At which campus can I study this program?
Spring 2025 Curricular Update: The program description, entrance requirements, and program requirements detailed on this page are effective beginning Spring 2025. To learn more about what approved curricular changes take effect in Spring 2025, please visit the Changes to the UG Bulletin page. To view the requirements in effect for Fall 2024, please visit the 2024-25 Undergraduate Bulletin PDF.
Program Description
The minor in Materials Science and Engineering prepares students to understand the materials properties, materials processing techniques, characterization methods, and selection criteria in implementing engineering solutions. The materials selection and use for cutting edge technology requires precise and definite knowledge of choice of materials, processing route, and material response in service conditions. A wide variety of industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy, biomedical, chemical, industrial, and electrical to name a few, have a demand for engineers with a strong background in materials engineering.
The materials minor includes an introductory course on materials science to provide a foundation on properties and processing of materials, materials thermodynamics and kinetics, and characterization of mechanical, microstructural and electrical properties of materials. Students then have the freedom and flexibility to enhance their knowledge on the processing, structure, and properties of materials such as metals, ceramics, polymers, electronics, biomaterials, composites, nanomaterials, and materials for energy. The minor can easily complement most engineering, chemistry, and physics studies.
This minor is intended for students in other engineering or science majors who have the necessary foundational knowledge in math, physics, and chemistry [even if the courses taken are not exactly the same as the listed prerequisites for MATSE courses (i.e., MATH 250 and MATH 252 vs. MATH 251, CHEM 210 vs. CHEM 202, etc.)]. Therefore, we recommend students reach out to the MATSE department or the faculty member teaching a specific MATSE course if they have questions about meeting prerequisites.
What is Materials Science and Engineering?
Materials are ubiquitous. Materials play a role in every industry and facet of life. Materials science and engineering is an interdisciplinary study of the properties of matter and the exploration for new and creative uses of ceramics, metals, polymers and composites. Materials scientists and engineers study the entire life cycle of materials (production, synthesis and processing, manufacturing, use, recycling and reclamation) by employing science to solve engineering problems. This engineering discipline is unique in that our studies begin with understanding materials at the atomic scale, allowing for prediction and measurement of material properties, and creation of materials by design. What do you want to do with your career? Make alternative energy more economical? Improve human health, cure cancer? Provide clean drinking water to the world? Make transportation more efficient and environmentally friendly? Make everyday materials more sustainable? All these outcomes and more are possible by studying materials.
You Might Like This Program If...
- You enjoy problem-solving, math, and the physical sciences.
- You like understanding why materials react the way they do to various stimuli.
- You are interested in creating tools and materials for the aerospace, automotive, energy, biomedical, or electronics industries.
Spring 2025 Curricular Update: The program description, entrance requirements, and program requirements detailed on this page are effective beginning Spring 2025. To learn more about what approved curricular changes take effect in Spring 2025, please visit the Changes to the UG Bulletin page. To view the requirements in effect for Fall 2024, please visit the 2024-25 Undergraduate Bulletin PDF.
Program Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Requirements for the Minor | 18 |
The minor in Materials Science and Engineering requires the completion of a total of 18 credits in materials related and other supporting courses. With the approval of the student's program chair, some of these courses may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the student's major bachelor's degree.
Requirements for the Minor
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Elements of Material Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Materials Science | ||
| Properties and Processing of Engineering Materials | ||
| Select 3-9 credits from the following MATSE Core Courses: | 3-9 | |
| Crystal Chemistry | ||
| Thermodynamics of Materials | ||
| Materials Process Kinetics | ||
| Solid-State Materials | ||
| Computational Materials Science and Engineering | ||
| Materials Characterization | ||
| Mechanical Properties of Materials | ||
| Select 6-12 credits from the following MATSE Supporting Courses: | 6-12 | |
| Biomedical Materials | ||
| Surfaces and the Biological Response to Materials | ||
| Nuclear Materials | ||
| Phase Relations in Materials Systems | ||
| Processing of Ceramics | ||
| Thermal Properties of Materials | ||
| Introduction to Glass Science | ||
| Electrical and Magnetic Properties | ||
| Corrosion Engineering | ||
| Processing of Metals | ||
| Aqueous Processing | ||
| Microstructure Design of Structural Materials | ||
| Non-Ferrous Structural Metals | ||
| Optical Properties of Materials | ||
| Nondestructive Evaluation of Flaws | ||
| Polymeric Materials I | ||
| Thermodynamics, Microstructure, and Characterization of Polymers | ||
| Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Polymers and Composities | ||
| Rheology and Processing of Polymers | ||
| Fundamentals of Composite Materials Science and Engineering | ||
| Synthesis and Processing of Electronic and Photonic Materials | ||
| Properties and Characterization of Electronic and Photonic Materials | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 0-6 credits from the following: | 0-6 | |
| Solid Mechanics of Biological Materials | ||
| Biomedical Materials | ||
| Surfaces and the Biological Response to Materials | ||
| Polymers in Biomedical Engineering | ||
| Phase and Chemical Equilibria | ||
| Chemical Reaction Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Polymer Science | ||
| Inorganic Chemistry | ||
| Chemistry and Properties of Polymers | ||
| Electrical and Magnetic Properties | ||
| Electronic Properties and Applications of Materials | ||
| Synthesis and Processing of Electronic and Photonic Materials | ||
| Particulate Materials Processing | ||
| Introduction to Nanoelectronics | ||
| Semiconductor Integrated Circuit Technology | ||
| Solid State Devices | ||
| Heat and Mass Transfer | ||
| Hydrogen and Fuel Cells | ||
| Electrochemical Engineering Fundamentals | ||
| Electrochemical Methods | ||
| Materials for Energy Applications | ||
| Thermodynamics in Energy and Mineral Engineering | ||
| Fluid Mechanics in Energy and Mineral Engineering | ||
| Electrochemical Energy Storage | ||
| Principles of Solidification Processing | ||
| Product Design and Manufacturing Processes | ||
| Metal Casting | ||
| Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Engines | ||
| Gas Turbines | ||
| Solid State Physics I | ||
Additional 300- or 400-level courses within a science or engineering major and with a materials focus may be approved at the discretion of the Materials Science and Engineering department. | ||
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Office of Undergraduate Studies
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
225 Steidle Building
University Park, PA 16801
814-865-5766
advising@matse.psu.edu
Harrisburg
Issam Abu-Mahfouz, Ph.D., P.E.
Program Chair
Olmsted Building W239
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6361
iaa2@psu.edu
Contact
University Park
OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES
DEPARTMENT OF MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
225 Steidle Building
University Park, PA 16801
814-865-5766
advising@matse.psu.edu
Harrisburg
SCHOOL OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY
Olmsted Building, W239
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6116
kmb51@psu.edu
https://harrisburg.psu.edu/science-engineering-technology/mechanical-engineering-bs