Materials Science and Engineering (BS)
The Department of Materials Science and Engineering at NC State 腦瞳排桴 offers a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering degree. The program is accredited by the泭.
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 the泭.泭
Curriculum
At NC State, Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) students are trained to understand the complexities of all classes of material,泭including but not limited to polymers, metals, ceramics, electronic materials, semiconductors, nanomaterials, and biomaterials. Our curriculum starts with core courses in thermodynamics, kinetics, and structure, followed by advanced courses in mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties.
Hands-on learning is emphasized through two laboratory courses, where students explore analytical methods for characterizing the structure of materials at all length scales and measuring properties of all classes of materials. Our program covers cutting-edge technologies like nanotechnology, biomaterials, computer modeling, and materials forensics (degradation and failure analysis).
With five technical electives, students can tailor their education with courses in materials processing, engineering, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and beyond. This flexibility allows students to prepare for diverse career paths in industry or pursue graduate studies.
In our capstone senior design sequence, spanning two semesters, students bridge theoretical concepts with practical applications in an industrial context. Collaborating in teams, students tackle real-world materials challenges with support from local industry partners.
Opportunities
The Department of Materials Science and Engineering offers two undergraduate concentrations (Biomaterials and Nanomaterials) and an .泭
The ABM program gives students the opportunity to earn a bachelors and a masters degree in five years.泭Four graduate courses (12 credit hours) can be taken while still an undergraduate student and can be double-counted towards both the bachelors and masters degrees.泭
Contact Information
3002 Engineering Building 1 (EB1)
911 Partners Way, Raleigh NC 27695-7907
919.515.2377
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Math | |||
| 紼插泭141 | Calculus I | 4 | |
| 紼插泭241 | Calculus II | 4 | |
| 紼插泭242 | Calculus III | 4 | |
| 紼插泭341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 | |
| 釦啦泭370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 | |
| Sciences | |||
| 唬晨泭101 &硃鳥梯;泭唬晨泭102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory | 4 | |
| 唬晨泭201 &硃鳥梯;泭唬晨泭202 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 4 | |
| 唬晨泭220 | Introductory Organic Chemistry | 3 | |
| 棗娶泭唬晨泭221 | Organic Chemistry I | ||
| 唬晨泭222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 | |
| 捩喊泭205 &硃鳥梯;泭捩喊泭206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | 4 | |
| 捩喊泭208 &硃鳥梯;泭捩喊泭209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 4 | |
| Economics | |||
| 楚唬泭205 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 | |
| 棗娶泭楚唬泭201 | Principles of Microeconomics | ||
| 棗娶泭插賊楚泭201 | Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | ||
| Required Courses | |||
| 紼釦楚泭201 | Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭255 | Experimental Methods for Structural Analysis of Materials | 2 | |
| 紼釦楚泭260 | Mathematical Methods for Materials Engineers | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭270 | Materials Science and Engineering Seminar | 1 | |
| 紼釦楚泭300 | Structure of Materials at the Nanoscale | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭301 | Introduction to Thermodynamics of Materials | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭320 | Introduction to Defects in Solids | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭335 | Experimental Methods for Analysis of Material Properties | 2 | |
| 紼釦楚泭355 | Electrical, Magnetic and Optical Properties of Materials | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭360 | Kinetic Processes in Materials | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭370 | Microstructure of Inorganic Materials | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭380 | Microstructure of Organic Materials | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭420 | Mechanical Properties of Materials | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭423 | Introduction to Materials Engineering Design | 1 | |
| 紼釦楚泭470 | Materials Science and Engineering Senior Design Project | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭480 | Materials Forensics and Degradation | 3 | |
| MSE Processing Elective泭(choose 1 course) | 3 | ||
| Engineering Elective (choose 1 course) | 3 | ||
| Technical Elective (choose 3 courses) | 9-11 | ||
| Ethics Elective (verify requirement) | 3 | ||
| Orientation Courses | |||
| 楚泭101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving | 1 | |
| 楚泭115 | Introduction to Computing Environments | 1 | |
| Other | |||
| 楚捧勞泭331 | Communication for Engineering and Technology | 3 | |
| 棗娶泭楚捧勞泭333 | Communication for Science and Research | ||
| GEP Courses | |||
| 楚捧勞泭101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3-6 | ||
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP Elective | 3 | ||
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3-5 | ||
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | |||
| Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | |||
| Total Hours | 126 | ||
Technical Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any MSE Processing Elective | |||
| Any Engineering Elective | |||
| 詁唬晨泭451 | Principles of Biochemistry | 4 | |
| 唬晨泭223 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 | |
| 唬晨泭315 | Quantitative Analysis | 3 | |
| 唬晨泭401 | Systematic Inorganic Chemistry I | 3 | |
| 唬晨泭437 | Physical Chemistry for Engineers | 4 | |
| 紼插泭305 | Introductory Linear Algebra and Matrices | 3 | |
| 紼插泭351 | Introduction to Discrete Mathematical Models | 3 | |
| 紼插泭401 | Applied Differential Equations II | 3 | |
| 紼插泭402 | Mathematics of Scientific Computing | 3 | |
| 紼插泭405 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 | |
| 紼楚插泭463 | Fluid Physics | 3 | |
| 捩喊泭328 | Stellar and Galactic Astrophysics | 3 | |
| 捩喊泭407 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 3 | |
| PY 411/511 | Mechanics I | 3 | |
| PY 412/512 | Mechanics II | 3 | |
| PY 414/514 | Electromagnetism I | 3 | |
| PY 415/515 | Electromagnetism II | 3 | |
| 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
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any MSE Processing Elective | |||
| 唬楚泭214 | Engineering Mechanics-Statics | 3 | |
| 唬楚泭225 | Mechanics of Solids | 3 | |
| 唬釦唬泭110 | Computer Science Principles - The Beauty and Joy of Computing | 3 | |
| 楚泭304 | Introduction to Nano Science and Technology | 3 | |
| 楚唬楚泭331 | Principles of Electrical Engineering | 3 | |
| 梆釦楚泭311 | Engineering Economic Analysis | 3 | |
| 紼插楚泭206 | Engineering Statics | 3 | |
| 紼插楚泭208 | Engineering Dynamics | 3 | |
| 紼插楚泭214 | Solid Mechanics | 3 | |
| MSE 409/509/NE泭409/509 | Nuclear Materials | 3 | |
| MSE 465/565 | Introduction to Nanomaterials | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭485 | Biomaterials | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭490 | Special Topics in Materials Engineering | 1-4 | |
| 捧楚泭202 | Radiation Sources, Interaction and Detection | 4 | |
| 啦楚泭205 | Analog and Digital Circuits | 4 | |
| 唬釦唬泭113 | Introduction to Computing - MATLAB | 3 | |
| 唬釦唬泭116 | Introduction to Computing - Java | 3 | |
| 唬釦唬泭111 | Introduction to Computing: Python | 3 | |
| 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
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 紼釦楚泭440 | Processing of Metallic Materials | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭445 | Ceramic Processing | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭455 | Polymer Technology and Engineering | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭456 | Composite Materials | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭460 | Microelectronic Materials | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭540 | Processing of Metallic Materials | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭545 | Ceramic Processing | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭556 | Composite Materials | 3 | |
| 紼釦楚泭560 | Microelectronic Materials Science and Technology | 3 |
Ethics Electives
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 梆嗨釦泭201 | Environmental Ethics | 3 | |
| 捩晨梆泭214 | Issues in Business Ethics | 3 | |
| 捩晨梆泭221 | Contemporary Moral Issues | 3 | |
| 捩晨梆泭227 | Data Ethics | 3 | |
| 捩晨梆泭325 | Bio-Medical Ethics | 3 | |
| 捩晨梆泭375 | Ethics | 3 | |
| 釦啦釦泭302 | Contemporary Science, Technology and Human Values | 3 | |
| 釦啦釦泭304 | Ethical Dimensions of Progress | 3 | |
| 釦啦釦泭325 | Bio-Medical Ethics | 3 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| 唬晨泭101 &硃鳥梯;泭唬晨泭102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| 楚泭101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 1,2 | 1 |
| 楚泭115 | Introduction to Computing Environments 1,2 | 1 |
| 楚捧勞泭101 | Academic Writing and Research 1,2 | 4 |
| 紼插泭141 | 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 | ||
| 泭 | Hours | 17 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 唬晨泭201 &硃鳥梯;泭唬晨泭202 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| 紼插泭241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| 捩喊泭205 &硃鳥梯;泭捩喊泭206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| E泭102 | Engineering in the 21st Century | 2 |
| 泭 | Hours | 15 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 紼釦楚泭201 | Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials 1 | 3 |
| 釦啦泭370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| 紼插泭242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| 捩喊泭208 &硃鳥梯;泭捩喊泭209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 泭 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 紼釦楚泭255 | Experimental Methods for Structural Analysis of Materials | 2 |
| 紼釦楚泭260 | Mathematical Methods for Materials Engineers | 3 |
| 紼釦楚泭270 | Materials Science and Engineering Seminar | 1 |
| 唬晨泭220 or 唬晨泭221 | Introductory Organic Chemistry or Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| 唬晨泭222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| 紼插泭341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 泭 | Hours | 16 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 紼釦楚泭300 | Structure of Materials at the Nanoscale | 3 |
| 紼釦楚泭301 | Introduction to Thermodynamics of Materials | 3 |
| 紼釦楚泭320 | Introduction to Defects in Solids | 3 |
| 紼釦楚泭335 | Experimental Methods for Analysis of Material Properties | 2 |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 泭 | Hours | 17 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 紼釦楚泭355 | Electrical, Magnetic and Optical Properties of Materials | 3 |
| 紼釦楚泭360 | Kinetic Processes in Materials | 3 |
| 紼釦楚泭370 | Microstructure of Inorganic Materials | 3 |
| 紼釦楚泭380 | Microstructure of Organic Materials | 3 |
| Engineering Elective | 3 | |
| 泭 | Hours | 15 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 紼釦楚泭420 | Mechanical Properties of Materials | 3 |
| 紼釦楚泭423 | Introduction to Materials Engineering Design | 1 |
| 楚捧勞泭331 or 楚捧勞泭333 | Communication for Engineering and Technology or Communication for Science and Research | 3 |
| MSE Processing Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 泭 | Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 紼釦楚泭470 | Materials Science and Engineering Senior Design Project | 3 |
| 紼釦楚泭480 | Materials Forensics and Degradation | 3 |
| Technical Elective | 3 | |
| Ethics Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 泭 | Hours | 15 |
| 泭 | Total Hours | 126 |
Career Opportunities
A Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering is an interdisciplinary degree that qualifies you for a variety of jobs with an average starting salary of $70,000 to $90,000 per year. Material scientists and engineers can work in a diverse range of fields,泭 including but not limited to aerospace, electric vehicles, lighting, photovoltaics, semiconductors and microchips, manufacturing, construction, mining, prosthetics, pharmaceuticals, and other consumer products such as cosmetics and the food and beverage industry.
Career Titles
Example Job Titles
Upon graduation, you can apply for positions advertised for a material scientist or engineer. However, due to the interdisciplinary nature of the degree program, MSE graduates may also hold job titles such as Product Engineer, Metallurgist Engineer, Quality Control Engineer, Failure Analysis Engineer, Renewable Energy Materials Engineer, Biomaterial Engineer, Polymer Materials Engineer, and 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
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