Sustainable Materials and Technology (BS): SMT Wood Products Concentration
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
Ilona Peszlen
Director of Undergraduate Programs
919.513.1265
Ilona_Peszlen@ncsu.edu
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Departmental Requirements | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Student Success in Environmental First Year and Exploring the Environment | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Sciences | ||
| 厂惭罢听200 | Introduction to Sustainable Materials and Technology | 3 |
| 厂惭罢听203 | Physical Properties of Sustainable Materials | 4 |
| 厂惭罢听210 | Sustainable Materials Internship | 1 |
| 厂惭罢听301 | Chemistry of Sustainable Materials | 3 |
| 厂惭罢听441 | Mechanical Properties of Sustainable Materials | 4 |
| 厂惭罢听444 | Sustainable Composites and Biopolymers | 3 |
| 厂惭罢听450 | Sustainable Business and Innovation | 2 |
| 厂惭罢听483 | Capstone in Sustainable Materials and Technology | 3 |
| 笔厂贰听476 | Environmental Life Cycle Analysis | 3 |
| 惭滨贰听201 | Introduction to Business | 3 |
| 贰颁听205 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 |
| 滨厂贰听311 | 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 | ||
| 厂罢听311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| 颁贬听101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 |
| 颁贬听102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| 颁贬听220 | Introductory Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| 颁贬听222 | 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 | ||
| 叠滨翱听181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 |
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| 厂惭罢听202 | Anatomy and Properties of Renewable Materials | 3 |
| 厂惭罢听206 | Wood Manufacturing Site Visits | 1 |
| 厂惭罢听240 | Introduction to Wood Products Industries | 2 |
| 厂惭罢听308 | Wood Processing | 4 |
| Advised Electives 2 | 15 | |
Courses should expand student鈥檚 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鈥檚 career objectives and must be approved by a faculty advisor. | ||
| General Education Program (GEP) Courses | ||
| 贰狈骋听101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Global Knowledge (Verify Requirement) | ||
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement) | ||
| World 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 | ||
| 厂惭罢听200 | Introduction to Sustainable Materials and Technology | 3 |
| 惭础听121 | Elements of Calculus (CP) | 3 |
| 叠滨翱听181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 厂惭罢听240 | Introduction to Wood Products Industries | 2 |
| 贰狈骋听101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| 颁贬听101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science (CP) | 3 |
| 颁贬听102 | 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 | ||
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 厂惭罢听202 | Anatomy and Properties of Renewable Materials (CP) | 3 |
| 颁贬听220 | Introductory Organic Chemistry (CP) | 3 |
| 颁贬听222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab (CP) | 1 |
| 惭滨贰听201 | Introduction to Business | 3 |
| Advised Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 厂惭罢听203 | Physical Properties of Sustainable Materials (CP) | 4 |
| 贰颁听205 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Advised Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 2 | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Summer | ||
| 厂惭罢听206 | Wood Manufacturing Site Visits | 1 |
| 厂惭罢听210 | Sustainable Materials Internship | 1 |
| 听 | Hours | 2 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 厂惭罢听308 | Wood Processing | 4 |
| 厂罢听311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Advised Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 厂惭罢听301 | Chemistry of Sustainable Materials (CP) | 3 |
| 滨厂贰听311 | Engineering Economic Analysis | 3 |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 厂惭罢听441 | Mechanical Properties of Sustainable Materials | 4 |
| 厂惭罢听444 | Sustainable Composites and Biopolymers | 3 |
| 厂惭罢听450 | Sustainable Business and Innovation | 2 |
| 笔厂贰听476 | Environmental Life Cycle Analysis | 3 |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 厂惭罢听483 | Capstone in Sustainable Materials and Technology | 3 |
| Environmental Law Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Advised IP Elective 2 | 2-3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 14 |
| 听 | Total Hours | 120 |
- 1
A grade of C- or better is required.
- 2
Courses should expand student鈥檚 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鈥檚 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.
Career Titles
- Director of New Products
- Certification Specialist
- Sustainability Manager
- Plant Manager
- Quality Control Manager
- Project Engineer
- Material Scientist
- Market Analyst
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