Materials Science and Engineering is an integrated discipline of chemistry, physics and engineering. This is reflected in our Program of Study. The student receives a foundation of basic chemistry, physics and engineering coursework during their first two years. These courses are then woven into a Materials Science and Engineering framework.
The detailed Program of Study is shown below. This must be used as a guideline to complete the degree requirements. Most courses have prerequisites that must be completed first. Also, many courses and all Materials Science & Engineering courses are only offered one semester per year, please plan carefully. The Program of Study is a roadmap to be used in planning your degree. It is necessary that students follow the Program of Study as closely as possible; any deviation must be arranged in advance with the Academic Advisor. Taking courses out of sequence may result in a conflict, particularly if a student is planning to continue in the combined BS/MS program.
MSE Undergraduate Program of Study
2020-21 flowchart:
Materials Science & Engineering BS Program of Study (Engineering Calculus)2020-2021*
Materials Science & Engineering BS Program of Study (Traditional Calculus) 2020-2021
2019-20 flowchart:
Materials Science & Engineering BS Program of Study (Engineering Calculus)* 2019-2020
Materials Science & Engineering BS Program of Study (Traditional Calculus) 2019-2020
Materials Science & Engineering Transfer Articulation Guide
*Engineering Calculus only available at University of Utah (Engineering Calculus classes are geared towards engineering majors, whereas traditional Calculus classes may include students from many majors. The Engineering classes would be less theoretical and more applied towards engineering type problems). Please see the Materials Science & Engineering advisor if you’ve only taken Calculus I and would like to switch to Engineering Calculus (one week Math boot camp required).
Materials Science & Engineering Undergraduate Student Handbook
Materials Science & Engineering Undergraduate Handbook Year 2019-2020
Materials Science & Engineering Undergraduate Handbook Year 2018-2019
Materials Science & Engineering Undergraduate Handbook Year 2017-2018
Any student may be admitted to pre-major status in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) by requesting Pre-MSE on their application for admission or applying through the Materials Science & Engineering Academic Advisor. Students must meet with the MSE Academic Advisor to gain major status. Major status requires students to complete the following prerequisite courses with a “C” grade or better and a minimum 2.3 GPA. Courses required for this major may only be taken twice.
- CHEM 1210 – General Chemistry I (4 credits)
- CHEM 1215 – General Chemistry Lab I (1 credit)
- CHEM 1220 – General Chemistry II (4 credits)
- CHEM 1225 – General Chemistry Lab II (1 credit)
- CHEM 2310 – Organic Chemistry (4 credits)
- MATH 1310 – Engineering Calculus I (4 credits)
- MATH 1320 – Engineering Calculus II (4 credits)
- MATH 2250 – Differential Equations and Linear Algebra (4 credits)
- MATH 3140 – Vector Calc. & Partial Differential Equations for Engineers (4 credits)
- MSE 3061 – Transport Phenomena in Materials Science & Engineering (3 credits)
(OR) MET E 5750 – Transport and Rate Phenomena (3 credits)*
*Students are not allowed to count both MSE 3061 and MET E 5750 – Transport and Rate Phenomena towards their MSE BS program of study. Only one of the two courses will fulfill the major requirement. MET E 5750 cannot be taken as a tech elective.
- MSE 1800 – Contemporary Materials Science & Engineering I (1 credit)
- MSE 1801 – Contemporary Materials Science & Engineering II (1 credit)
- MSE 2010 – Introduction to Materials Science & Engineering (4 credits)
- ME EN 2010 – Statics (3 credits)
- MSE 2001 – Engineering Computing using MATLAB (1.5 credits)
- PHYS 2210 – Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (4 credits)
- PHYS 2220 – Physics for Scientists and Engineers II (4 credits)
- LEAP 1501 – Social and Ethical Implications of Engineering (3 credits)^
- LEAP 1500 – LEAP Seminar in Humanities for Engineers (3 credits)^
^Students are required to complete LEAP 1501 and LEAP 1500 or a specific Ethics course and Diversity courses. A list of approved courses can be found below. If you believe that you have already taken a course(s) that fits one/both of the descriptions below, please complete the Ethics & Diversity Form.
Ethics – Student must take one course that provides an understanding of the role of ethics in the engineering professional by focusing on specific issues set out by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Students engage in a discussion of community by examining how the world of social science studies human institutions, cultures, and behaviors. Students then apply the concepts learned to engineering ethics and decision-making processes in national and global communities.
The following courses fulfill the ABET Ethics requirement:
Diversity – Student must take one course that focuses on how concepts of community have developed and been implemented in the American experience, chiefly by studying the way individuals have perceived their relationships with an obligations to community and how they have defined who counts as members of their communities. In other words, students analyze how we define and value community in America.
The following courses fulfill the ABET Ethics requirement:
- ANTH 3112 – The First Nations of Western North America (DV)
- ANTH 4110 / GNDR 4110 – Women Cross Culturally (IR/BF)
- DANC 1013 – History of Hip-Hop (FF / DV)
- EAS 1600 – Teaching and Learning across Languages (HF / DV)
- ETHNC 2500 – Introduction to Ethnic Studies (BF / DV)
- ETHNC 2590 – Pacific Islander American Experiences (HF / DV)
- ETHNC 3381 – Exploring Social Inequality through Music & Film (BF / DV)
- HONOR 2050 – Ethics, Leadership and the Humanities: Rediscovering Liberal Education
- PRT 3310 – Leisure Behavior and Human Diversity (DV)
- THEA 1770 – The American Experience Through Black Theater (FF / DV)
Courses that can be completed at Salt Lake Community College:
Students are required to meet with the Materials Science and Engineering Academic Advisor to be moved from pre-major to major status. Major status can only be awarded when students are planning their schedule for the Fall semester of their junior year.
Students admitted to major status are required to complete the following Materials Science and Engineering courses with a “C” grade or better and a minimum 2.3 GPA. Courses required for this major may only be taken twice.
- ECE 2200 – Electrical & Computer Engineering for Civil Engineers (1.5 credits)
- MSE 3010 – Materials Processing Laboratory (3 credits)
- MSE 3011 – Structural Analysis of Materials (4 credits)
- MSE 3032 – Introduction to Thermodynamics (4 credits)
- MSE 3210 – Electronic Properties of Solids (3 credits)
- MSE 3310 – Introduction to Ceramics (3 credits)
- MSE 3410 – Introduction to Polymers (3 credits)
- MET E 5450 – Mechanical Metallurgy (3 credits)
- MSE 5034 – Kinetics of Solid-State Processes (3 credits)
- MSE 5090 – Case Studies in Materials Design (3 credits)
- MSE 5098 – Senior Design (2 credits)
- MSE 5099 – Senior Thesis (2 credits)
- Tech Elective (3 credits)
- Tech Elective (3 credits)
- Tech Elective (3 credits)
- Tech Elective (3 credits)
Students must fulfill the University of Utah's General Education and Bachelor Degree requirements in addition to the Materials Science and Engineering degree requirements to graduate.
General Education Requirements:
- American Institutions (AI)
- Writing (WR)
- Fine Arts (FF)
- Humanities (HF)
- Social/Behavioral Science (BF)
Bachelor's Degree Requirements:
- Diversity (DV)
- International Requirement (IR)
Graduation Requirement Worksheet
If you have students that need to have a general education credit from another institution reviewed, please complete the College of Engineering General Education Exception Form.
The senior design project is a capstone project that prepares the student for engineering design practice. It provides an avenue to determine if the student has an integrated understanding of the scientific and engineering principles.
Senior Project Guidelines 2018-2019
Senior Project Guidelines 2017-2018
MSE 5090 Case Studies is the pre-requisite to MSE 5098 Senior Design and MSE 5099 Senior Thesis. Students must take MSE 5090 Spring Semester of their Junior Year. NO EXCEPTIONS. Students not prepared for senior level courses will not be permitted to take MSE 5090. The required senior design project consists of three courses taken during the junior and senior year:
- Case Studies (MSE 5090) Spring Semester – 3 credits – Junior Year
- Senior Design (MSE 5098) Fall Semester – 2.5 credits – Senior Year
- Senior Thesis (MSE 5099) Spring Semester – 2.5 credits – Senior Year
Senior design projects are group projects with the size of the team varying based on class size. If the student is a BS/MS student or an honors student, they should be a team leader for their respective groups. The Honors Students would need to complete an individual paper per the Honors College Requirement.
The projects will be identified by the Senior Design/Thesis Advisor who has previously obtained from all participating Materials Science and Engineering faculty, possible projects. The students will rank their interest in each project presented by the faculty based on the interest of the student (ceramics, composites, computation, electronic materials and polymers). The Senior Advisor will create the teams based on the input from the students.
Senior design projects must be design projects and not research projects. For more information on this, please review the Senior Project Guidelines 2017-2018.
Grading will be done by a committee, with input from the Senior Advisor and the Faculty advisor for the teams. This will be based on the participation in both MSE 5098 (faculty advisor input) and MSE 5099 (senior advisor input). Both the faculty advisors and the senior advisor will submit a report on the participation of each student on each team to the academic advisor to be used in the meeting to discuss the grades. Grades for both MSE 5098 and MSE 5099 will be assigned for each student after the meeting.
Grades will not be given for MSE 5098 and MSE 5099 until the senior design and thesis project has been completed and signed off by the faculty advisor, the senior advisor, and the department chair.
The completed senior design project is due the last day of classes of the Spring Semester the student is enrolled in MSE 5099, regardless if the student has classes to take Summer or Fall Semester. The Senior Thesis must be signed by the faculty project advisor and ready for submission to the Senior Advisor for his signature before the due date. NO EXCEPTIONS.
In order to be an Honors Student in Materials Science and Engineering, students must have been admitted to the University of Utah Honors College at admissions time. Students who are honors student need to work with the Academic Advisor to make sure they are taking the appropriate courses for their Honors Degree. For more information on the Honors College and the honor degree requirements click here.
Honors student must complete an Honors Thesis. Honors student are required to submit a completed Honors Thesis Proposal Form to the Honors College during the Junior Year. The proposal form must be signed by the Department Honors Advisor and the Senior Thesis Advisor.
Honors students are required to present their thesis work at the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium at the University of Utah, which is in early April. The Honors College will contact the student about deadlines and requirements.
Honors students are also required to publish their thesis abstract in the University of Utah Undergraduate Research Abstract Journal. This is due mid-March of the senior year. The Honors College will contact the student for formatting guidelines and deadlines.
Honors students are strongly encouraged to publish in other peer reviewed journals based on their research interest.
The Honors Thesis is due to The Honors College on the last day of classes, which is the department deadline for all Senior Design Projects. The honors thesis must be signed by the Senior Thesis Advisor, the Departmental Honors Advisor, Senior Thesis Advisor, and the Department Chair before it is submitted to The Honors College for the Dean of The Honors College signature. Check with The Honors College for number of copies required. Materials Science and Engineering will accept The Honors College formatting of the thesis for submission to complete the department requirements.
In partnership with the David Eccles School of Business, the Engineering Entrepreneurship Certificate offers engineering students the opportunity for hands-on innovation experience as well as a strong foundation in the business aspects of technology. The program is intended for students who want to start their own company as well as for those interested in the complexities of the dynamic business world in which we live. Our aim is to provide the educational background to thrive in small and large business environments, convey technical information in business terms and understand business viability of engineering solutions. All engineering students interested in understanding the complexities of the dynamic business world in which we live are invited to apply. For more information, click here.
MSE 5800: Materials Science and Engineering Internship I - This course will allow students to earn academic credit for successful completion of a Materials Science and Engineering-related internship. To have an internship fulfill a Section 3 - Technical Elective requirement, students must earn a total of 3 credit hours and complete a graded Technical Report. The internship progress will be monitored, evaluated, and graded by the Internship Program Advisor. Students must take an active role in finding and applying for an appropriate internship before enrolling for the course.
MSE 5801: Materials Science and Engineering Internship II - This course is a continuation of MSE 5800. This course will allow students to earn academic credit for successful completion of a Materials Science and Engineering-related internship. To have an internship fulfill a Section 3 - Technical Elective requirement, students must earn a total of 3 credit hours and complete a graded Technical Report. The internship progress will be monitored, evaluated, and graded by the Internship Program Advisor. Students must take an active role in finding and applying for an appropriate internship before enrolling for the course.
MSE Transfer Articulation Guide
Transfer credit will not automatically transfer to the University of Utah. Students must request that an official transcript be sent to the University of Utah – Office of Admission.
Please ensure that your transcripts are sent to the Admission Office, not the Department of Materiel Science & Engineering. The Admissions Office processes all credit transfers. For the purpose of sending your official transcripts to the University of Utah, if you have any questions about the process, or to determine if your transcripts have been received, please see the contact information below.
Email (for online transcripts orders): admisstranscripts@sa.utah.edu
Mailing Address (for paper transcript orders):
University of Utah Admissions Office
201 S. 1460 E, RM 250-S
Salt Lake City, UT
84112-9057
Phone number: (801) 581-8761
For information on how to transfer credit from Salt Lake Community College, please click here.
Transferology
Students wanting to see how specific classes will transfer to the University of Utah should use the tool Transferology. To log into Transferology, please click here.
- Cheating or plagiarizing
- Abuse of faculty or teaching assistants
- Other serious violation of the student behavior code
- Failing to pass major required courses within the boundaries of the repeat policy
- Allowing your cumulative GPA to drop below a 2.3
- Appeal to the Department Chair (in writing) within 40 working days; chairs must notify student of a decision with 15 days. If the faculty member or student disagrees with decision then,
- Appeal to Academic Committee, see II Section D, Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities for details on Academic Appeal Committee hearings.
Transferology
Students wanting to see how specific classes will transfer to the University of Utah should use the tool Transferology. To log into Transferology, please click here.- During the semester before your graduation date, students should generate a degree audit on CIS in My Degree Dashboard. For more information on how to generate an audit click here.
- If students have questions or issues surrounding graduation, they should make an appointment with the MSE Academic Advisor. It is important that you communicate with the Academic Advisor about your intended graduation date and progress.
Campus Resources
- Academic Advising Center
- Office of Undergraduate Research
- International Center
- Learning Abroad
- Counseling Center
- Dean of Students
- Disability Services
- Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action
- LGBT Resource Center
- Student Wellness
- Veterans Support Center
- Women’s Resource Center
- Leave of Absence
- Housing Options at the University of Utah
- SLCC Guest Student Program
- Math Placement
- Math Study Guides
- Permission Code Request
- College Admissions Test Preparation
- Graduate Admissions Test Preparation
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Marriott Library Research MSE Database
Tutoring Resources
- ASUU Tutoring Center
- eTutoring – Marriott Library
- To see this week’s schedule of live, one-on-one tutoring, click here.
- Not sure if eTutoring is right for you? Watch this video on how eTutoring works.
- Learning Success Center
- Engineering Tutoring Center
- Mathematics Student Tutoring Center
- Chemistry Student Tutors
- Physics & Astronomy Tutoring
- Mechanical Engineering Department Tutors
- University Writing Center
- Time Management Worksheets
Safety and Wellness
Your safety is our top priority. In an emergency, dial 911 or seek a nearby emergency phone (throughout campus). Report any crimes or suspicious people to 801-585-COPS; this number will get you to a dispatch officer at the University of Utah Department of Public Safety (DPS; dps.utah.edu). If at any time, you would like to be escorted by a security officer to or from areas on campus, DPS will help — just give a call. The University of Utah seeks to provide a safe and healthy experience for students, employees, and others who make use of campus facilities. In support of this goal, the University has established confidential resources and support services to assist students who may have been affected by harassment, abusive relationships, or sexual misconduct. A detailed listing of University Resources for campus safety can be found at https://registrar.utah.edu/handbook/campussafety.php Your well-being is key to your personal safety. If you are in crisis, call 801-587-3000; help is close. The university has additional excellent resources to promote emotional and physical wellness, including the Counseling Center (https://counselingcenter.utah.edu), the Wellness Center (https://wellness.utah.edu), and the Women’s Resource Center (https://womenscenter.utah.edu). Counselors and advocates in these centers can help guide you to other resources to address a range of issues, including substance abuse and addiction. [/su_column]