University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign The Grainger College of Engineering 104 courses 128 total credits
for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Materials Science & Engineering Materials science and engineering is the basis for all engineering. Improvements in the quality of life require knowledge of the processing and properties of current materials and the design, development and application of new materials. The Materials Science and Engineering (MatSE) curriculum provides an understanding of the underlying principles of synthesis and processing of materials and of the interrelationships between structure, properties, and processing. Students learn how to create advanced materials and systems required, e.g., for flexible electronic displays and photonics that will change communications technologies, for site specific drug delivery, for self-healing materials, for enabling the transition to a hydrogen-based economy, and for more efficient photovoltaics and nuclear systems for energy production. The curriculum uses concepts from both basic physics and chemistry and provides a detailed knowledge of what makes the materials we use every day behave as they do. Students in the first two years take courses in general areas of science and engineering as well as courses introducing the concepts in MatSE. In the third year, students study the common, central issues related to MatSE. In the senior year, students focus on an area of MatSE of their greatest interest, providing them with the detailed knowledge to be immediately useful to corporations, become entrepreneurs, or to...
| Total Hours | 128 credits |
Orientation and Professional Development
Recommended, optional 1 credit course, MSE 183 Introductory MatSE Laboratory. Credit hour counts toward free electives.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 100 | Grainger Engineering Orientation Seminar | 1 |
Foundational Mathematics and Science
For All Students
Subtotal Hours of Technical Core for All Students.
For the Biomaterials Area
For All Other Areas
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| IE 300 or STAT 400 | Analysis of Data or Statistics and Probability I | 3 |
| MSE 304 | Electronic Properties of Matls | 3 |
| MSE 405 | Microstructure Determination | 3 |
For the Biomaterials Area
Topical lecture courses in the Biomaterials Area. See Topical Lecture list below. (5 hours) Topical lecture courses outside of the Biomaterials Area. See Topical Lecture list below. (6 hours)
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MSE 404 | Laboratory Studies in Materials Science and Engineering | 3 |
For All Other Areas
Technical electives selected from the following rubrics: ABE, AE, BIOC, BIOE, BIOP, CHBE, CHEM, CEE, CS, CSE, ECE, IE, MATH, MCB, ME, MSE, NPRE, PHYS, SE, TAM, TE. Technical electives must be 200 level or higher courses---excluding independent study, research, or special topics---that do not currently satisfy another requirement. Other courses may be approved by the department. (6 hours) Topical lecture courses. See Topical Lecture list below. No more than 6 hours may be from introductory topical lectures.
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MSE 404 | Laboratory Studies in Materials Science and Engineering | 6 |
Introductory - No more than 2 introductory courses can count for Topical Lecture
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MSE 420 | Ceramic Materials & Properties | 3 |
| MSE 441 | Metals Processing | 3 |
| MSE 450 | Polymer Science & Engineering | 3-4 |
| MSE 470 | Design and Use of Biomaterials | 3 |
| ECE 340 | Semiconductor Electronics | 3 |
Biomaterials
Biomaterials Science - Can only count one science course for Topical Lecture Biomaterials
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOC 446 | Physical Biochemistry | 3 |
| BIOC 455 | Technqs Biochem & Biotech | 4 |
| BIOP 401 | Introduction to Biophysics | 3 |
All Other Areas
Science - Can only count one science course for Topical Lecture
| Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 436 | Fundamental Organic Chem II | 3 |
| CHEM 483 | Solid State Structural Anlys | 4 |
| PHYS 485 | Atomic Phys & Quantum Theory | 3 |
| PHYS 486 | Quantum Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 487 | Quantum Physics II | 4 |
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