Materials Science and Technology (BA/BS)
Materials Science and Technology major will focus on the properties of materials needed for modern technology, and how they relate to the underlying physical and chemical structure.
Materials are the functional components of modern technology - electrodes for rechargeable batteries, semiconductors, conductors, and insulators in electronics for classical and quantum computers, polymers/plastics, sensors, and much more. Materials scientists invent new materials and study the connections between underlying atomic/molecular structure of a materials, its properties, its processing methods, and its performance in applications.
Admission
Students will be required to apply for admission into the MSTC major after completing the foundational course sequences in physics (PHYS 201/2/3 or 251/2/3 + lab), chemistry (CH 221/2/3 or 224/5/6H + lab), materials science (MSTC 231/232), and the CH329 Research Immersion course. Students will be asked to provide their academic transcript and potential research/industry area of interest as part of the application.
The requirement for admission is achieving a GPA of 3.0 or better in the foundational courses. Students not meeting this requirement, but with a strong academic record that demonstrates steady progress towards acquiring the quantitative and critical thinking skills necessary for success in the program, can petition for admission to the program through additional review. In addition to application materials listed above, applicants will be asked to provide a CV; short essay responses to prompts that aim to evaluate their clarity of purpose and dedication with regard to academic/career goals, ability to overcome obstacles, and ability to tackle open-ended research questions; and references from 1-2 instructors in the foundational courses. Applications will be evaluated by a three-member committee with members drawn from chemistry and physics faculty.
See program's website for more details.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Learn and critically apply basic concepts in chemical bonding to understand the three-dimensional solid-state structure of different classes of materials.
- Describe how basic classes of materials are made and processed for applications in renewable energy, health, sustainable building, and computing.
- Understand how diffusion processes are driven by gradients in chemical potential and how those relate to materials synthesis, failure, and function.
- Understand the basic thermodynamics and applications of phase diagrams while formulating fundamental thermodynamic definitions of work, heat, reversibility ,and apply these relationships to technological applications such as batteries, photovoltaic power, fuel cells, thermoelectric power, and sensors\
- Understand how materials thermodynamics defines electrochemical equilibration in energy storage systems and governs optical and magnetic properties of materials.
- Understand the structure and defect concepts governing the mechanical properties of materials, like hardness, strength, stress-strain behavior, plastic deformation, in structural and engineering applications.
- Understand the basic structure and defect concepts governing the electrical properties of materials, like conductivity, in computing applications.
- Understand the basic structure and defect concepts governing the magnetic properties of materials, like diamagnetism, paramagnetism, and ferromagnetism and applications for example in electric motors, magnetic information storage, and quantum information science.
- Understand how microscopic kinetic pictures of materials reactions gives rise to key processes in technological systems, for example electrode reactions, nucleation and growth, and interface and crystal grain behavior with time.
- Connect fundamentals of materials science to technological applications.
- Gain high-level competency in modern programming languages for data manipulation and analysis, and to model materials behavior.
- Gain laboratory competence in materials science and ability to work individually and with teams on solving unstructured problems.
Materials Science and Technology Major Requirements
Courses used to fulfill the major requirements must be taken for a letter grade and passed with a grade of C- or better.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation courses | ||
| CH 221Z | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| or CH 224H | Advanced General Chemistry I | |
| CH 222Z | General Chemistry II | 4 |
| or CH 225H | Advanced General Chemistry II | |
| CH 223Z | General Chemistry III | 4 |
| or CH 226H | Advanced General Chemistry III | |
| CH 329 | Research Immersion Laboratory | 3 |
| MSTC 231 | Fundamentals of Materials in Technology I | 4 |
| MSTC 232 | Fundamentals of Materials in Technology II | 4 |
| PHYS 251–253 | Foundations of Physics I 1 | 12 |
| Select one of the lab options: | 2-4 | |
| Option A: | ||
| Foundations of Physics Laboratory (Taken two times) | ||
| Option B: | ||
| Introductory Physics Laboratory | ||
| Introductory Physics Laboratory | ||
| Option C: | ||
| General Chemistry I Laboratory | ||
| General Chemistry II Laboratory | ||
| Mathematics and Computation | ||
| MATH 251Z–253Z | Calculus: Differential, Integral, and Sequences & Series | 12 |
| MATH 256 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 4 |
| MATH 281 | Several-Variable Calculus I | 4 |
| Advanced Math/Computation Electives - select two | 8 | |
| Computational Chemistry | ||
| Computer Science I | ||
| Several-Variable Calculus II | ||
| Elementary Linear Algebra | ||
| Partial Differential Equations: Fourier Analysis I | ||
| Partial Differential Equations: Fourier Analysis II | ||
| Mathematical Methods | ||
| Computational Physics | ||
| Fundamentals of Materials Science | ||
| Quantum and Statistical Mechanics sequence | 12 | |
| Physical Chemistry | ||
or PHYS 351–353 | Foundations of Physics II | |
| MSTC 431 | Thermal Physics of Advanced Materials | 4 |
| MSTC 432 | Kinetics and Transport in Advanced Materials | 4 |
| Advanced Lab courses - select three of the following: 2 | 12 | |
| Physical Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Physical Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Physical Chemistry Laboratory | ||
| Instrumental Analysis | ||
| Foundations of Data Science I | ||
| Physics Experimentation Data Analysis Laboratory | ||
| Analog Electronics | ||
| Digital Electronics | ||
| Design of Experiments | ||
| Materials Science and Technology focus area | ||
| Choose one option below, within which eight credits must be completed. | 8 | |
| Option A: Solid-state materials and devices | ||
| Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Materials I | ||
| Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Materials II | ||
| Option B: Soft/biological materials - choose two courses out of: | ||
| Experimental Course: [Topic] (Biomaterials) | ||
| Experimental Course: [Topic] (Polymer Materials) | ||
| Introduction to Biological Physics | ||
| Upper-Division Electives | ||
| Three 400- or 500-level courses in materials science, chemistry, or physics on top of the courses outlined above. 3 | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 117-119 | |
- 1
Students can petition to count PHYS 201-203 instead.
- 2
Other upper-level lab courses from natural or applied sciences may be requested by petition. Up to four Advanced Lab credits may be fulfilled by undergraduate research credits (PHYS 401, PHYS 491, PHYS 492, PHYS 493, CH 401) instead of courses listed.
- 3
Courses at 500 level are appropriate for students in Accelerated Master's programs.
Four-Year Degree Plan
The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.
Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Technology (Solid-state materials and devices)
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
| CH 150Z | Preparatory Chemistry | 4 | |
| MATH 111Z | Precalculus I: Functions | 4 | |
| WR 121Z | Composition I | 4 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Winter | |||
| CH 221Z | General Chemistry I | 4 | |
| MATH 112Z | Precalculus II: Trigonometry | 4 | |
| WR 122Z | Composition II | 4 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Spring | |||
| CH 222Z | General Chemistry II | 4 | |
| MATH 251Z | Differential Calculus | 4 | |
| DSCI 101 | Foundations of Data Science I | 4 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | |||
| CH 223Z | General Chemistry III | 4 | |
| MATH 252Z | Integral Calculus | 4 | |
| PHYS 251 | Foundations of Physics I | 4 | |
| PHYS 290 | Foundations of Physics Laboratory | 1 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 17 | ||
| Winter | |||
| MATH 253Z | Calculus: Sequences and Series | 4 | |
| MSTC 231 | Fundamentals of Materials in Technology I | 4 | |
| PHYS 252 | Foundations of Physics I | 4 | |
| PHYS 290 | Foundations of Physics Laboratory | 1 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 17 | ||
| Spring | |||
| CH 329 | Research Immersion Laboratory | 3 | |
| MATH 256 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 4 | |
| MSTC 232 | Fundamentals of Materials in Technology II | 4 | |
| PHYS 253 | Foundations of Physics I | 4 | |
| PHYS 290 | Foundations of Physics Laboratory | 1 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 20 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | |||
| MATH 281 | Several-Variable Calculus I | 4 | |
| PHYS 351 | Foundations of Physics II | 4 | |
| PHYS 391 | Physics Experimentation Data Analysis Laboratory | 4 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Winter | |||
| MSTC 441M | Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Materials I | 4 | |
| PHYS 352 | Thermal Physics and Statistical Mechanics I | 4 | |
| PHYS 389 | Mathematical Methods | 4 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Spring | |||
| MSTC 442M | Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Materials II | 4 | |
| PHYS 353 | Thermal Physics and Statistical Mechanics II | 4 | |
| PHYS 432 | Digital Electronics | 4 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | |||
| PHYS 445 | Computational Physics | 4 | |
| UD Elective for MSTC major | 4 | ||
| Electives | 4 | ||
| Credits | 12 | ||
| Winter | |||
| MSTC 431 | Thermal Physics of Advanced Materials | 4 | |
| PHYS 431 | Analog Electronics | 4 | |
| UD Elective for MSTC major | 4 | ||
| Credits | 12 | ||
| Spring | |||
| MSTC 432 | Kinetics and Transport in Advanced Materials | 4 | |
| UD Elective for MSTC major | 4 | ||
| Credits | 8 | ||
| Total Credits | 182 | ||
Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Technology (Soft/biological materials)
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Milestones | Credits | |
| CH 150Z | Preparatory Chemistry | 4 | |
| MATH 111Z | Precalculus I: Functions | 4 | |
| WR 121Z | Composition I | 4 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Winter | |||
| CH 221Z | General Chemistry I | 4 | |
| CH 227Z | General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 | |
| MATH 112Z | Precalculus II: Trigonometry | 4 | |
| WR 122Z | Composition II | 4 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 17 | ||
| Spring | |||
| CH 222Z | General Chemistry II | 4 | |
| CH 228Z | General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 | |
| MATH 251Z | Differential Calculus | 4 | |
| DSCI 101 | Foundations of Data Science I | 4 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | |||
| CH 223Z | General Chemistry III | 4 | |
| MATH 252Z | Integral Calculus | 4 | |
| PHYS 251 | Foundations of Physics I | 4 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Winter | |||
| MATH 253Z | Calculus: Sequences and Series | 4 | |
| MSTC 231 | Fundamentals of Materials in Technology I | 4 | |
| PHYS 252 | Foundations of Physics I | 4 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Spring | |||
| CH 329 | Research Immersion Laboratory | 3 | |
| MATH 256 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 4 | |
| MSTC 232 | Fundamentals of Materials in Technology II | 4 | |
| PHYS 253 | Foundations of Physics I | 4 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 19 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | |||
| CH 411 | Physical Chemistry | 4 | |
| CH 417 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 4 | |
| MATH 281 | Several-Variable Calculus I | 4 | |
| Core Ed | 4 | ||
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Winter | |||
| CH 412 | Physical Chemistry | 4 | |
| CH 418 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 4 | |
| MATH 282 | Several-Variable Calculus II | 4 | |
| MSTC 431 | Thermal Physics of Advanced Materials | 4 | |
| Credits | 16 | ||
| Spring | |||
| MSTC 432 | Kinetics and Transport in Advanced Materials | 4 | |
| CH 413 | Physical Chemistry | 4 | |
| CH 419 | Physical Chemistry Laboratory | 4 | |
| Credits | 12 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | |||
| CH 410 | Experimental Course: [Topic] (Polymer Materials) | 4 | |
| UD Elective for MSTC major | 4 | ||
| Electives | 4 | ||
| Credits | 12 | ||
| Winter | |||
| BIOE 410 | Experimental Course: [Topic] (Biomaterials) | 4 | |
| CH 447 | Computational Chemistry | 4 | |
| UD Elective for MSTC major | 4 | ||
| Credits | 12 | ||
| Spring | |||
| UD Elective for MSTC major | 4 | ||
| Electives | 8 | ||
| Credits | 12 | ||
| Total Credits | 181 | ||