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Materials Science and Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering is widely
recognized as one of the most promising
technical fields of the 21st century.
Materials scientists and engineers
specialize in the characterization, development, processing, and use of metallic, ceramic, polymeric, and electronic materials
that are employed in all fields of
technology.
Materials scientists and engineers are
developing important new materials to meet the
needs of our modern technological society.
These include high-temperature superconductors;
ultra-high-purity semiconductors for
solid-state electronic devices; high-strength
alloys for use at the extreme temperatures
encountered in jet and rocket engines; strong, light alloys and composites for aerospace
applications; specialized glasses and ceramics
with high thermal, mechanical, and chemical
stability, and a host of polymeric materials:
some with unique functional characteristics and
others which replace metal, glass, wood, and
natural fibers in dozens of applications.
The future role of materials scientists and
engineers promises to be even more important
and challenging. It is widely recognized that
the world is facing a critical energy shortage.
Materials scientists and engineers are rising
to this challenge in a variety of ways. One way
is reducing the weight of automobiles and other
transportation systems for fuel savings. They
are also actively engaged in reducing the
impact of modern society on our environment.
They are at the forefront of recycling
technologies and more energy-efficient ways of
processing materials. New materials and
processes are being developed to replace
environmentally unfriendly ones currently in
use. Sputtering or vapor deposition instead of
plating, and biodegradable plastics are
examples.
Materials science and engineering graduates
are employed in research, development, and
manufacturing. They support the creation of new
materials and processes or the improvement of
old ones with the aim of tailoring properties
to applications. Often the work involves
cooperating with mechanical, chemical, aeronautical, automotive and other types of
engineers in selecting appropriate materials in
the design of various devices; evaluating the
performance of materials in service; and, particularly, determining the causes and cures
for in-service failures; as well as various
kinds of supervisory, research, teaching, and
management activities. A tremendous range of
materials science and engineering opportunities
exists in metals, polymers, ceramics and
electronic materials.
The undergraduate program in Materials
Science and Engineering at the University of
Michigan has been carefully designed to prepare
students for the broad range of activities as
described previously; or for continuing their
academic work to acquire a master’s or
doctoral degree.
Introductory courses (either MSE 220 or MSE
250) and MSE 242, and a second-level course
(MSE 350) provide a foundation of basic
principles applicable to all classes of
materials. Other courses include
thermodynamics, transport phenomena and
mechanical behavior.
Two required laboratory courses give our
students a working knowledge of equipment used
and methods practiced in the materials industry
including processing that uses thermal, chemical, and mechanical methods;
characterization using mechanical testing
machines, microscopy and diffraction
instruments; and analysis of experimental data
using statistical and digital methods.
A required course in organic chemistry (Chem
210) may be used to satisfy the engineering
chemistry requirement or the technical elective
requirement. Introduction to Solid
Mechanics (ME 211) is also
required.
Students have an opportunity to tailor their
program of study to their own interests. They
choose three senior-level courses from a group
of six. These courses cover electrical, magnetic or optical properties of materials, metals, polymers, ceramics, biomaterials, and
materials characterization. They also choose
one additional MSE course, plus 10 hours of
technical electives and 12 hours of free
electives.
All engineering students are required to
take 16 credits of humanities or social
sciences to broaden their education. One of the
social science courses must be macro- or
micro-economics (Econ 101 or 102).
The facilities for the program in Materials
Science and Engineering are housed primarily in
the H. H. Dow Building. These include
laboratories equipped for basic studies of the
structures and properties of metals, polymers, ceramics and electronic materials;
special-purpose laboratories for studies of
crystal plasticity, high-temperature alloys, and structural composites; and instrument
laboratories containing optical and electron
microscopes, x-ray diffraction and
spectroscopic apparatus, and precision
mechanical-testing equipment.
In 2004 the L. H. Van Vlack Undergraduate
Laboratory was opened. This facility has large, open spaces for team and group projects. It is
equipped with instruments used in the
characterization of materials. All
undergraduate courses use this facility.
This program is accredited by the
Engineering Accreditation Commission of the
Accreditation Board for Engineering and
Technology (ABET), 111 Market
Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore, MD 21202-4012, telephone (410) 347-7700.
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