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¸£Àû±ÆÕ¾ Catalog 2023-2024

Materials Science and Engineering (BS)

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit .

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering at NC State ¸£Àû±ÆÕ¾ offers a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering degree. The program is accredited by theÌýEngineering Accreditation Commission of ´¡µþ·¡°Õ,Ìý.

Admission

Students complete the standard set of engineering first-year courses, which include courses in the humanities, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and computing. Students may apply to join the Department of Materials Science and Engineering as degree-seeking students via theÌý.Ìý

Curriculum

The MSE curriculum trains students to understand the wide range of phenomena that occur in all classes of materials: metals, polymers, composites, ceramics, and electronic materials.Ìý

Fundamental courses provide a foundation in thermodynamics, kinetics, and structure, followed by more applied courses that cover mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties of materials.ÌýÌý

Two laboratory courses introduce students to analytical methods used to characterize the structure of materials at all length scales and to measure properties of all classes of materials. Cutting-edge technologies in materials science and engineering such as nanotechnology, biomaterials, computer modeling, and forensics (materials degradation and failure analysis) are covered.ÌýÌý

Five technical electives are included, which allow students to select from a broad range of courses in materials processing, engineering, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and other disciplines. The flexibility afforded by these technical electives allows students to customize their education to prepare them for careers in industry or for graduate school.

The two-semester capstone senior design sequence provides a bridge between concepts learned in the classroom and the practical application of these concepts in an industrial setting. Teams of students work on real-world materials problems supported by local industrial sponsors.

Opportunities

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering offers two undergraduate concentrations (Biomaterials and Nanomaterials) and an .Ìý

The ABM program gives students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in five years.ÌýFour graduate courses (12 credit hours) can be taken while still an undergraduate student and can be double-counted towards both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.Ìý

Contact Information

3002 Engineering Building 1 (EB1)
911 Partners Way, Raleigh NC 27695-7907
919.515.2377

To see more about what you will learn in this program, visit the !

Plan Requirements

Math
²Ñ´¡Ìý141Calculus I4
²Ñ´¡Ìý241Calculus II4
²Ñ´¡Ìý242Calculus III4
²Ñ´¡Ìý341Applied Differential Equations I3
³§°ÕÌý370Probability and Statistics for Engineers3
Sciences
°ä±áÌý101
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý°ä±áÌý102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory
4
°ä±áÌý201
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý°ä±áÌý202
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory
4
°ä±áÌý220Introductory Organic Chemistry3
´Ç°ùÌý°ä±áÌý221 Organic Chemistry I
°ä±áÌý222Organic Chemistry I Lab1
±Ê³ÛÌý205
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý±Ê³ÛÌý206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory
4
±Ê³ÛÌý208
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý±Ê³ÛÌý209
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory
4
Economics
·¡°äÌý205Fundamentals of Economics3
´Ç°ùÌý·¡°äÌý201 Principles of Microeconomics
´Ç°ùÌý´¡¸é·¡Ìý201 Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
Required Courses
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý201Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý255Experimental Methods for Structural Analysis of Materials2
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý260Mathematical Methods for Materials Engineers3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý270Materials Science and Engineering Seminar1
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý300Structure of Materials at the Nanoscale3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý301Introduction to Thermodynamics of Materials3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý320Introduction to Defects in Solids3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý335Experimental Methods for Analysis of Material Properties2
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý355Electrical, Magnetic and Optical Properties of Materials3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý360Kinetic Processes in Materials3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý370Microstructure of Inorganic Materials3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý380Microstructure of Organic Materials3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý420Mechanical Properties of Materials3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý423Introduction to Materials Engineering Design1
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý470Materials Science and Engineering Senior Design Project3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý480Materials Forensics and Degradation3
MSE Processing ElectiveÌý(choose 1 course)3
Engineering Elective (choose 1 course)3
Technical Elective (choose 3 courses)9-11
Ethics Elective (verify requirement)3
Orientation Courses
·¡Ìý101Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving1
·¡Ìý115Introduction to Computing Environments1
Other
·¡±·³ÒÌý331Communication for Engineering and Technology3
´Ç°ùÌý·¡±·³ÒÌý333 Communication for Science and Research
GEP Courses
·¡±·³ÒÌý101Academic Writing and Research4
GEP Humanities3-6
GEP Social Sciences3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives3-5
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Total Hours126

Technical Electives

Any MSE Processing Elective
Any Engineering Elective
µþ°ä±áÌý451Principles of Biochemistry4
°ä±áÌý223Organic Chemistry II3
°ä±áÌý315Quantitative Analysis3
°ä±áÌý401Systematic Inorganic Chemistry I3
°ä±áÌý437Physical Chemistry for Engineers4
²Ñ´¡Ìý305Introductory Linear Algebra and Matrices3
²Ñ´¡Ìý351Introduction to Discrete Mathematical Models3
²Ñ´¡Ìý401Applied Differential Equations II3
²Ñ´¡Ìý402Mathematics of Scientific Computing3
²Ñ´¡Ìý405Introduction to Linear Algebra3
²Ñ·¡´¡Ìý463Fluid Physics3
±Ê³ÛÌý328Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics3
±Ê³ÛÌý407Introduction to Modern Physics3
PY 411/511Mechanics I3
PY 412/512Mechanics II3
PY 414/514Electromagnetism I3
PY 415/515Electromagnetism II3
Other technical electives (with departmental approval). Contact your MSE academic advisor for options.
500-level courses (with departmental approval). Available to students who are admitted to an engineering ABM program OR have a minimum 3.5 overall GPA.

Engineering Electives

Any MSE Processing Elective
°ä·¡Ìý214Engineering Mechanics-Statics3
°ä·¡Ìý225Mechanics of Solids3
°ä³§°äÌý110Computer Science Principles - The Beauty and Joy of Computing3
·¡Ìý304Introduction to Nano Science and Technology3
·¡°ä·¡Ìý331Principles of Electrical Engineering3
±õ³§·¡Ìý311Engineering Economic Analysis3
²Ñ´¡·¡Ìý206Engineering Statics3
²Ñ´¡·¡Ìý208Engineering Dynamics3
²Ñ´¡·¡Ìý214Solid Mechanics3
MSE 409/509/NEÌý409/509Nuclear Materials3
MSE 465/565Introduction to Nanomaterials3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý485Biomaterials3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý490Special Topics in Materials Engineering1-4
±··¡Ìý202Radiation Sources, Interaction and Detection4
°Õ·¡Ìý205Analog and Digital Circuits4
°ä³§°äÌý113Introduction to Computing - MATLAB3
°ä³§°äÌý116Introduction to Computing - Java3
°ä³§°äÌý111Introduction to Computing: Python3
Other engineering electives (with departmental approval). Contact your MSE academic advisor for options.
500-level courses (with departmental approval). Available to students who are admitted to an engineering ABM program OR have a minimum 3.5 overall GPA.

MSE Processing Electives

²Ñ³§·¡Ìý440Processing of Metallic Materials3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý445Ceramic Processing3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý455Polymer Technology and Engineering3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý456Composite Materials3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý460Microelectronic Materials3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý540Processing of Metallic Materials3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý545Ceramic Processing3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý556Composite Materials3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý560Microelectronic Materials Science and Technology3

Ethics Electives

±õ¶Ù³§Ìý201Environmental Ethics3
±Ê±á±õÌý214Issues in Business Ethics3
±Ê±á±õÌý221Contemporary Moral Issues3
±Ê±á±õÌý227Data Ethics3
±Ê±á±õÌý325Bio-Medical Ethics3
±Ê±á±õÌý375Ethics3
³§°Õ³§Ìý302Contemporary Science, Technology and Human Values3
³§°Õ³§Ìý304Ethical Dimensions of Progress3
³§°Õ³§Ìý325Bio-Medical Ethics3

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
°ä±áÌý101
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý°ä±áÌý102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory 1
4
·¡Ìý101 Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 1,2 1
·¡Ìý115 Introduction to Computing Environments 1,2 1
·¡±·³ÒÌý101 Academic Writing and Research 1,2 4
²Ñ´¡Ìý141 Calculus I 1 4
Select one of the following Economics courses: 3
Fundamentals of Economics
Principles of Microeconomics
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
ÌýHours17
Spring Semester
°ä±áÌý201
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý°ä±áÌý202
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory
4
²Ñ´¡Ìý241 Calculus II 1 4
±Ê³ÛÌý205
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý±Ê³ÛÌý206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1
4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
EÌý102 Engineering in the 21st Century 2
ÌýHours15
Second Year
Fall Semester
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý201 Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials 1 3
³§°ÕÌý370 Probability and Statistics for Engineers 3
²Ñ´¡Ìý242 Calculus III 4
±Ê³ÛÌý208
&²¹³¾±è;Ìý±Ê³ÛÌý209
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory
4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
ÌýHours15
Spring Semester
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý255 Experimental Methods for Structural Analysis of Materials 2
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý260 Mathematical Methods for Materials Engineers 3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý270 Materials Science and Engineering Seminar 1
°ä±áÌý220
Introductory Organic Chemistry
or Organic Chemistry I
3
°ä±áÌý222 Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
²Ñ´¡Ìý341 Applied Differential Equations I 3
GEP Requirement 3
ÌýHours16
Third Year
Fall Semester
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý300 Structure of Materials at the Nanoscale 3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý301 Introduction to Thermodynamics of Materials 3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý320 Introduction to Defects in Solids 3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý335 Experimental Methods for Analysis of Material Properties 2
Technical Elective 3
GEP Requirement 3
ÌýHours17
Spring Semester
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý355 Electrical, Magnetic and Optical Properties of Materials 3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý360 Kinetic Processes in Materials 3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý370 Microstructure of Inorganic Materials 3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý380 Microstructure of Organic Materials 3
Engineering Elective 3
ÌýHours15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý420 Mechanical Properties of Materials 3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý423 Introduction to Materials Engineering Design 1
·¡±·³ÒÌý331
Communication for Engineering and Technology
or Communication for Science and Research
3
MSE Processing Elective 3
Technical Elective 3
GEP Requirement 3
ÌýHours16
Spring Semester
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý470 Materials Science and Engineering Senior Design Project 3
²Ñ³§·¡Ìý480 Materials Forensics and Degradation 3
Technical Elective 3
Ethics Elective 3
GEP Requirement 3
ÌýHours15
ÌýTotal Hours126
1

Courses required for Change of Degree Audit (CODA). °ä±áÌý101, °ä±áÌý102; ²Ñ´¡Ìý141, ²Ñ´¡Ìý241; ±Ê³ÛÌý205, ±Ê³ÛÌý206 must be completed with a C or higher.

2

Minimum grade of C-, ·¡Ìý115Ìýrequires satisfactory completion (S).

Career Opportunities

An MSE degree is interdisciplinary and, upon graduation, will qualify you for a variety of jobs with an average starting salary of $60-70k per year.

Example Job Titles

Materials Engineer, Product Engineer, Metallurgist Engineer, Quality Control Engineer, Failure Analysis Engineer, Renewable Energy Materials Engineer, Biomaterial Engineer, Polymer Materials Engineer, Project Manager

Example Job Description

  • Identify and produce a diverse range of materials for applications of interest
  • Develop and improve methods for the analysis of complex materials
  • Assist in the selection of materials for product application, the calculation of design parameters, the performance of material properties testing
  • Apply scientific methods to resolve technical challenges related to materials and their use in products and processes