Sustainable Materials and Technology (BS): SMT Wood Products Concentration
To see more about what you will learn in this program, visit the !
The Sustainable Materials & Technology degree prepares students for 21st century jobs helping businesses and communities reduce their ecological footprint through efficient use of renewable natural materials, such as wood, bamboo and cork, in the manufacture and use of value-added products. You'll gain a strong foundation in environmental science, economics, social sciences, and materials science which prepares you to design, manufacture and sell sustainable bio-based products. This degree is for students interested in a career in a growing field with job flexibility, high placement rates, great starting salaries, a tradition of success and an unlimited future.
Summer Internship
Graduates of the Sustainable Materials and Technology program enter the real world with hands-on experience gained through internships, lab experiments, and practical coursework. More than one half of students participate in paid undergraduate research and work study opportunities. In addition, students are required to complete a paid summer internship or a semester co-op with a company in the industry. There are many other summer employment opportunities that are available to you beyond the required internship.
Contact
Perry N. Peralta
Director of Undergraduate Programs
919.515.5731
perry_peralta@ncsu.edu
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Departmental Requirements | |||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | ||
| Student Success in Environmental First Year and Exploring the Environment | |||
| Introduction to Environmental Sciences | |||
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý200 | Introduction to Sustainable Materials and Technology | 3 | |
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý203 | Physical Properties of Sustainable Materials | 4 | |
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý210 | Sustainable Materials Internship | 1 | |
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý301 | Chemistry of Sustainable Materials | 3 | |
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý441 | Mechanical Properties of Sustainable Materials | 4 | |
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý444 | Sustainable Composites and Biopolymers | 3 | |
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý450 | Sustainable Business and Innovation | 2 | |
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý483 | Capstone in Sustainable Materials and Technology | 3 | |
| ±Ê³§·¡Ìý476 | Environmental Life Cycle Analysis | 3 | |
| ²Ñ±õ·¡Ìý201 | Introduction to Business Processes | 3 | |
| ·¡°äÌý205 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 | |
| ±õ³§·¡Ìý311 | Engineering Economic Analysis | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | ||
| U.S. Environmental Law and Politics | |||
| Global Environmental Politics | |||
| Environmental Law & Economic Policy | |||
| Mathematics & Natural Sciences | |||
| Select one of the following Calculus courses: | 3 | ||
| Elements of Calculus | |||
| Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | |||
| Calculus I | |||
| ³§°ÕÌý311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 | |
| °ä±áÌý101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 | |
| °ä±áÌý102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 | |
| °ä±áÌý220 | Introductory Organic Chemistry | 3 | |
| °ä±áÌý222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 | |
| Select one of the following Physics courses: | 4 | ||
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists I | |||
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | |||
| College Physics I | |||
| µþ±õ°¿Ìý181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 | |
| Concentration Requirements | |||
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý202 | Anatomy and Properties of Renewable Materials | 3 | |
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý206 | Wood Manufacturing Site Visits | 1 | |
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý240 | Introduction to Wood Products Industries | 2 | |
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý308 | Wood Processing | 4 | |
| Advised Electives 2 | 15 | ||
Courses should expand student’s sustainability portfolio and must be approved by a faculty advisor. | |||
| Advised IP Elective 2 | 2 | ||
| Technical Electives 2 | 15 | ||
Student is encouraged to select courses that will fulfill an academic minor. Courses should enhance student’s career objectives and must be approved by a faculty advisor. | |||
| General Education Program (GEP) Courses | |||
| ·¡±·³ÒÌý101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 | |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP U.S. Diversity (Verify Requirement) | |||
| GEP Global Knowledge (Verify Requirement) | |||
| Foreign Language Proficiency (Verify Requirement) | |||
| Total Hours | 120 | ||
- 1
A grade of C- or better is required.
- 2
Students should consult their academic advisors to determine how to complete this requirement.
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Student Success in Environmental First Year and Exploring the Environment | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Sciences | ||
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý200 | Introduction to Sustainable Materials and Technology | 3 |
| ²Ñ´¡Ìý121 | Elements of Calculus (CP) | 3 |
| µþ±õ°¿Ìý181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Ìý | Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý240 | Introduction to Wood Products Industries | 2 |
| ·¡±·³ÒÌý101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| °ä±áÌý101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science (CP) | 3 |
| °ä±áÌý102 | General Chemistry Laboratory (CP) | 1 |
| Select one of the following Physics electives: | 4 | |
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists I | ||
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | ||
| College Physics I | ||
| Ìý | Hours | 14 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý202 | Anatomy and Properties of Renewable Materials (CP) | 3 |
| °ä±áÌý220 | Introductory Organic Chemistry (CP) | 3 |
| °ä±áÌý222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab (CP) | 1 |
| ²Ñ±õ·¡Ìý201 | Introduction to Business Processes | 3 |
| Advised Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Ìý | Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý203 | Physical Properties of Sustainable Materials (CP) | 4 |
| ·¡°äÌý205 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Advised Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Ìý | Hours | 14 |
| Summer | ||
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý206 | Wood Manufacturing Site Visits | 1 |
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý210 | Sustainable Materials Internship | 1 |
| Ìý | Hours | 2 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý308 | Wood Processing | 4 |
| ³§°ÕÌý311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Advised Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Ìý | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý301 | Chemistry of Sustainable Materials (CP) | 3 |
| ±õ³§·¡Ìý311 | Engineering Economic Analysis | 3 |
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Ìý | Hours | 15 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý441 | Mechanical Properties of Sustainable Materials | 4 |
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý444 | Sustainable Composites and Biopolymers | 3 |
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý450 | Sustainable Business and Innovation | 2 |
| ±Ê³§·¡Ìý476 | Environmental Life Cycle Analysis | 3 |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Ìý | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| ³§²Ñ°ÕÌý483 | Capstone in Sustainable Materials and Technology | 3 |
| Environmental Law Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Advised IP Elective 2 | 2-3 | |
| Ìý | Hours | 14 |
| Ìý | Total Hours | 120 |
- 1
A grade of C- or better is required.
- 2
Courses should expand student’s sustainability portfolio and must be approved by a faculty advisor.
- 3
Student is encouraged to select courses that will fulfill an academic minor. Courses should enhance student’s career objectives and must be approved by a faculty advisor.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Sustainable Materials and Technology curriculum have many and varied job opportunities upon graduation with most receiving more than one job offer. Graduates enter the industry as management trainees, sales trainees, process engineers, quality assurance specialist, research & development associates and many others.