MatSE is accredited by ABET. ABET accreditation provides assurance that a college or university program meets the quality standards of the profession for which that program prepares graduates.
Program Educational Objectives
The educational objectives of the undergraduate program are embedded into our mission statement. We will provide and maintain a curriculum that will prepare our recent graduates to accomplish the following Program Educational Objectives:
- Our graduates provide science and engineering leadership in international industrial, governmental, and academic settings, while serving both their profession and the public.
- Our graduates are innovators in a wide variety of technical fields including, but not limited to, materials, energy, electronics, medicine communications, transportation, and recreation.
- Our graduates excel in careers relating to the entire life cycle of materials, from synthesis and processing, through design and development, to manufacturing, performance, reclamation, and recycling.
- Our graduates engage in lifelong learning activities which enhance their careers and provide flexibility to respond to changing professional and societal needs.
We achieve these objectives by providing a rigorous but flexible curriculum that allows the student to design their degree in materials science and engineering to achieve their specific academic and professional career interests.
In addition to the cutting-edge curriculum, we provide many opportunities to strengthen the student's undergraduate studies through research experiences. For example, over 60% of the undergraduates are members of a research group and participate in extensive materials research programs at Penn State. Further, we provide opportunities for International Internships in Materials, where our students go abroad to perform research at one of the many internationally recognized partner universities in Europe and Asia.
Student Outcomes
Student outcomes describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation. The Materials Science and Engineering program is designed to enable students to:
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- An ability to develop and safely conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
- An ability to mindfully articulate and perform proper laboratory safety practices, identify hazards associated with an experiment, and appraise mitigation strategies
Continuous Improvement
The Materials Science and Engineering program is committed to a continuous improvement process to ensure the highest standards of education are met. The program educational objectives and student outcomes are regularly evaluated to ensure they are being met. Some of the processes used to evaluate these objectives and outcomes include:
- Faculty and student ratings of the extent to which course objectives and outcomes are being achieved
- Exit interviews of graduating students
- Alumni surveys
- Industrial and Professional Advisory Council (IPAC) (also commonly referred to as the External Advisory Board (EAB)) reviews
To learn more about ABET accreditation and why it is important, visit Why ABET Accreditation Matters - ABET