may be substituted, with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus. |
| 2 | RHET 105 may be taken in the first or second semester as authorized. The alternative is a social sciences or humanities elective. |
| 3 | Liberal education electives must include 6 hours of social & behavioral sciences and 6 hours of humanities & the arts course work from the campus General Education lists. The remaining 6 hours may be selected from a list maintained by the college, or additional course work from the campus General Education lists for social & behavioral sciences or humanities & the arts. Students must also complete the campus cultural studies requirement by completing (i) one western/comparative culture(s) course, (ii) one non-western culture(s) course, and (iii) one U.S. Minority Culture(s) course from the General Education cultural studies lists. Most students select liberal education courses that simultaneously satisfy two or more cultural studies requirements. Courses from the western and non-western lists that fall into free electives or other categories may also be used satisfy the cultural studies requirements. |
| 4 | This course is highly recommended for freshmen, who may use it to help meet free elective requirements. |
| 5 | The replacement of IE 300 with STAT 400 is not allowed for students in the Biomaterials Area unless one of their biomaterials area topical lectures and one of their topical lectures outside the biomaterials area are deemed by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) to be an engineering course. The extra hour of credit for STAT 400 may be used to help meet free elective requirements. |
| 6 | Satisfies the General Education Advanced Composition requirement. |
| 7 | To be selected from list of topical lecture courses established by the department to provide an acceptable level of study in the student's chosen focus area. |
| 8 | During fourth year, strongly recommended is incorporation of one or more of an internship, co-op position, and a research project during summers or an academic semester, or both. For students who intend to continue in graduate school, recommended additionally is the undertaking of a research project (Senior Thesis) in the senior year. The project may take the place of 4-6 hours of free or technical electives. |
| 9 | Each section of MSE 404 is 1.5 hours. Students take 2 unique sections of MSE 404 for 3 hours. |
| 10 | Selected from the departmental list of approved technical electives. |