Materials Science and Engineering, B.S.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates with a B.S. degree from the Materials Science and Engineering program will, within a few years after graduation

  1. attain success in a professional position and/or a top graduate school that builds upon their MSE background
  2. exhibit professionalism and leadership in contemporary, interdisciplinary engineering practice based on materials, while accounting for the impact of their profession on an evolving, global society
  3. contribute to innovative designs of technological systems using principles of materials science and engineering
  4. make effective contributions as an individual, team member, and/or a leader to effect global, economic, environmental, and/or societal impact

Student Outcomes

1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
 
2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
 
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
 
4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
 
5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
 
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
 
7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

Curriculum

Minimum units required for B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering381

Standard Program

First Year

Fall Units
21-120Differential and Integral Calculus10
27-100Engineering the Materials of the Future *12
99-101Core@CMU3
xx-xxxGeneral Education Course9
33-141Physics I for Engineering Students12
 46
Spring Units
21-122Integration and Approximation10
xx-xxxSecond Introductory Engineering Course12
33-142Physics II for Engineering and Physics Students12
76-101Interpretation and Argument9
 43

Sophomore Year

Fall Units
27-201Structure of Materials9
27-210Materials Engineering Essentials6
27-215Thermodynamics of Materials12
09-105Introduction to Modern Chemistry I **10
21-254Linear Algebra and Vector Calculus for Engineers11
15-110Principles of Computing10
or 15-112 Fundamentals of Programming and Computer Science
39-210Experiential Learning I0
 58
Spring Units
27-202Defects in Materials9
27-216Transport in Materials9
27-217Phase Relations and Diagrams12
21-260Differential Equations9
39-220Experiential Learning II0
xx-xxxGeneral Education Course9
 48

Junior Year

Fall Units
27-301Microstructure and Properties9
27-xxxMSE Restricted Elective [1]9
xx-xxxFree Elective [1]9
33-225Quantum Physics and Structure of Matter
or
9
or 09-217 Organic Chemistry I
or 03-121 Modern Biology
xx-xxxGeneral Education Course9
39-310Experiential Learning III0
 45
Spring Units
27-367Selection and Performance of Materials6
27-305Introduction to Materials Characterization6
xx-xxxGeneral Education Course9
27-xxxMSE Restricted Elective [2]9
27-xxxMSE Restricted Elective [3]9
xx-xxxFree Elective [2]9
36-220Engineering Statistics and Quality Control9
 57

Senior Year

Fall Units
27-401MSE Capstone Course I6
27-xxxMSE Restricted Elective [4]9
xx-xxxFree Elective [3]9
xx-xxxGeneral Education Course9
xx-xxxGeneral Education Course9
 42
Spring Units
27-402MSE Capstone Course II6
27-xxxMSE Approved Technical Elective 9
xx-xxxFree Elective [4]9
xx-xxxFree Elective [5]9
xx-xxxGeneral Education Course9
 42
*

The Materials in Engineering course 27-100 may also be taken in the spring semester, and must be taken before the end of the sophomore year (the H&SS Elective in the Sophomore Spring may be moved to later in the program to accommodate the 27-100 course).

**

These courses must be taken before the end of the sophomore year, but need not be taken in the same order or semester as listed above.

All mathematics (21-xxx) courses required for the engineering degree taken at Carnegie Mellon must have a minimum grade of C in order to be counted toward the graduation requirement for the BS engineering degree.

Notes on the Curriculum

Academic Advising

Paige Houser is the academic advisor for all MSE students.

Quality Point Average

In addition to the College requirement of a minimum cumulative quality point average of 2.00 for all courses taken beyond the freshman year, the Department requires a quality point average of 2.00 or higher in courses taken in the MSE department. Students may repeat a course to achieve the QPA requirement. 

MSE Approved Technical Elective

Students are required to take at least 9 units of approved technical electives. Students may take a course from another CIT department to fulfill this requirement or choose an additional 9 units of MSE Restricted Electives. Courses on the exclusion list cannot be counted as a technical elective. Students who are pursuing an additional major or minor within CIT should check with their academic advisor regarding double counting of this course.

Courses on this list cannot be counted as a technical elective Units
06-426Experimental Colloid Surface Science9
06-466Experimental Polymer Science9
12-201Geology9
18-202Mathematical Foundations of Electrical Engineering12
18-300Fundamentals of Electromagnetics12
24-311Numerical Methods10
42-202Physiology9
42-610Introduction to Biomaterials9
MSE Restricted Electives

Each student in the program must take at least 36 units of MSE restricted electives. Up to 18  units of MSE research can count toward the restricted electives.

All 27-3xx, 27-4xx, 27-5xx, 27-6xx (with the exception of 27-672) and 27-7xx level and cross listed courses will fulfill the MSE Restricted Elective Requirement along with the following non-MSE courses:

Non-MSE courses that count as restricted electives Units
06-609Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules9
09-509Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules9
12-411Project Management for Engineering and Construction9
12-631Structural Design12
18-310Fundamentals of Semiconductor Devices12
24-262Mechanics II: 3D Design10
24-341Manufacturing Sciences9
42-667Biofabrication and Bioprinting12
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