Suggested Academic Plan / Curriculum

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan provides a recommended schedule for a bachelor of science degree in materials science and engineering at the University Park campus. This guide is a useful tool, but it does not replace meeting with an academic adviser or represent the only path to a degree.

Curriculum

In the third and fourth years, students take specialized, in-depth courses within the department. While some courses are required for all MatSE students, the curriculum does allow for a large amount of flexibility. 

The undergraduate degree program in materials science and engineering has been designed to allow our students to create specialization that suits their individual interests and career goals. The MatSE specialization consists of a total of eight courses: four MatSE specific courses and four technical elective courses. 

Planning a Specialization

A student may select courses to fulfill their specialization requirement as long as they meet the following criteria:

• Four of the eight courses must be MATSE specialization courses and fit into the categories of:
  • Synthesis and Processing
  • Structure and Characterization
  • Properties
• There must be at least one course in each specialization category.

Specialization categories and associated MATSE courses - detailed descriptions of the courses below can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

Synthesis and Processing

• MATSE 411: Processing of Ceramics (Fall)
• MATSE 422: Thermochemical Processing (Spring)
• MATSE 425: Processing of Metals (Fall)
• MATSE 426: Aqueous Processing (Spring)
• MATSE 441: Polymeric Materials I (Fall)
• MATSE 447: Rheology and Processing of Polymers (Spring)
• MATSE 450: Synthesis and Processing of Electronic and Photonic Materials (Fall)

Structure and Characterization

• MATSE 409: Nuclear Materials (Spring)
• MATSE 410: Phase Relations in Materials Systems (Spring)
• MATSE 415: Introduction to Glass Science (Fall)
• MATSE 421: Corrosion Engineering (Fall)
• MATSE 427: Microstructure Design of Structural Materials (Spring)
• MATSE 429: Non Ferrous Metals (Fall)
• MATSE 440: Nondestructive Evaluation of Flaws (Fall)
• MATSE 445: Thermodynamics, Microstructure, and Characterization of Polymers (Fall)
• MATSE 455: Properties and Characterization of Electronic and Photonic Materials (Spring)

Properties

• MATSE 403: Biomaterials (Fall)
• MATSE 404: Surfaces and the Biological Response to Materials (Spring)
• MATSE 412: Thermal Properties of Materials (Spring)
• MATSE 417: Electric and Magnetic Properties (Spring)
• MATSE 429: Non Ferrous Metals (Fall or Spring varies)
• MATSE 432: Sustainable Polymers (Spring)
• MATSE 435: Optical Properties of Materials (Spring)
• MATSE 446: Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Polymers and Composites (Fall)
• MATSE 449: Fundamentals of Composite Materials (Spring)
• MATSE 455: Properties and Characterization of EPM (Spring)
• MATSE 497: Materials Selection and Design (Spring)

Technical Electives

Technical electives, in general, should be 300- or 400-level engineering or science courses. A student pursuing a minor or certificate can use some of those courses as technical electives. MatSE will consider a course below the 300-level as long as said course is not introductory. For example, a student could select CHEM 212: ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II, as a technical elective as this course is not at the introductory level and is building depth in a particular area.  Students must consult with their academic adviser and get authorization for ALL technical elective courses to ensure credits will be counted.

Specialization Course Exploration

The department recommends that students work with their academic adviser to craft a course of study unique to the individual. Exploring minors is an excellent way to discover exciting courses. Use the Undergraduate Bulletin to begin the process. Students do not necessarily have to declare a minor to take courses offered in that minor. 

Common Course Substitutions

MatSE frequently performs the following course substitutions within LionPATH once a student has declared MATSE_BS: