91欧美视频

Materials Science and Engineering

Minor

Woman working with a 3D printer

Materials determine what is possible. From the lightweight composites in aircraft to the batteries that power electric vehicles, the materials engineers choose—and the ways they design, process and improve them—can make products stronger, safer, more efficient and more sustainable.

The Materials Science and Engineering Minor at 91欧美视频 brings engineering and science together, giving you practical experience connecting a material’s structure and properties to real-world performance. You'll build skills in material selection, processing and design through coursework and hands-on experience. The minor is available for students pursuing a bachelor's in Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Physics.

Why Study Materials Science and Engineering at 91欧美视频?

  • Learn how materials make technology possible. Build the skills to understand how a material’s structure, properties and processing affect performance, then use that knowledge to make smarter design and engineering decisions.
  • Apply materials science to real-world challenges. Explore materials and technologies such as carbon fiber composites, superconductors, batteries, 3D printing, tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, solar cells, nanotubes/nanotechnology, and superalloys while connecting scientific concepts to practical applications.
  • Expand your career options. Pair the minor with your 91欧美视频 engineering or science degree to explore careers in materials-related fields and gain expertise in the overlap between science and engineering—or continue on to graduate study. Companies that often hire materials scientists include: 3M, Medtronic, Intel, Honeywell, Boston Scientific, Seagate, Polar Semiconductor, St. Jude, Hitachi, IBM, AK Steel, Dow Chemical, Applied Materials, DuPont and Goodyear.

Courses and Experiences

enlarged photo of nanofibers

You'll build on courses in your major with study in physics, thermodynamics and engineering materials, then choose materials-focused electives that align with your interests.

These courses are required for all students pursuing the Materials Science and Engineering minor:

  • Classical Physics I
  • Classical Physics II
  • Thermodynamics (choose either a Chemistry, Engineering, Geology or Physics course)
  • Engineering Materials
  • Materials Science and Engineering Practicum

Students pursuing the Materials Science and Engineering minor also choose elective courses that fit their major program, specific interests and career goals.

Here is just a sample of the elective courses you'll choose from:

  • Biomaterials in Medical Device Design
  • Smart Materials
  • Polymers in Design
  • Civil Engineering Materials
  • Materials Design & Development
  • Composites
  • Optics

Put what you've learned into practice through a materials-related research project or internship. You'll work with a project advisor to design an experience that connects your interests with hands-on work in materials science and engineering.

Engineering Scholarships

In addition to the scholarships and financial aid offered through the university, alternative sources, and other federal and state programs, the College of Engineering offers several scholarship opportunities for undergraduate students studying or planning on studying engineering.

A $12,500 Engineering Board of Governors Scholarship is competitively awarded to an entering first-time, first-year student planning to major in engineering. Applicants must complete a special scholarship application and an application for admission by the deadline. This award is renewable for three more years for a total of $50,000.

Admitted engineering transfer students are automatically considered for privately funded Summit Engineering Scholarships with annual awards up to $10,000.

Over 50 scholarships valued between $250 and $4,000 are made available for outstanding returning engineering students each academic year.

Meet Our Faculty

Faculty across science and engineering bring expertise in materials science, advanced manufacturing, biomaterials and related fields to the minor.

Dr. Brittany Nelson Cheeseman

Professor and Program Director, Materials Science and Engineering

Dr. Nelson-Cheeseman has a passion for advanced engineering materials and has collaborated with 91欧美视频 engineering students to research magnetic responses of 3-D printed magnetic structures that produce more efficient transformers that waste less energy in electrical systems.

Her research explores advanced composite materials for additive manufacturing, developing magnetic elastomer smart materials that enable remote, contactless motion for soft robotic applications.

Nelson-Cheeseman enjoys making direct connections with students inside and outside the classroom, whether it be through a research project, on a study abroad, or advising an engineering project.

Dr. JiYong Lee

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering & Biomedical Engineering Minor Advisor

Dr. Lee has a passion for 3D printing and biomedical devices, and has collaborated with 91欧美视频 engineering students to research 3D printed bioelectronic sensors that monitor physiological signals for healthcare applications.

His research explores multifunctional 3D printable bioinks and biomaterials for additive manufacturing, developing conductive silk fibroin inks and personalized microneedles that enable precise, minimally invasive drug delivery.

Lee enjoys giving undergraduate students hands-on roles in every stage of a project, from formulating inks to running tensile tests to writing the code that drives the lab's 3D printers, and he serves on the university's Undergraduate Research Board to help support research opportunities for students across campus.

Program Details

This minor is intended for students majoring in chemistry, civil engineering, electrical engineering or mechanical engineering but is open to other students as well.

 

You will take foundational courses in your declared major plus additional courses specific to the Materials Science and Engineering minor program.

Required Courses for the Minor in Materials Science and Engineering (16 credits):

  • PHYS 211 Classical Physics I (4 credits)
  • PHYS 212 Classical Physics II (4 credits)
  • Choose one of the following courses in in thermodynamics: CHEM 331 or ENGR 381 or GEOL 340 or PHYS 410 (4 credits)
  • ENGR 361 Engineering Materials (4 credits)
  • IDSC 365 Materials Science and Engineering Practicum (0 credits)

And Elective Courses (choose a minimum of eight additional credits from the following list):

  • BIOL 328 Environmental Toxicology and Health (4 credits)
  • BIOL 361 Medical Geology (4 credits)
  • CHEM 220 Foundations in Inorganic Chemistry (4 credits)*
  • CHEM 340 Organic Spectroscopy (2 credits)*
  • CHEM 400 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry (2 credits)*
  • CHEM 430 Polymer Chemistry (2 credits)*
  • CHEM 487 Biomaterials (2 credits)*
  • ENGR 221 Mechanics of Materials (4 credits)**
  • ENGR 314 Biomaterials in Engineering (4 credits)
  • ENGR 363 Civil Engineering Materials (4 credits)
  • ENGR 371 Manufacturing Processes (4 credits)**
  • ENGR 381 Thermodynamics (4 credits)**
  • ENGR 412 Composite Materials (2 credits)
  • ENGR 415 Smart Materials (2 credits)
  • ENGR 488 Topics: Advanced Mechanical Behavior of Materials (2 credits)
  • ETLS 723 Biomaterials in Medical Device Design (3 credits)
  • ETLS 775 Polymers in Design (3 credits)
  • ETLS 776 Materials Design and Development (3 credits)
  • GEOL 211 Earth Materials (4 credits)
  • GEOL 340 Fundamentals of Lithosphere I (Petrology) (4 credits)
  • GEOL 360 Fundamentals of Lithosphere II (Structural Geology) (4 credits)
  • PHYS 225 Applications of Modern Physics (4 credits)
  • PHYS 347 Optics (4 credits)
  • PHYS 410 Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics (4 credits)

Or as approved by the program director.

Chemistry majors may only have one elective count towards both the CHEM major and the MSE minor.

** These courses may not be used as an elective for Mechanical Engineering majors.

Between ENGR 361 and the eight (8) elective credits, four (4) credits must be outside the student's major field. Only four (4) elective credits may be from courses <300 level.

Your faculty advisor will personalize a Plan of Study with you based on your goals. View the Undergraduate Catalog to learn more about the Minor in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE Minor).

Sample Plans of Study include:

  • Minor in Materials Science and Engineering

Take the Next Step

There is more to learn about 91欧美视频, including our ranking as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report, the many classroom and extracurricular activities that will be part of your student experience and so much more.