Materials science and engineering is directed toward an understanding of the structure, properties, and behavior of materials. Society demands new and improved materials with capabilities far superior to common metals, alloys, and ceramics. New materials are needed for high-speed transportation systems, surgical and dental implants, new generations of power plants, and solid-state electronic devices in computer and communication technology.
Both the development of new materials and the understanding of present-day materials demand a thorough knowledge of basic engineering and scientific principles including crystal structure, elastic and plastic behavior, thermodynamics, phase equilibria and reaction rates, and physical and chemical behavior of engineering materials.
Materials engineers study phenomena found in many different engineering operations, from fracture behavior in automobiles to fatigue behavior in aircraft frames; from corrosion behavior in petro-chemical refineries to radiation-induced damage in nuclear power plants; and from fabrication of steel to design of semiconductors. Materials engineers are also increasingly involved in developing the new materials needed to attain higher efficiencies in existing and proposed energy conversion schemes, and will play a central role in the development of new technologies based on composites and high temperature superconductivity.
The undergraduate program in Materials Science and Engineering provides the background for activities in research, processing, and the design of materials. A common core of courses basic to engineering are taken during your first two years and provide a strong foundation in fundamental engineering concepts.
The Materials Science and Engineering curriculum is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc.
| Lower Division Program | ||
| UNITS | QUARTER USUALLY TAKEN | |
| Required Courses | ||
| Calculus--Mathematics 21A-21B-21C-21D | 16 | 1-2-3-4 |
| Linear algebra--Mathematics 22A | 3 | 5 |
| Differential equations--Mathematics 22B | 3 | 6 |
| General physics-- Physics 9A-9B-9C-9D | 16 | 3-4-5-6 |
| General chemistry--2A, 2B or 2AH, 2BH | 10 | 2-3 or 5-6 |
| Introduction to civil and environmental engineering systems--Civil and Environmental Engineering 3 | 3 | 1 or 2 |
| Engineering graphics in design-- Engineering 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Engineering--applications of computers--Engineering 5 | 3 | 2 or 5 |
| Circuits--Engineering 17 | 4 | 6 |
| Statics--Engineering 35 | 3 | 5 |
| Properties of materials-- Engineering 45 | 4 | 6 |
| Expository writing--English 1 or 3 or Comparative Literature 1, 2, 3 or 4, or Native American Studies 5 | 4 | 2 or 3 |
| Introduction to public speaking or group communication-- Communication 1 or 3 (or an acceptable substitute as approved by the Undergraduate Study Committee of the College of Engineering) | 4 | 2 or 3 |
| HumantiesSocial Science electives and/or General Education electives | 14 | |
| Total Lower Division Units | 90 | |
In your third year, you will take "fundamentals" courses (Materials Science and Engineering 130, 132, 134, 138). With this background, you are then ready for the "applications" courses (Materials Science and Engineering 140, 142, 144, 146, 147, 148, 149, 155) during the fourth year.
Technical electives, selected from other engineering or physical and natural science disciplines, give you some degree of specialization at the bachelor's degree level. They also provide preparation for research in a selected area at the graduate level. You may select 12 technical elective units to complete the undergraduate Materials Science and Engineering program. By selecting the appropriate technical electives and Humanities and Social Science/General Education electives, you may orient the program to suit your interests and career objectives: production and development, applied research, basic research, teaching, and/or management.
Upper division courses in engineering, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biological sciences are generally acceptable as technical electives in Materials Science and Engineering.
The following list of suggested areas of specialization is given to assist you and your adviser in the preparation of study lists.
Aerospace Structures:
Aeronautical Science and Engineering 130, 133, 135, 137, 139
Automatic Control and Systems Analysis:
Mechanical Engineering 171, 172, 185, 187, 188
Electrical and Computer Engineering 157A, 157B, 174
Biomedical Engineering:
Chemistry 107A, 107B
Biological Sciences 1A, 1B
Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior 111L, 112, 113
Exercise Science 101, 102
Chemical Corrosion:
Chemistry 110A, 110B, 110C or 107A, 107B
Chemical Engineering 151, 152A, 152B
Computers:
Applied Science Engineering 115
Computer Science Engineering 110, 122A, 122B, 142, 151A, 151B
Electrical and Computer Engineering 170, 172, 180A, 180B
Mathematics 128A, 128B, 168
Statistics 130A, 130B
Electronic Materials:
Electrical and Computer Engineering 140A, 140B, 145A, 145B, 146A, 146B, 148
Materials Science and Engineering 146
Physics 121, 140A, 140B
Environmental Engineering:
Engineering 160 (only one unit of credit towards Technical Elective requirement)
Atmospheric Science 120
Biological Sciences 102, 103
Hydrologic Science 21
Chemistry 8A, 8B
Civil and Environmental Engineering 149
Heat Transfer:
Engineering 105B
Mechanical Engineering 165
Chemical Engineering 150A, 153
Materials Design and Processing:
Aeronautical Science and Engineering 137
Engineering 106
Materials Science and Engineering 146, 148, 155
Mechanical Engineering 50, 150, 150A, 150B, 151, 152, 185A, 185B
Civil and Environmental Engineering 135
Physics of Solids:
Physics 115A, 115B, 140A, 140B
Electrical and Computer Engineering 145A, 145B, 148
Suggested advisers: J.C. Gibeling, J.R. Groza, D.G. Howitt, A.K. Mukherjee, Z.A. Munir, A. Navrotsky, S.H. Risbud, J. F. Shackelford.
| Upper Division Requirements | ||
| UNITS | ||
| Subject Areas and Courses | ||
| Electronic circuits--Engineering 100 | 3 | |
| Applied mechanics--Engineering 102, 103A, 104 | 11 | |
| Applied thermodynamics--Engineering 105A, Materials Science and Engineering 130 | 6 | |
| Engineering design elective--select from Aeronautical Science and Engineering 137, 138, Civil and Environmental Engineering 132, 135, Mechanical Engineering 150A, 150B | 9 | |
| Materials in design--Materials Science and Engineering 149, and select two courses from Materials Science and Engineering 140, 148, 155 | 9 | |
| Measurements and laboratory--Materials Science and Engineering 132L, 134L, 138L, Mechanical Engineering 176 | 9 | |
| Materials science fundamentals--Materials Science and Engineering 132, 134, 138 | 9 | |
| Materials science applications--Select three courses from Materials Science and Engineering 142, 144, 146, 147 or (if not taken for the Materials in Design requirement) 140, 148, 155 | 9 | |
| Applied mathematics--Select one course from Engineering 180; Mathematics 131; Statistics 120, 131A; Civil and Environmental Engineering 114 | 3 | |
| Basic science--Select from Chemistry 110A, 110C or Physics 140A, 140B, or Chemistry 128A, 128B, or Physics 121, 122, or Geology 161, 162N, or Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior 101, 101L | 6 | |
| Technical electives | 6 | |
| HumanitiesSocial Sciences electives and/or General Education electives | 10 | |
| Total Upper Division Units | 90 | |
| Minimum Units Required for Major | 180 | |
UC Davis 1998-99 Online General Catalog. Posted July 31, 1998.
catalog-comment@ucdavis.edu
Keitha Hunter and Barbara Anderson, Editors
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