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Major

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Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering

Mission 

The mission of the Materials Science and Engineering Program is to provide students with a strong foundation in materials science and engineering. The program’s curriculum places special emphasis on the fundamental scientific and engineering principles that underlie the knowledge and implementation of materials structure, processing, properties and performance of all classes of materials used in engineering systems. Courses in the program develop students’ knowledge of modern materials science and engineering and teach them to apply this knowledge analytically to create effective, novel solutions to practical problems while developing their communication skills and ability to work collaboratively. The program prepares students for careers in industry or further study in graduate school.

The undergraduate program provides training in solid-state fundamentals and materials engineering. Students desiring to specialize in this field during their undergraduate period may do so by following the curriculum outlined in the Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering section of the Stanford Bulletin as well as the School of Engineering Undergraduate Handbook. Electives are available so that students with broad interests can combine materials science and engineering with work in another science or engineering department.

Students interested in the minor should see the Materials Science and Engineering Minor section of the Stanford Bulletin.

Learning Outcomes (Undergraduate)

The department expects undergraduate majors in the program to be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes. These learning outcomes are used in evaluating students and the department’s undergraduate program. Students are expected to demonstrate the ability to:

  1. Apply the knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering to assess and synthesize scientific evidence, concepts, theories, and experimental data relating to the natural or physical world.
  2. Extend students’ knowledge of the natural or physical world beyond that obtained from secondary education by refining their powers of scientific observation, the essential process by which data is gained for subsequent analysis.
  3. Design and conduct experiments, as well as understand and utilize the scientific method in formulating hypotheses and designing experiments to test hypotheses.
  4. Function on multidisciplinary teams while communicating effectively.
  5. Identify, formulate, and solve engineering issues by applying conceptual thinking to solve certain problems, bypassing calculations or rote learning and relying on the fundamental meaning behind laws of nature.
  6. Understand professional and ethical responsibility.
  7. Understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context.
  8. Demonstrate a working knowledge of contemporary issues.
  9. Recognize the need for, and engage in, lifelong learning.
  10. Apply the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.
  11. Transition from engineering concepts and theory to real engineering applications and understanding the distinction between scientific evidence and theory, inductive and deductive reasoning, and understanding the role of each in scientific inquiry.

Materials Science and Engineering (MATSCI) program requirements

Completion of the undergraduate program in Materials Science and Engineering leads to the conferral of the Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering, which provides training for the materials engineer and also preparatory training for graduate work in materials science. Capable undergraduates are encouraged to take at least one year of graduate study to extend their course work through the coterminal degree program, which leads to an MS in Materials Science and Engineering. Coterminal degree programs are encouraged both for undergraduate majors in Materials Science and Engineering and for undergraduate majors in related disciplines.

Courses and requirements

A full list of available courses in MatSci can be found at Stanford’s explore courses website.

For the most accurate/up-to-date course requirements, see the relevant section of the Stanford Bulletin.

For additional information and sample programs, see the Handbook for Undergraduate Engineering Programs.

Courses

Units

Mathematics

 

23 units minimum

 

MATH 19/20/21 or up to 10 units AP/IB credit AND placement into MATH 51/CME 100 via Math Diagnostic, taken prior to first-year start

9-10

MATH 51: Linear Algebra and Differential Calculus of Several Variables or CME 100/ENGR 154: Vector Calculus for Engineers

5

 MATH 53: Ordinary Differential Equations with Linear Algebra or CME 102/ENGR 155A: Ordinary Differential Equations for Engineers

5

One additional math/statistics course; see Basic Requirement 11

3-5

Science

 

16 units minimum

 

PHYSICS 41: Mechanics or PHYSICS 61: Mechanics and Special Relativity

 

PHYSICS 43: Electricity and Magnetism or PHYSICS 81; Electricity, Magnetism, and Waves

 

CHEM 31A: Chemical Principles I or CHEM 31M/MATSCI 31: Chemical Principles: From Molecules to Solids

 

One additional science course; see Basic Requirement 22

 

Technology in Society

 

3 units minimum

 

One course; see Basic Requirement 33

3-5

Engineering Fundamentals

 

7 units minimum

 

One of the following courses:

 

ENGR 50: Introduction to Materials Science, Nanotechnology Emphasis4

4

ENGR 50E: Introduction to Materials Science, Energy Emphasis4

4

ENGR 50M: Introduction to Materials Science, Biomaterials Emphasis4

4

One additional course from the SoE ENGR Fundamentals list on the Approved Page of the UGHB website; may not be a second ENGR 50.

3-5

Materials Science and Engineering Fundamentals

 

20 units minimum

 

All of the following courses:

 

MATSCI 142: Quantum Mechanics of Nanoscale Materials

4

MATSCI 143: Materials Structure and Characterization

4

MATSCI 144: Thermodynamic Evaluation of Green Energy Technologies5

4

MATSCI 145: Kinetics of Materials Synthesis

4

One of the following courses:

 

Undergraduate Core Courses

 

MATSCI 151: Microstructure and Mechanical Properties

4

MATSCI 152: Electronic Materials Engineering

4

MATSCI 156: Solar Cells, Fuel Cells, and Batteries: Materials for the Energy Solution

4

Advanced Level Courses

 

MATSCI 181: Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria

4

MATSCI 182: Rate Processes in Materials

4

MATSCI 183: Defects and Disorder in Materials

4

MATSCI 184: Structure and Symmetry

4

MATSCI 185: Quantum Mechanics for Materials Science

4

MATSCI 190: Organic and Biological Materials

4

MATSCI 198: Mechanical Properties of Materials

4

MATSCI 199: Electronic and Optical Properties of Solids

4

Materials Science and Engineering Depth

 

16 units minimum

 

Four of the following courses (One course must be a WIM)

 

MATSCI 160: Nanomaterials Laboratory

4

MATSCI 161: Nanocharacterization Laboratory (WIM)

4

MATSCI 162: X-Ray Diffraction Laboratory

4

MATSCI 163: Mechanical Behavior Laboratory

4

MATSCI 164: Electronic and Photonic Materials and Devices Laboratory (WIM)

4

MATSCI 165: Nanoscale Materials Physics Computation Laboratory

4

MATSCI166: Data Science and Machine Learning Approaches in Chemical and Materials Engineering

4

Focus Area Options6

13

1Basic Requirement 1 (20 units minimum): see a list of approved Math Courses.

2Basic Requirement 2 (20 units minimum): see a list of approved Science Courses.

3Basic Requirement 3 (one course minimum): see a list of approved Technology in Society Courses.

4Students may choose to count a second ENGR 50/50E/50M course (one must be taken as an SoE fundamental requirement) as part of the MSE fundamental requirements.

5ENGR 30 Engineering Thermodynamics (if taken 2016-17 or before) can be substituted for MATSCI 144 as long as the total MATSCI program units total 60 or more. If ENGR 30 is substituted for MATSCI 144, MSE Fundamentals may contain only 23 units.

6Focus Area Options: 13 units from one of the following Focus Area Options below.

Focus Area Options (Choose one area; 4 courses with a minimum of 13 units*)

*If the focus area contains only 12 units, but the combined unit total in major (SoE Fundamentals, MSE Fundamentals, MSE Depth, and the Focus Area) is at 60 or more, it will be allowed, and no petition is necessary.

Biological Properties of Materials

 

CHEM 31A and B or CHEM 31M recommended.

 

Students pursuing this focus area will learn more about biocompatible, biomimetic, or even naturally occurring biological materials, along with how they can be engineered or otherwise created.

 

MATSCI 190: Organic and Biological Materials

 

MATSCI 225: Biochips and Medical Imaging

 

MATSCI 380: Nano-Biotechnology

 

MATSCI 381: Biomaterials in Regenerative Medicine

 

MATSCI 384: Materials Advances in Neurotechnology

 

MATSCI 385: Biomaterials for Drug Delivery

 

BIOE 80: Introduction to Bioengineering

 

BIOE 220: Introduction to Imaging and Image-based Human Anatomy

 

BIOE 231: Protein Engineering

 

BIOE 260: Tissue Engineering

 

BIOE 279: Computational Biology: Structure and Organization of Biomolecules and Cells

 

BIOE 281: Biomechanics of Movement

 

ENGR 55: Foundational Biology for Engineers

 

 

 

Chemical Properties of Materials

 

CHEM 31A and B or CHEM 31M recommended

 

Students pursuing this focus area will learn about the thermodynamic principles governing materials, the chemistry involved in the synthesis of materials, as well as the design of the systems and processes necessary to create them.

 

MATSCI 181: Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria

 

MATSCI 182: Rate Processes in Materials

 

MATSCI 310: Statistical Mechanics for Materials & Materials Chemistry

 

CHEM 171: Physical Chemistry I

 

CHEM 173: Physical Chemistry II

 

CHEMENG 130A: Microkinetics – Molecular Principles of Chemical Kinetics

 

CHEMENG 140: Micro and Nanoscale Fabrication Engineering

 

CHEMENG 150: Biochemical Engineering

 

CHEMENG 174: Environmental Microbiology I

 

CHEMENG 175X: Electrochemical Water Treatment: Materials and Processes

 

 

 

Electronic and Photonic Properties of Materials

 

PHYSICS 41, 43, and 45 recommended

 

Students pursuing this focus area will learn more about the design and function of electronic and/or photonic devices, as well as the underlying principles of physics relevant to their operation.

 

MATSCI 152: Electronic Materials Engineering

 

MATSCI 199: Electronic and Optical Properties of Solids

 

MATSCI 317: Defects in Semiconductors

 

MATSCI 341: Quantum Theory of Electronic and Optical Excitations in Materials

 

MATSCI 343: Organic Semiconductors for Electronics and Photonics

 

MATSCI 346: Nanophotonics

 

APPPHYS 201: Electrons and Photons

 

APPPHYS 204: Quantum Materials

 

APPPHYS 207: Laboratory Electronics

 

EE 101A: Circuits I

 

EE 102A: Signal Processing and Linear Systems I

 

EE 116: Semiconductor Device Physics

 

EE 124: Introduction to Neuroelectrical Engineering

 

EE 134: Introduction to Photonics

 

EE 153: Power Electronics

 

EE 157: Electric Motors for Renewable Energy, Robotics, and Electric Vehicles

 

EE 212: Integrated Circuit Fabrication Processes

 

EE 216: Principles and Models of Semiconductor Devices

 

EE 218: Power Semiconductor Devices and Technology

 

ENGR 240: Introduction to Micro and Nano Electromechanical Systems

 

ENGR 241: Advanced Micro and Nano Fabrication Laboratory

 

ME 210: Introduction to Mechatronics

 

ME 220: Introduction to Sensors

 

 

 

 

Materials for Energy Technology

 

Either Physics or Chemistry

 

Students pursuing this focus area will learn more about materials used in modern energy technologies, potentially including solar cells, wind turbines, batteries, and fuel cells, as well as other emerging energy production or storage devices.

 

MATSCI 156: Solar Cells, Fuel Cells, and Batteries: Materials for the Energy Solution

 

MATSCI 302: Solar Cells

 

MATSCI 303: Principles, Materials and Devices of Batteries

 

CEE 107A: Understanding Energy

 

CHEM 174: Electrochemical Measurements Lab

 

EE 116: Semiconductor Devices for Energy and Electronics

 

EE 153: Power Electronics

 

EE 237: Solar Energy Conversion

 

EE 293B: Fundamentals of Energy Processes

 

ENERGY 153: Carbon Capture and Sequestration

 

ENERGY 293: Energy Storage and Conversion: Solar Cells, Fuel Cells, Batteries and Supercapacitors

 

ENERGY 295: Electrochemical Energy Storage Systems: Modeling and Estimation

 

PHYSICS 240: Introduction to the Physics of Energy

 

 

 

Materials Characterization

 

Either Physics or Chemistry

 

Students pursuing this focus area will learn more about the tools and techniques used in advanced materials characterization, particularly at the micro- and nanoscale.

 

MATSCI 320: Nanocharacterization of Materials

 

MATSCI 321: Transmission Electron Microscopy

 

MATSCI 322: Transmission Electron Microscopy Laboratory

 

MATSCI 323: Thin Film and Interface Microanalysis

 

MATSCI 326: X-Ray Science and Techniques

 

APPPHYS 201: Electrons and Photons

 

BIOE 220: Introduction to Imaging and Image-based Human Anatomy

 

BIO 232: Advanced Imaging Lab in Biophysics

 

CHEM 131: Instrumental Analysis Principles and Practice

 

CHEM 174: Electrochemical Measurements Lab

 

CHEM 176: Spectroscopy Laboratory

 

CHEMENG 345: Fundamentals and Applications of Spectroscopy

 

 

 

Mechanical Behavior and Materials Processing

 

PHYSICS 41, 43, and 45 recommended

 

Students pursuing this focus area will learn more about the mechanical behavior of materials, including how to characterize them, and how these mechanical properties influence the design of technologies.

 

MATSCI 151: Microstructure and Mechanical Properties

 

MATSCI 183: Defects and Disorder in Materials

 

MATSCI 198: Mechanical Properties of Materials

 

MATSCI 312: New Methods in Thin Film Synthesis

 

MATSCI 358: Fracture and Fatigue of Materials and Thin Film Structures

 

AA 240A: Analysis of Structures

 

AA 240B: Analysis of Structures

 

AA 256: Mechanics of Composites

 

AA 280: Smart Structures

 

CHEMENG 140: Micro and Nanoscale Fabrication Engineering

 

CHEMENG 170X: Mechanics of Soft Matter: Rheology

 

ENGR 240: Introduction to Micro and Nano Electromechanical Systems

 

ENGR 241: Advanced Micro and Nano Fabrication Laboratory

 

ME 127: Design for Additive Manufacturing

 

ME 152: Material Behaviors and Failure Prediction

 

ME 303: Soft Composites and Soft Robotics

 

ME 335A: Finite Element Analysis

 

ME 340: Mechanics – Elasticity and Inelasticity

 

ME 345: Fatigue Design and Analysis

 

ME 348: Experimental Stress Analysis

 

 

 

Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology

 

Either Physics or Chemistry

 

Students pursuing this focus area will learn more about how materials properties change at the nanoscale, including the new and interesting ways in which these changes can be exploited for novel technologies.

 

MATSCI 316: Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology

 

MATSCI 320: Nanocharacterization of Materials

 

MATSCI 346: Nanophotonics

 

MATSCI 380: Nano-Biotechnology

 

ENGR 240: Introduction to Micro and Nano Electromechanical Systems

 

ENGR 241: Advanced Micro and Nano Fabrication Laboratory

 

 

 

Materials Physics

 

PHYSICS 41, 43, and 45 recommended

 

Students pursuing this focus area will gain a deep foundational knowledge of materials physics, with topics focusing on quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and waves and diffraction, and other advanced topics.

 

MATSCI 184: Structure and Symmetry

 

MATSCI 185: Quantum Mechanics for Materials Science

 

MATSCI 195: Waves and Diffraction in Solids

 

APPPHYS 201: Electrons and Photons

 

APPPHYS 204: Quantum Materials

 

PHYSICS 70: Foundations of Modern Physics

 

PHYSICS 110: Advanced Mechanics

 

PHYSICS 120: Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism I

 

PHYSICS 121: Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism II

 

PHYSICS 130: Quantum Mechanics

 

PHYSICS 131: Quantum Mechanics II

 

PHYSICS 134: Advanced Topics in Quantum Mechanics

 

PHYSICS 170: Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory, and Statistical Mechanics I

 

PHYSICS 171: Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory, and Statistical Mechanics II

 

PHYSICS 172: Solid State Physics

 

 

 

Computational Materials Science

 

PHYSICS 41, 43, and 45 recommended

 

Students pursuing this focus area will learn more about computational methods used to study materials structure-property relationships and how to make materials predictions.

 

MATSCI 165: Nanoscale Materials Physics Computation Laboratory

 

MATSCI166: Data Science and Machine Learning Approaches in Chemical and Materials Engineering

 

MATSCI 331: Atom-based Computational Methods for Materials

 

CME 107: Introduction to Machine Learning

 

CME 108: Introduction to Scientific Computing

 

ENERGY 160: Uncertainty Quantification in Data-Centric Simulations

 

ME 123: Computational Engineering

 

ME 335A: Finite Element Analysis

 

ME 346B: Introduction to Molecular Simulations

 

 

 

Self-Defined Focus

 

Either Physics or Chemistry

 

Students may also define their own focus area containing a minimum of 13 units (4 courses) that comprise a cohesive program of study. Many students use this option to create an interdisciplinary focus area that combines parts of the listed focus area options above. Students should also choose this option if including courses not listed in one of the focus area tracks and should include a petition form along with their final program sheet when conferring their degree.

 

MSE Major Unit Requirement:

Combined Units from the following group of courses must total a minimum of 60 units. Units cannot be counted under more than one category.

SoE Fundamentals: 7 units

MSE Fundamentals: 20 units

MSE Depth: 15 units

Focus Area Options: 13 units

By adding these 55 units to the 39 required math and science units and the minimum of 3 units for the Technology in Society course, your Materials Science undergraduate major program will require a minimum of 97 units of the 180 you need to graduate. Your advanced placement math and science units from high school may count toward the 39 units of basic math and science, thereby allowing you more electives during your Stanford career.

Honors Program

Overview:

The Materials Science and Engineering honors program offers an opportunity for undergraduate Materials Science and Engineering majors with a GPA of 3.5 or higher to pursue independent research at an advanced level, supported by a faculty advisor and graduate student mentors. The main requirements are as follows:

  1. Application to the honors program (must be pre-approved by faculty advisor)
  2. Enrollment in MATSCI 150 and participation in an independent research project over three sequential full quarters
  3. Completion of a faculty-approved thesis
  4. Participation in either the yearly Materials Science and Engineering Research Symposium OR an alternate, approved public oral/poster presentation

Since this requires three full quarters of research in addition to a final written thesis and presentation following completion of the work, students must apply to the program no less than four quarters prior to their planned graduation date. Materials Science and Engineering majors pursuing a typical four-year graduation timeline should meet with student services no later than the Winter quarter of their junior year to receive information on the application process.

All requirements for the honors program are in addition to the normal undergraduate program requirements.

To apply to the MATSCI Honors Program:

  • Have an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher (as calculated on the unofficial transcript) prior to application.
  • Seek out a faculty research advisor and agree on a proposed research topic. If Research Advisor is not a member of the MSE faculty or not a member of the School of Engineering Academic Council, students must have a second advisor who fulfills these requirements.
  • Compose a brief (less than 1 page) summary of the proposed research, including a proposed title, and submit along with an unofficial transcript and signed application/faculty endorsement.
  • Submit application to MATSCI Student Services (Durand 104) at least four quarters prior to planned graduation.

To complete the MATSCI Honors Program:

  • Overall GPA of 3.5 or higher (as calculated on the unofficial transcript) at graduation
  • Complete at least three quarters of research with a minimum of 9 units of MATSCI 150 for a letter grade (students may petition out of unit requirement with faculty advisor approval). All quarters must focus on the same topic. Maintain the same faculty advisor throughout, if possible.
  • Present either a poster or oral presentation of thesis work in the Materials Science and Engineering Research Symposium held during Spring Quarter or, at the faculty advisor’s discretion, in a comparable public event.
  • Submit final drafts of an Honors Thesis to two faculty readers (one must be your research advisor, and one must be an MSE faculty member/SoE Academic Council member) at least one quarter prior to graduation. Both must approve the thesis by completing a Signature Page and returning it to student services.
  • Submit to MATSCI student services one copy of the honors thesis in electronic form at the same time as the final hard copy. Submit one copy of the thesis, with the signature page indicating approval of both readers, to the School of Engineering’s Office of Student Affairs in 135 Huang.
  • Submit to MATSCI student services (Durand104) one copy of the honors thesis and signed signature page (in electronic or physical form) at least one quarter prior to graduation.