Mar 28, 2024  
Undergraduate Record 2009-2010 
    
Undergraduate Record 2009-2010 [ARCHIVED RECORD]

Materials Science and Engineering


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Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) is a field that couples basic and applied studies in physics, chemistry and mechanics on the atomistic and nanometer scales with macroscopic materials’ properties. Materials science is frequently an important enabler for many other scientific and engineering disciplines. For instance, advances in performance for future subsonic and hypersonic aircraft require new materials with greater durability at high temperatures and high strength-to-weight ratios. Advances in communication equipment with the introduction of fiber optic cables are brought about through the utilization of ceramic fibers which minimize attenuation of light signals and transmit much more information than is possible with electrically conducting wires. Thus, advances in materials science and engineering enable the development of new technologies across most engineering disciplines.

MSE offers a selection of undergraduate courses with the objective of providing students with a fundamental background in the structure, properties, processing, and performance of materials. This background is essential to engineers or scientists in understanding the selection of materials for various applications.

The MSE Department offers two opportunities for undergraduates to develop their understanding of materials science. A minor in Materials Science and Engineering is available to all undergraduate students. For students desiring a stronger and more extensive foundation in materials science, an 11-course MSE option in Engineering Science is available.

MSE Minor


The purpose of the MSE minor is to provide students a foundation for understanding how the processing, properties and structure of materials affects the science, design, and application of materials in the engineering discipline of their major field of study.

Requirements


Minimum of five MSE courses constitute an MSE minor.

1. You must have a minor advisor in MSE who can help you select the best courses and sequencing.
2. You must take both of these courses:

3. You must select at least one of the following two courses:


4. You must select at least two courses from the following list to complete a five course minor:


Research


MSE is a research-intensive discipline. Undergraduate students are encouraged to become involved in research through i) an independent study research project, MSE 4960, ii) senior thesis projects, iii) and financially supported undergraduate research internships during the academic year or summer. MSE faculty members serve as advisors to your to research projects. For more information, consult the MSE department website, www.virginia.edu/ms.

MSE program in Engineering Science


The MSE program in Engineering Science consists of eight required MSE courses, six credits of MSE electives and six credits of advanced MSE project. Students must also select an approved SEAS technical minor or a minor in a natural science or mathematics. MSE is a research intensive discipline and ES/MSE students are encouraged to become involved in ongoing research projects within the department.

MSE/ES Curriculum (128)


Second Semester Credits: 17


  • Science elective I Credits: 3
(See Footnote 1 below)
  • HSS elective Credits: 3
(See Footnote 2 below)

Third Semester Credits: 17


  • Secondary minor elective Credits: 3

(See Footnote 3 below)

  • HSS elective Credits: 3

(See Footnote 2 below)

Fourth Semester Credits: 16


  • Advanced Math/ CS elective Credits: 3
(See Footnote 4 below)
  • Science elective II w/Lab/workshop Credits: 4
(See Footnote 6 below)
  • STS elective Credits: 3
(See Footnote 2 below)

Fifth Semester Credits: 18


  • Secondary minor elective Credits: 3

(See Footnote 3 below)

  • Secondary Minor elective Credits: 3

(See Footnote 3 below)

  • Unrestricted elective Credits: 3
  • HSS elective Credits: 3

(See Footnote 7 below)
 

 

Sixth Semester Credits: 15


  • Secondary minor elective Credits: 3

(See Footnote 3 below)

  • Elective Credits: 3
  • Advanced Elective Credits: 3

(See Footnote 7 below)

  • MSE 4210 Processing of Advanced Mater Credits: 3
  • STS 2xxx/3xxx elective Credits: 3
  • MSE 4320 Origins of Mechanical Behavior Credits: 3

 

Seventh Semester Credits: 15


  • Secondary minor elective Credits: 3

(See Footnote 3 below)

  • Unrestricted elective Credits: 3
(See Footnote 7 below)
  • MSE xxxx MSE Elective Credits:3
(See Footnote 9 below)

Eighth Semester Credits: 15


  • Secondary minor elective Credits: 3
  • Secondary minor elective Credits: 3

(see Footnote 3 below)

  • MSE xxxx MSE elective Credits: 3

(See Footnote 9 below)

  • Unrestricted elective Credits: 3

(See Footnote 7 below)

 

Footnotes


(1)	Science elective I: Chosen from ECE 2066; BIOL 2010, 2020; MSE 2090; CHEM 1620; PHYS 2620.
(2) HSS electives are chosen from the approved list available in A122 Thornton Hall.
(3) Secondary minor electives must be chosen so as to earn an approved technical minor in SEAS, mathematics, or a natural science. Once secondary minor requirements are satisfied, any 2xxx or higher technical SEAS, mathematics, or natural science course is acceptable.
(4) Advanced math/CS elective: 3xxx-level or higher mathematics courses in SEAS or CLAS; or one one 2xxx-level or higher course in computer science.
(5) MSE 3101 Materials Science Investigations partially fulfills the laboratory requirements of the ES major.
(6) Science Elective II: Either CHEM 1620 with lab or PHYS 2620 with workshop is required.
(7) Unrestricted electives may be chosen from any graded course in the University except mathematics courses below MATH 1310, including STAT 1110 and STAT 1120, and courses that substantially duplicate others used for the student's degree.
(8) Advanced Projects is a graded research, independent study, or design course. Individual or group projects are possible. Engineering in Context (EIC) courses may be substituted.
(9) MSE electives are chosen from any MSE lecture-based courses, CHE 4449 (Polymers), or BME 4414 (Biomaterials). (10) Advanced projects (MSE 4960) is a graded research, independent study, or design course. Individual or group projects are possible. Engineering in Context (EIC) courses may substitute.

For more information on the Materials Science and Engineering Option in Engineering Science, consult the MSE department website www.virginia.edu/ms.

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