Materials Engineering Minor

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Program of Study
Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Degree Type
Minor

Material properties, material processing issues, or material costs are the limiting factor in the design or performance of almost all systems around us. Engineers, scientists, and managers in all technological sectors often must make material selection decisions based on a variety of considerations, including properties, performance, environmental impact, and cost. A Minor in Materials, feasible within a 15 unit program of study, will benefit students who wish to enhance their disciplinary major with an additional degree designation in the area of materials.

Notes:

  1. In accordance with the Institute-wide policy on Minors, academic activities used in satisfying the regular degree requirements may be double-counted toward meeting all but one unit of the Minor requirements (see page 11).
  2. Physics ISU courses in Superconductors, Photonics, and Lasers may also be counted toward the Materials Minor. In addition, other new or experimental course offerings in the materials area may be approved by the Materials Minor Program Review Committee.

  3. Examples: An ECE major designing an integrated circuit for their MQP might conduct a separate analysis of the materials issues related to heat management in the device as the capstone experience for the Minor in Materials; a ME major specifying a gear in a design MQP might conduct a separate analysis of the material processing, structure, and property issues affecting fatigue life of the gear.

  4. In accordance with the Institute-wide policy on Minors, the Major Qualifying Project  (MQP) cannot be counted toward activity for a Minor. Therefore, a ME, CHE, or any other major whose MQP is judged to be predominantly in the materials area by the Program Review Committee may not count an extra 1/3 unit augmentation of their MQP as their capstone experience in the Minor.

  5. The following faculty serve as the Program Review Committee for the Minor in Materials and will serve as Minor Advisors: Professors Liang and Mishra.

Program Distribution Requirements for the Materials Minor

The minor requires the completion of 2 units of work as described below

Introduction to Material Science (Minimum 1/3 Unit)

Students must complete ES 2001 Introduction to Material Science.

Minimum Units
1/3

Materials Engineering Electives (Minimum 4/3 Units)

Students must complete 4/3 units from the list of electives below.

Minimum Units
4/3

Students who are able to design their undergraduate program of study such that they have sufficient preparation may also use the following graduate courses toward a Materials Minor: all MTE graduate courses; CHE 510 Dynamics of Particulate Systems, CHE 531 Fuel Cell Technology.

Materials Engineering Capstone Experience (Minimum 1/3 Units)

The capstone experience requirement for the Minor in Materials must be satisfied by an upper level course or ISU activity that integrates and synthesizes material processing, structure, and property relationships as they affect performance. 

  1. Courses that satisfy the capstone experience requirement currently include those in the list below. Other courses must be approved in advance by the Program Committee for the Minor in Materials.
  2. Students may satisfy the capstone experience requirement by completing a 1/3 unit ISU that receives prior approval from the Program Committee for the Minor in Materials. The ISU may, for example, take the form of a laboratory experience or may augment the MQP or IQP, considering in depth the materials issues associated with the project topic (see Note d). An ISU related to the MQP must be distinct from the core 1 unit of the MQP and in most cases would be advised by a faculty member other than the MQP advisor.
Minimum Units
1/3

Notes: 

  1. In accordance with the Institute-wide policy on Minors, academic activities used in satisfying the regular degree requirement may be double-counted toward meeting all but one unit of the Minor requirements.
  2. Physics ISU courses in Superconductors, Photonics, and Lasers may also be counted toward the Materials Minor. In addition, other new or experimental course offerings in the materials area may be approved by the Materials Minor Program Review Committee.
  3. Examples: An ECE major designing an integrated circuit for the MQP might conduct a separate analysis of the materials issues related to heat management in the device as the capstone experience for the Minor in Materials; a ME major specifying a gear in a design MQP might conduct a separate analysis of the material processing, structure, and property issues affecting fatigue life of the gear. 
  4. In accordance with the Institute-wide policy on Minors, the Major Qualifying Project (MQP) cannot be counted toward activity for a Minor. Therefore, a ME, CHE, or any other major whose MQP is judged to be predominantly in the materials area by the Program Review Committe may not count an extra 1/3 unit augmentation of their MQP as their capstone experience in the Minor. 
  5. The following faculty serve as the Program Review Committee for the Minor in Materials and will serve as Minor Advisors: Richard Sisson (ME), Chrys Demetry (ME), Tahar El-Korchi (CEE)