Undergraduate Degree Concentrations
As part of the SEAS curriculum reform, MSE is offering concentrations to guide undergraduate students toward courses that specialize in their areas of interest. The MSE concentrations are as follows: Electronic and Optical Devices and Sensors; Energy and Sustainability; and Nanotechnology. In contrast to the current areas of specialization, these concentrations will be officially denoted on transcripts when students fulfill the requirements for a concentration.
Each concentration comprises of four courses from the list below. The two courses shown in bold are required for the concentration. For MSE 099/0099 to count towards the concentration, the research must be within the scope of the concentration. MSE 099/0099, Independent Study, can also replace one of the two required courses with prior approval from the Undergraduate Chair. Only one MSE 099/0099 course is permitted for each concentration.
MSE Students, please download the Concentration Course Proposal Form here.
Biomaterials and Biomimetics
MSE 4300 – Polymers
MSE 5850/BE 5850 – Materials for Bioelectronics
MSE 5180 – Structure and Function of Biological Materials
MSE4650/5650 – Fabrication and Characterization of Micro and Nanostructured Materials
MSE 0099 – Independent Study
CBE 5110 – Physical Chemistry of Polymers and Amphiphiles
CBE 5640 – Drug Delivery Systems: Targeted Therapeutics and Translational Nanomedicine
BE 2200 – Biomaterials
BE 5120 – Bioengineering III: Biomaterials
PHYS 2280 – Phys Models Bio Systems: Physical Models of Biological Systems
Electronic & Optical Devices and Sensors
MSE 5360 – Electronic Properties of Materials (required)
MSE 4650/5650 – Fabrication and Characterization of Micro and Nanostructured Devices (required)
MSE 0099 – Independent Study (may substitute for one required course with permission)
MSE 5250 – Nanoscale Science & Engineering
MSE 6400 – Optical Materials
ESE 2150 Electrical Circuits and Systems
ESE 2180 Electronic, Photonic, and Electromechanical Devices
ESE 5100 Electromagnetic and Optical Theory
ESE 5210 The Physics of Solid-State Energy Devices
ESE 5230 Quantum Engineering
Energy and Sustainability
MSE 4550 – Electrochemical Engineering of Materials (required)
MSE 5450 – Materials for Energy and Environmental Sustainability (required)
MSE 0099 – Independent Study (may substitute for one required course with permission)
MSE 5040 – Materials Sustainability
CBE 5450 – Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage
EAS 3010 – Climate Policy and Technology
EAS 4010 – Energy and its Impacts: Technology, Environment, Economics, Sustainability
EAS 4020 – Renewable Energy and its Impacts: Technology, Environment, Economics, Sustainability
EAS 4030 – Energy Systems and Policy
MEAM 5020 – Energy Engineering in Power Plants and Transportation Systems
MEAM 5030 – Direct Energy Conversion: From Macro to Nano
MEAM 5800 – Electrochemistry for Energy, Nanofabrication & Sensing
Nanotechnology
MSE 5250 – Nanoscale Science and Engineering (required)
MSE 4650/5650 – Fabrication and Characterization of Micro and Nanostructured Devices (required)
MSE 0099 – Independent Study (may substitute for one required course with permission)
MSE 6100 Transmission Electron Microscopy and Crystalline Imperfections
MSE 5360 Electronic Properties of Materials
ESE 3360 Nanofabrication of Electrical Devices
ESE 4230 Quantum Engineering
ESE 5360 Nanofabrication and Nanocharacterization
ESE 6210 Nanoelectronics
MEAM 5290 Introduction to MEMS and NEMS
Areas of Specialization:
The following is a list of suggested electives organized by topic. In addition, some students might be eligible to complete an interdepartmental senior design project related to an area of specialization. To develop a specialization, the faculty recommends completing 3 courses. Students are welcome to have multiple areas of specialization. At present specializations are not designated on official transcripts.
Materials Modelling and Simulation
This area provides a computational foundation for research and industry. Modelling and simulation skills are critical for predicting the behavior and properties of different material structures. Modelling and simulation in R&D teams are used to help expedite the development of new materials while saving the money and time usually required to gather insights through early-stage experimentation. Companies who look for students with this specialization include Scienomics and Advanced Material Simulation, as well as most major companies innovating in materials.
Recent MSE internships: Simulations engineer at SunEdison, Research engineer at CapeSym
- MSE 5150 – Mathematics for Materials Science
- MSE 5610 – Atomic Modelling in Materials Science
- MSE 5750 – Statistical Mechanics
- MSE 5760 – Machine Learning and Its Applications in Materials Science
- CIS 1100 (or ENG 105) – Introduction to Computer Programming
- CIS 1200 – Programming Languages and Techniques I
- ENM 3210 – Engineering Statistics
- ESE 2100 – Intro to Dynamic Systems
Product Design, Manufacturing, and Materials
This specialization focuses on quantitative techniques for quality control, failure analysis, materials selection and manufacturing controls. Students in this field will learn how to balance the creativity of product innovation with the constraints of industrial manufacturing. Companies looking for materials engineers with this specialty range from Mattel to Boeing.
Recent MSE internships: Materials and Process engineer at Boeing Company, Strategy intern at Luxottica Group, Product engineer at Newell Rubbermaid
- MSE 4550/5550 – Electrochemical Engineering of Materials
- MSE 4650/5650 – Fabrication and Characterization of Micro and Nanostructured Materials
- MSE 5250 – Nanoscale Science and Engineering
- MSE 5370 – Nanotribology
- MEAM 2010 – Machine Design and Manufacturing (prerequisites)
- MEAM 4150 – Product Design
- MEAM 5040 – Tribology
- MEAM 5140 – Design for Manufacturability (prerequisites)