Courses

Core Courses

Schedule of Classes Fall 2023  (This list is intended as a guideline. Unforeseen circumstances may necessitate updating this plan with more or fewer courses. Core Courses are highlighted.)

Electives

Other electives on request with advisor permission.

Course Descriptions

MSE 5001. Principles of Materials Engineering
Accelerated Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering Concepts, including: structures and defects; phase diagrams; mechanical properties; electronic properties; magnetic properties; optical properties; thermal properties; functional materials; metals and alloys; ceramics; polymers; and composites.
3 credits. Lecture.

MSE 5095. Special Topics in Materials Science and Engineering
Course taught on a provisional basis for the purposes of course development. Students may take multiple instances of MSE 5095, which all can count towards toward the applicable MSE graduate course credit requirements for MS Plan A, MS Plan B, MEng or PhD degrees, provided each instance covers a different topic.
1-3 credits, Lecture.

MSE 5097. Research Methods in Materials Science and Engineering
Introduction to modern methodologies of experimental or computational materials research. Offered only to MS Plan B or MEng students. Requires major advisor approval. A maximum of 3 credits can count toward the MSE graduate course credit requirements for MS Plan B or MEng degrees. Cannot substitute for any GRAD course or be used to satisfy MS or PhD degree credit requirements for thesis or dissertation research.
1-3 credits, Independent Study.

MSE 5098. Variable Topics in Materials Science and Engineering
Advanced or specialized topics in materials science, engineering and/or technology. Students may take multiple instances of MSE 5098, provided each instance covers a different topic. A maximum of 3 credits can count towards the applicable MSE graduate course credit requirements for MS Plan A, MS Plan B, MEng or PhD degrees.
1-3 credits, Lecture.

MSE 5099. Independent Study in Materials Science and Engineering
Specialized non-classroom-based coursework under the regular supervision of a faculty instructor, or as offered by an accredited third party source. Requires major advisor approval. Does not constitute original research. A maximum of 3 credits can count towards the applicable MSE graduate course credit requirements for MS Plan A, MS Plan B, MEng or PhD degrees.
1-3 credits, Independent Study.

MSE 5301. Thermodynamics of Materials
Classical thermodynamics with emphasis on solutions and phase equilibria. Applications to unary and multicomponent, reacting and nonreacting, and homogeneous and heterogeneous systems, including development of phase diagrams. 
3 credits, Lecture.

MSE 5305. Phase Tansformations in Solids
3 credits. Lecture.
Thermodynamics, kinetics and cr ystallography of phase transformations. Nucleation and growth kinetics. Order-disorder, ferroelectric, and ferromagnetic transformations.

MSE 5309. Transport Phenomena in Materials Science and Engineering
Mechanisms and quantitative treatment of mass, energy, and momentum transfer will be discussed in the context of materials science and engineering applications. Increasingly complex and open-ended applications will be used to illustrate principles of fluid flow; heat conduction, radiation, and diffusion.
3 credits. Lecture.

MSE 5310. Modeling Materials
This course is intended to provide an overview of the theory and practices underlying modern electronic structure materials computations, primarily density functional theory (DFT). Students involved primarily/partially in materials computations, as well as those focused on experimental materials research wishing to learn about DFT techniques will benefit from this course.
3 credits. Lecture.

MSE 5311. Mechanical Properties of Materials
Mechanics of deformation and fracture; dislocation theory; strength of ductile and brittle materials; toughness; strengthening mechanisms; toughening mechanisms; creep mechanisms; fatigue crack initiation and propagation; reliability and lifetime
prediction.
3 credits. Lecture.

MSE 5317. Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Materials
Crystal structures and interatomic forces, lattice vibrations, thermal, acoustic, and optical properties. Semiconductors, dielectric properties, magnetism, and magnetic properties, superconductivity. Device applications.
3 credits. Lecture.

MSE 5322. Materials Characterization
A review of the principal experimental methods used to reveal the microstructure and chemistry of materials. Diffraction techniques: x-ray, electron, neutron and proton scattering. Photon probes: hoton microscopies, x-ray topography and XPS. Electron probes: SEM, TEM, EDX, EELS, AES. Atom and ion probes: RBS, SIMS, FIM, PIXE. Scanned probe microscopies.
3 credits, Lecture.

MSE 5323. Transmission Electron Microscopy
Prerequisite: MSE 5322 or consent of instructor.
Electron beam-specimen interactions. Basics of electron microscopes. Diffraction: theory, types of patterns and interpretation. Imaging: diffraction contrast, phase contrast and other techniques. Spectrometry: x-ray microanalysis and electron energy-loss spectrometry.
3 credits. Lecture.

MSE 5333. Imperfections in Crystalline Solids
Defects in materials: point defects, line defects, and planar defects. The origins, structure and distribution of defects in crystalline solids will be described. The influence of defects on material properties will be discussed in the context of materials science and engineering applications.
3 credits, Lecture.

MSE 5334. Structure of Materials
Translation symmetry and space lattices, crystallographic computations, point and space groups, reciprocal space treatment of diffraction, and use of the International Tables for Crystallography. Chemical bonding and descriptive crystal chemistry of metals, ceramics and molecular solids. Structure of amorphous and vitreous materials and introduction to point, line and planar defects. Crystal anisotropy and relations between structure, symmetry and physical properties.
3 credits, Lecture.

MSE 5335. High Temperature Materials
Strength-determining factors in advanced alloys, ceramics and composites. Role of material chemistry and microstructure. High temperature creep and crack growth. Oxidation. Thermomechanical behavior.
3 credits. Lecture.

MSE 5336. Material Selection in Mechanical Design
Prerequisite:  MSE 2101 or consent of instructor.
The course consists of a study of materials and how they are chosen for various mechnical designs. A wide range of materials will be discussed (metal, ceramic, polymer, etc.) and their key properties (modulus, strength, density, etc.) in design will be reviewed. Guidelines for material selection will be shown. As part of the course, design trades will also be discussed.
3 credits. Lecture. 

MSE 5343. Corrosion
Mechanisms, characteristics and types of corrosion. Test methods and evaluation of corrosion resistance. Suitability of metals, ceramics, and organic materials in corrosive environments. Oxidation and other high temperature gas-metal reactions.
3 credits. Lecture.

MSE 5364. Advanced Composites
Mechanical properties, analysis and modeling of composite materials. The properties treated include stiffness, strength, fracture toughness, fatigue strength and creep resistance as they relate to fiber, whisker, particulate, and laminated composites.
3 credits. Lecture.

MSE 5366. Alloy Casting Processes
Principles and practices of alloy solidification and casting processes are discussed and applied in the context of sand, investment, permanent mold and die casting; continuous and direct chill casting; electroslag and vacuum arc remelting; crystal growth; rapid solidification; and laser coating.
3 credits. Lecture.

MSE 5370. Ceramics
Prerequisites: a knowledge of Materials Science at the undergraduate level is essential, or MSE 5001
A graduate-level treatment of the science and engineering of Ceramic Materials. Concepts to be studied include the structure of both crystalline and non-crystalline material, and defects (including point defects, dislocations and interfaces) in these materials. A broad range of special (for ceramics) methods for the preparation, processing and characterization of these materials will run throughout the course. An important component of the course is consideration of how the crystal structure determines or influences mechanical, electronic, magnetic, and thermal properties. Special topics may include functional ceramics, 2D ceramics, and connections between ceramics, economics and global affairs.
3 credits, Lecture.

MSE 5700. Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering
A broad introduction to the field of biomaterials and tissue engineering. Presents basic principles of biological, medical, and material science as applied to implantable medical devices, drug delivery systems and artificial organs. Not open to students who have passed BME 4710, Also offered as BME 5700.
3 credits, Lecture.

GRAD 5930. Full-Time Directed Studies
Open only to Master’s Plan A students. Graduate School consent required. This course denotes that the student is participating in a full-time internship, field work experience, or other course of off-campus study required as part of the student’s Master’s Plan A program. No other courses may be taken concurrently.
3 credits, Practicum.

GRAD 5950. Master’s Thesis Research
This course is associated with the research efforts of students pursuing a Plan A Master’s degree, and may be used to meet the nine credit Master’s research requirement. 
1-9 credits, Thesis Research.

GRAD 5960. Full-Time Master’s Research
This course is to be used by those students who have completed all courses on the plan of study and who are performing Master’s level research on a full-time basis. It may contribute to meeting the Master’s research credit requirement. No other courses may be taken concurrently. In the summer, this is a 12-week (Summer 4) course. Since this course denotes a full-time commitment, students may not hold graduate assistantships while taking this course.  
3 credits, Thesis Research. Graduate School consent required.

GRAD 5998. Special Readings (Master’s)
To be used by Master’s students who are not enrolled in a thesis (Plan A) track.This is a non-credit course for which Master’s degree students must register in cases where their regular for-credit coursework has been interrupted and they are not otherwise registered. International students should consult with the Graduate School prior to registering for this course.
0 credits, Special Readings.

GRAD 5999. Thesis Preparation
Open only to graduate students enrolled in Plan A Master’s degree programs. This is a non-credit course used to maintain registered status after students have completed their coursework and are not registered for any other credit-bearing course. International students should consult with the Graduate School prior to registering for this course. 
0 credits, Thesis Research.

MSE 6401. Graduate Seminars in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering
Presentations by invited guest speakers on topics of current interest in various areas of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering.
1 credit. Seminar.

GRAD 6930. Full-Time Directed Studies (Doctoral Level)
Open only to doctoral students. Graduate School consent required. This course denotes that the student is participating in a full-time internship, field work experience, or other course of off-campus study required as part of the student’s doctoral program. No other courses may be taken concurrently. 
3 credits, Practicum.

GRAD 6950. Doctoral Dissertation Research
Open only to doctoral students. This course is associated with the research efforts of students pursuing a doctoral degree, and may be used to meet the fifteencredit doctoral research requirement. 
1-9 credits, Dissertation Research.

GRAD 6960. Full-Time Doctoral Research
Open only to doctoral students. Graduate School consent required. This course is to be used by those students who have completed all courses on the plan of study and who are performing doctoral level research on a full-time basis. It may contribute to meeting the fifteen credit doctoral research requirement. No other courses may be taken concurrently. In the summer, this is a 12-week (Summer 4) course. Since this course denotes a full-time commitment, students may not hold graduate assistantships while taking this course. 
3 credits, Dissertation Research.

GRAD 6998. Special Readings (Doctoral)
Open only to doctoral students. This is a non-credit course for which doctoral students must register in cases where their regular for-credit coursework has been interrupted and they are not otherwise registered. International students should consult with the Graduate School prior to registering for this course. 
0 credits, Special Readings.

GRAD 6999. Dissertation Preparation
Open only to doctoral students. This is a non-credit course used to maintain registered status after students have completed their coursework and are not registered for any other credit-bearing course. International students should consult with the Graduate School prior to registering for this course. 
0 credits, Dissertation Research.