The following directory lists the graduate courses which the University expects to offer, although the University in no way guarantees that all such courses will be offered in any given academic year, and reserves the right to alter the list if conditions warrant. Click on the links below for a list of courses in that subject area. You may then click “View Classes” to see scheduled classes for individual courses.
5001. Principles of Materials Engineering
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: None.
Grading Basis: Graded
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.
View Classes »5095. Special Topics in Materials Science and Engineering
1.00 - 3.00 credits | May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisites: Only MSE graduate students can register for this course, all others require instructor consent.
Grading Basis: Graded
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 the applicable MSE graduate course credit requirements for M.S. Plan A, M.S. Plan B, M.Eng. or Ph.D. degrees, provided each instance covers a different topic.
View Classes »5097. Research Methods in Materials Science and Engineering
1.00 - 3.00 credits
Prerequisites: Open to M.S. Plan B or M.Eng. students; major advisor approval required.
Grading Basis: Graded
Introduction to modern methodologies of experimental or computational materials research. A maximum of three credits can count toward the MSE graduate course credit requirements for M.S. Plan B or M.Eng. degrees. Cannot substitute for any GRAD course or be used to satisfy M.S. or Ph.D. degree credit requirements for thesis or dissertation research.
View Classes »5098. Variable Topics in Materials Science and Engineering
1.00 - 3.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 3 credits.
Prerequisites: Departmental consent required; may be repeated with a change in topic.
Grading Basis: Graded
Advanced or specialized topics in materials science, engineering and/or technology. A maximum of three credits can count towards the applicable MSE graduate course credit requirements for M.S. Plan A, M.S. Plan B, M.Eng. or Ph.D. degrees.
View Classes »5099. Independent Study in Materials Science and Engineering
1.00 - 3.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 3 credits.
Prerequisites: Major advisor consent; MSE gradaute students only.
Grading Basis: Graded
Specialized non-classroom-based coursework under the regular supervision of a faculty instructor, or as offered by an accredited third party source. Does not constitute original research. A maximum of three credits can count towards the applicable MSE graduate course credit requirements for M.S. Plan A, M.S. Plan B, M.Eng. or Ph.D. degrees.
View Classes »5135. Textile Structural Composite Materials
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: Instructor consent. Recommended preparation: MSE 5364 or ME 5430.
Grading Basis: Graded
Provides an in-depth understanding of textile composites, their fabrication and consolidation processes, applications, characterization techniques, mechanical properties, mechanical property models and fatigue and damage tolerance properties. Focus on both 2D and 3D composites made using the textile technologies of weaving, braiding and stitching. The in-plane mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of these composites under static and fatigue loads will be examined along with their enhanced interlaminar fracture toughness, impact resistance and damage tolerance properties.
View Classes »5301. Thermodynamics of Materials
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: None.
Grading Basis: Graded
Classical thermodynamics with emphasis on solutions and phase equilibria. Applications to unary and multicomponent, reacting and nonreacting, homogeneous and heterogeneous systems, including development of phase diagrams.
View Classes »5305. Phase Transformations in Solids
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: None.
Grading Basis: Graded
Thermodynamics, kinetics and crystallography of phase transformations. Nucleation and growth kinetics. Order-disorder, ferroelectric, and ferromagnetic transformations.
View Classes »5307. Solidification of Metals and Alloys
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: MSE 5301.
Grading Basis: Graded
Thermodynamic and kinetic principles of solidification. Control of structure and properties of pure and multicomponent materials through casting and solidification processes. Application of solidification principles to shaped casting, continuous casting, crystal growth and particulate processes.
View Classes »5309. Transport Phenomena in Materials Science and Engineering
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: None.
Grading Basis: Graded
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.
View Classes »5310. Materials Modeling from First Principles
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: None.
Grading Basis: Graded
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.
View Classes »5311. Mechanical Properties of Materials
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: None.
Grading Basis: Graded
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.
View Classes »5317. Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Materials
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: None.
Grading Basis: Graded
Crystal structures and interatomic forces, lattice vibrations, thermal, acoustic, and optical properties. Semiconductors, dielectric properties, magnetism, and magnetic properties, superconductivity. Device applications.
View Classes »5320. Investigation of Special Topics
3.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 9 credits.
Prerequisites: None.
Grading Basis: Graded
Special courses or individual readings.
View Classes »5322. Materials Characterization
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: None.
Grading Basis: Graded
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: photon microscopies, x-ray topography and XPS. Electron probes: SEM, TEM, EDX, EELS, AES. Atom and ion probes: RBS, SIMS, FIM, PIXE. Scanned probe microscopies.
View Classes »5323. Transmission Electron Microscopy
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: MSE 5322 or consent of instructor.
Grading Basis: Graded
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.
View Classes »5330. Classical Atomic-level Simulations in Materials Science and Engineering
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: None.
Grading Basis: Graded
Introduction to several classical atomic-level simulation techniques (molecular dynamics, Monte Carlo methods) with an emphasis on learning the art of designing simulations and analyzing data generated. The capabilities of the methods to investigate properties and response of materials and the current limitations of materials at the atomic scales will be covered.
View Classes »5333. Imperfections in Crystalline Materials
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: Open only to Materials Science and Engineering graduate students.
Grading Basis: Graded
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.
View Classes »5334. Structure of Materials
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: None.
Grading Basis: Graded
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.
View Classes »5335. High Temperature Materials
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: None.
Grading Basis: Graded
Strength-determining factors in advanced alloys, ceramics and composites. Role of material chemistry and microstructure. High temperature creep and crack growth. Oxidation. Thermomechanical behavior.
View Classes »5336. Material Selection in Mechanical Design
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: MSE 2101 or instructor consent.
Grading Basis: Graded
Study of materials and how they are chosen for various mechanical 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. Design trades will also be discussed.
View Classes »5343. Corrosion
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: None.
Grading Basis: Graded
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.
View Classes »5345. Degradation Mechanisms in High Temperature Materials
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: Instructor consent. Recommended preparation: MSE 5334.
Grading Basis: Graded
A large number of conventional commercial alloys of common industrial interest remain prone to degradation due to corrosion and oxidation during exposure to high temperatures. While the bulk metal degradation, corrosion rates and type of corrosion products vary widely from alloy to alloy, a number of alloy formulations offer corrosion protection by forming slow growing, dense and adherent oxides. Oxidation of binary alloys will be studied with emphasis on internal and external oxidation and transition from internal oxidation to external oxidation. Oxide chemistry, morphology and metal loss of select Fe and Ni base alloys (chromia and alumina forming stainless steels and super alloys) will be analyzed and accelerated corrosion due to carburization, sulfidation, and oxide evaporation will be discussed. Melt assisted hot corrosion of super alloys will be examined. Approaches for corrosion protection (coatings) will be presented.
View Classes »5364. Advanced Composites
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: None.
Grading Basis: Graded
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.
View Classes »5366. Alloy Casting Processes
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: None.
Grading Basis: Graded
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.
View Classes »5370. Ceramics
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: MSE 5001 or a knowledge of Materials Science at the undergraduate level.
Grading Basis: Graded
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.
View Classes »5380. Fatigue and Fracture of Composites
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: Instructor consent. Recommended preparation: MSE 5364 or ME 5430.
Grading Basis: Graded
Provides an in-depth understanding of the fatigue and fracture behavior of composite materials under both uniaxial and multiaxial loading for both unidirectional and multidirectional laminates. Focus on the characterization of these properties and the damage and failure mechanisms including the effects of constituents, loading, layup and stress concentration on the fatigue and fracture behavior. This course will also cover the basic concepts and fundamental models used to describe and predict the fatigue and fracture behavior of composites. It will also cover topics related to the impact damage tolerance of composites and the application of fracture mechanics concepts to characterize and analyze composite delamination propagation under both static and fatigue loading.
View Classes »5660. New Carbon Materials
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: Instructor consent.
Grading Basis: Graded
This course covers the science and technology of carbon materials and their use in automotive, aerospace, environmental protection and energy storage applications. Topics to be covered include new carbon materials, carbon material processing and applications and challenges involving the use of carbon materials in industry. This course will also introduce fundamental principles of carbon material design and relations between carbon structure and material properties.
View Classes »5700. Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering
Also offered as: BME 5700, MEDS 5313
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: Recommended preparation: BME 3700.
Grading Basis: Graded
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.
View Classes »5787. Behavior of Composites
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: Instructor consent.
Grading Basis: Graded
This course will cover test methods for the characterization of the mechanical and thermal properties, fatigue and fracture properties, and the nondestructive evaluation of polymer matrix composite materials. It will also cover the qualification of composite materials and the Building Block approach that is used to validate and substantiate the design of composite structures.
View Classes »5801. Materials for Alternative and Renewable Energy
3.00 credits
Prerequisites: Instructor consent.
Grading Basis: Graded
Composition, properties, structure and functionality of materials used in alternative and renewable energy conversion and storage. Photovoltaic solar cells, thermoelectrics, piezoelectric conversion, fuel cells, batteries, and supercapacitors will be discussed.
View Classes »6401. Graduate Seminars in Materials Science and Engineering
1.00 credits | May be repeated for a total of 14 credits.
Prerequisites: None.
Grading Basis: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Presentations by invited guest speakers on topics of current interest in various areas of Materials Science and Engineering.
View Classes »