Metallurgical engineers are needed all over the world, and graduates of our program experience a higher job placement percentage and larger starting salaries than they would in nearly any other undergraduate program. Our program has world-renowned faculty in their respective fields whose teaching expertise supports a creative learning environment. Undergraduate research positions are also available to help prepare students for their future careers.

Many scholarships are available for students in the Metallurgical Engineering BS program. To apply, complete a scholarship application and submit it to the Materials Science & Engineering department office (304 CME).

The detailed Program of Study can be found in a link at the bottom of this page. 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 Metallurgical 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.

Major RequirementsGeneral EducationTechnical ElectivesEmphasis CoursesCourse Retake PolicyHow to Transfer Credits

For catalogue years 2023 and older, students majoring in Metallurgical Engineering are required to complete the following courses with a C- grade or better, except for math, which requires a C. For catalogue years 2024 and beyond, students are required to complete the following courses with a C or better. Courses required for this major may only be taken twice. To take a class a third time, students must petition and justify how they will be more successful. See "Course Retake Policy" for details on this process.

  • MATH 1210 – Calculus I (4 credits)
  • MATH 1220 – Calculus II (4 credits)
  • MATH 2210 – Calculus III (3 credits)
  • MATH 2250 – Differential Equations and Linear Algebra (4 credits)
  • 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)
  • PHYS 2210 – Physics for Scientists and Engineers I (4 credits)
  • PHYS 2220 – Physics for Scientists and Engineering II (4 credits)
  • COMP 1010 – Programming for All: Beginning Programming (3 credits)
  • MSE 1800 – Contemporary Materials Science & Engineering (2 credit)
  • MSE 2010 – Introduction to Materials Science & Engineering (4 credits)

  • MSE 3061 – Transport Phenomena in Materials Science & Engineering (3 credits)
  • MET E 1630 – Introduction to Metallurgical Engineering I (3 credits)
  • ME EN 2010 – Statics (3 credits)
  • MATH 3070 – Applied Statistics I (4 credits)
  • MET E 3610 – Metallurgical Thermodynamics I (2 credits)
  • MET E 3630 – Metallurgical Thermodynamics II (4 credits)
  • MET E 5260 – Physical Metallurgy I (3 credits)
  • MET E 5450 – Mechanical Behavior of Metals (3 credits)
  • MET E 5670 – Mineral Processing I ( 3 credits)
  • MET E 5700 – Low Temperature Chemical Processing (3 credits)
  • MET E 5710 – High Temperature Chemical Processing (4 credits)
  • MET E 5780 – Metals Manufacturing Processes (3 credits)
  • MET E 5760 – Senior Design (4 credits)


Students must fulfill the University of Utah's General Education and Bachelor Degree requirements in addition to the METE degree requirements to graduate.

General Education Requirements:

  • American Institutions (AI)
  • Writing (WR)
  • 2 Fine Arts (FF)
  • 2 Humanities (HF)
  • 2 Social/Behavioral Science (BF)

*QA and QB requirements are automatically fulfilled by the METE Program

Bachelor's Degree Requirements:

  • Diversity (DV)
  • International Requirement (IR)

*CW and QI requirements are automatically fulfilled by the METE Program

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.

Courses cannot count for both an emphasis and tech elective requirement.

  • MET E 5055 – Microsystems Design and Characterization (3 credits)
  • MET E 5210 – Nuclear Materials: Processing, fabrication, use and disposal (3 credits)
  • MET E 5240 – Principles and Practice of Transmission Electron Microscopy (3 credits)
  • MET E 5270 – Powder Metallurgy (3 credits)
  • MET E 5280 – Magnetic Materials and Devices (3 credits)
  • MET E 5290 – Principles and Practice of Nanoscience and Technology (3 credits)
  • MET E 5300 – Alloy and Material Design (3 credits)
  • MET E 5600 – Corrosion Fundamentals and Minimization (3 credits)
  • MET E 5770 – Electrometallurgy (2 credits)
  • MET E 5800 – Special Topics in Metallurgy Engineering (.5 – 3 credits)
  • MET E 5690 – Process Engineering Statistics*
  • MET E 5830 – Senior Project (.5 – 3 credits)
  • MET E 5910 – Selected Topics (1-4 credits)
  • MET E 5460 – Advanced Characterization (3 credits)
  • MET E 5790 – Metal Failure Analysis (2 credits)
  • MET E 5050 – Non-Crystalline Solids (3 credits)
  • MET E 5250 – Principles and Practice of X-ray diffraction Analysis (2 credits)
  • MET E 3200 – Computational Methods in Metallurgical Engineering (3 credits)
  • MSE 3310 – Introduction to Ceramics (3 credits)
  • MSE 3410 – Introduction to Polymers (3 credits)
  • MSE 3210 – Electronic Properties of Solids (3 credits)
  • MSE 5072 – Thin Film Techniques
  • MSE 5073 – Nanostructures Materials: Science and Technology
  • MSE 5201 – Semiconductors Physics I
  • MSE 5353 – Physical Ceramics
  • MSE 5354 – Processing of Ceramics
  • MSE 5475 – Introduction of Composites
  • MSE 5510 – Materials Innovation
  • MSE 5520 – Single Crystal Growth and Crystallography
  • MSE 5530 – Polymer Synth. and Character
  • MSE 5050 – Computational Materials Science
  • MSE 5050 – Polymers: Chemistry *
  • MSE 5050 – Polymers: Materials*
  • MSE 5050 – Optics for Energy
  • MSE 5050 – Nanoscale Probing and Imaging
  • MSE 5050 – Def and Frac Nanocomposites
  • MSE 5050 – Biomaterials Engineering
  • MSE 5050 – Materials for Energy
  • MSE 5050 – Fundamentals of Nanofabrication
  • MSE 5800 – MSE Internship I
  • MSE 5801 – MSE Internship II

  • MG EN 5020 – Surface Mining Methods (3 credits)
  • MG EN 5030 – Materials Handling (2 credits)
  • MG EN 5080 – Sustainable Resource Development (2 credits)
  • MG EN 5320 – Hydraulic Systems (3 credits)
  • ME EN 5055 – Microsystems Design and Characterization
  • ME EN 5110 – Industrial Safety
  • ME EN 5520 – Mechanics of Composite Materials
  • ME EN 5000 – Engineering Law and Contracts
  • ENGIN 5030 – Patent Law and Strategy
  • ECE 5221 – Fundamentals of Micromachining Processes
  • CH EN 3603 – Mass Transfer and Separations (3 credits)
  • CH EN 3553 – Chemical Reaction Engineering (3 credits)
  • CH EN 3453 – Heat Transfer (3 credits)
  • CH EN 4203 – Process Dynamics and Control (3 credits)
  • CHEM 3000 – Quantitative Analysis (4 credits)
  • CHEM 3070 – Thermodynamics and Chemical Kinetics (4 credits)
  • COMP 5005 – Programming for Engineers*
  • CVEEN 5730 – Project Management and Contract Administration
  • MATH 5750 – Topics in Applied Mathematics (3 credits)
  • MATH 5610 – Introduction to Numerical Analysis I (4 credits)
  • PHYS 3740 – Introduction to Quantum Theory and Relativity (3 credits)
  • WRTG 3014 – Writing in the Sciences (3 credits)
  • GEO 3030 – Living with Earthquakes and Volcanoes (3 credits)

 

Emphasis Programs:

Students must choose one emphasis and complete 11 credits from the approved list of courses for each emphasis. Courses cannot count for both an emphasis and tech elective requirement.

Mineral/Particle Processing Emphasis

Offered in the fall semester (not guaranteed)

  • METE 5420 – Mineral Surface Chemistry – 3 credits (even years only)
  • METE 5680 – Mineral Processing II – 3 credits (odd years only)
  • CH EN 3353 – Fluid Mechanics – 3 credits (every fall)
  • GEO 3070 – Mineralogy and Petrology for Engineers – 2 credits (every fall)
  • MG EN 3010 – Introduction to Mining – 3 credits (every fall)
  • MATH 5610 – Introduction to Numerical Analysis – 4 credits (every fall)
  • MATH 5770 – Introduction to Optimization – 3 credits (every fall)

Students may take MATH 5610 OR MATH 5770.

Offered in the spring semester (not guaranteed)

  • MSE 3061 – Transport Phenomena in MSE – 3 credits (every spring)
  • METE 5470 – Practical Digital Image Processing and Analysis – 3 credits (every spring)


Biomedical Devices & Sensor Emphasis

Offered in the fall semester (not guaranteed)

  • METE 5600 – Corrosion Fundamentals and Minimization – 3 credits (odd years only)
  • MSE 3410 – Introduction to Polymers – 3 credits (every fall)
  • MSE 5530 – Polymer Synthesis and Characterization – 2 credits
  • BME 3202 – Physiology for Engineers – 2 credits (every fall)
  • BME 4801 – Bio Design II – 3 credits – BME 3801 is pre-req (every fall)
  • BME 4250 – Biomechanics I – 4 credits (every fall)
  • CH EN 3353 – Fluid Mechanics – 3 credits (every fall)
  • MATH 5610 – Introduction to Numerical Analysis – 4 credits (every fall)
  • MATH 5770 – Introduction to Optimization – 3 credits (every fall)
  • METE 5230 – Biomedical Devices and Sensors – 3 credits (even years only)
  • METE 5310 – Renewable Energy – 2 credits (odd years only)

Students may take MATH 5610 OR MATH 5770.

Offered in the spring semester (not guaranteed)

  • MSE 3061 – Transport Phenomena in MSE – 3 credits (every spring)
  • MSE 5040 – Introduction to Modern Biomaterials – 3 credits (every spring)
  • BME 3801 – Bio Design I – 3 credits (every spring)


Energy Conversion & Storage Emphasis

Offered in the fall semester (not guaranteed)

  • MET E 5320 – Materials Engineering and Environment – 2 credits (odd years only)
  • METE 5600 – Corrosion Fundamentals and Minimization – 3 credits (odd years only)
  • MSE 3201 – Electronic Properties of Solids – 3 credits (every fall)
  • MSE 5074 – Photovoltaic Materials & Solar Cells – 3 credits (even years only)
  • NUCL 3000 – Nuclear Principles in Engineering and Science – 3 credits (every fall)
  • CH EN 5308 – Electrochemical Systems for Energy Storage – 3 credits (every fall)
  • ENVST 3368 – Energy Choices for the 21st Century – 3 credits (every fall)
  • MATH 5610 – Introduction to Numerical Analysis – 4 credits (every fall)
  • MATH 5770 – Introduction to Optimization – 3 credits (every fall)

Students may take MATH 5610 OR MATH 5770.

Offered in the spring semester (not guaranteed)

  • METE 5210 – Nuclear Materials – 3 credits (even years only)
  • METE 5720 – Molten Salt – 2 credits (odd years only)
  • METE 5310 – Renewable Energy – 2 credits (unsure of semester)
  • MSE 3061 – Transport Phenomena in MSE – 3 credits (every spring)
  • NUCL 3100 – Radiation Interactions – 3 credits (every spring)


Nuclear Emphasis

Offered in the fall semester (not guaranteed)

  • MET E 5320 – Materials Engineering and Environment – 2 credits (odd years only)
  • METE 5600 – Corrosion Fundamentals and Minimization – 3 credits (odd years only)
  • MSE 3201 – Electronic Properties of Solids – 3 credits (every fall)
  • NUCL 3000 – Nuclear Principles in Engineering and Science – 3 credits (every fall)
  • CH EN 5308 – Electrochemical Systems for Energy Storage – 3 credits (every fall)
  • ENVST 3368 – Energy Choices for the 21st Century – 3 credits (every fall)

Offered in the spring semester (not guaranteed)

  • METE 5210 – Nuclear Materials – 3 credits (even years only)
  • METE 5720 – Molten Salt – 2 credits (odd years only)
  • MSE 3061 – Transport Phenomena in MSE – 3 credits (every spring)
  • NUCL 3100 – Radiation Interactions – 3 credits (every spring)
  • NUCL 3200 – Radiochemistry with lab – 3 credits (every spring)


Physical Metallurgy Emphasis

Offered in the fall semester (not guaranteed)

  • MET E 5270 – Powder Metallurgy – 3 credits (even years only)
  • MET E 5320 – Materials Engineering and Environment – 2 credits (odd years only)
  • METE 5600 – Corrosion Fundamentals and Minimization – 3 credits (odd years only)
  • METE 5480 – Steelmaking – 3 credits (every fall)
  • MSE 3210 – Electronic Properties of Solids – 3 credits (every fall)
  • MSE 5073 – Nanostructured Materials: Science and Technology – 3 credits (every fall)
  • MATH 5610 – Introduction to Numerical Analysis – 4 credits (every fall)
  • MATH 5770 – Introduction to Optimization – 3 credits (every fall)
  • METE 5230 – Biomedical Devices and Sensors – 3 credits (even years only)

Students may take MATH 5610 OR MATH 5770.

Offered in the spring semester (not guaranteed)

  • METE 5300 – Alloy and Materials Design (even years only)
  • MSE 3011 – Structural Analysis of Materials (every spring)
  • MSE 5034 – Kinetics – 3 credits (every spring)

Offered spring or fall, but not consistently

  • MET E 5280 – Magnetic Materials and Devices – 3 credits
  • METE 5250 – Principles and Practice of X-ray Diffraction – 2 credits

Students may take MATH 5610 OR MATH 5770.


Chemical Processing Emphasis

Offered every fall and spring

  • CHEM 2310 – Organic Chemistry I – 4 credits
  • CHEM 3100 – Inorganic Chemistry – 5 credits
  • CHEM 3000 – Quantitative Analysis – 4 credits
  • CVEEN 3610 – Environmental Engineering – 3 credits

Offered in the fall semester (not guaranteed)

  • METE 5600 – Corrosion Fundamentals and Minimization – 3 credits (odd years only)
  • METE 5480 – Steelmaking – 3 credits (every fall)
  • CH EN 5308 – Electrochemical Systems for Energy Storage (every fall)
  • CH EN 3353 – Fluid Mechanics – 3 credits (every fall)
  • MATH 5610 – Introduction to Numerical Analysis – 4 credits (every fall)
  • MATH 5770 – Introduction to Optimization – 3 credits (every fall)

Students may take MATH 5610 OR MATH 5770.

Offered in the spring semester (not guaranteed)

  • METE 5210 – Nuclear Materials – 3 credits (even years only)
  • METE 5720 – Molten Salt (odd years only)
  • MSE 5034 – Kinetics – 3 credits (every spring)

 

The Materials Science and Engineering Department upholds a two-class retake policy for math, chemistry, physics, materials science, and metallurgical engineering classes (i.e. major classes). Students can take a class two times without penalty. If a student fails the class for the second time, then they must petition to take take the class a third time. A failing grade is a C- for students following Degree Audit catalogues dated 2023 or older (except for math classes, which require a C). Students following the 2024 (and newer) catalogues are required to pass their major classes with a C or better.

The petition process requires students to fill out the form (see below), write a personal statement (see below for rubric), and provide supporting materials if applicable. Supporting materials could include a doctor's note, obituary for a family/friend, email from a parent, or other forms of documentation that support the student's personal statement.

Submit all petition materials to the departmental academic advisor. Faculty will review the petition and determine if the student can count the third attempt toward the materials science and engineering program. If a student fails a class for a third time, then faculty will evaluate the petition to determine if the student can remain in the program. The student's voice and their individual circumstances will be highly valued in this process. The student will work with the academic advisor to ensure that they are given a fair opportunity for their case to be evaluated.

Repeat Petition Form

Personal Statement Rubric

Office of the Registrar Transfer Articulation

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.