2024-25 Edition

Materials Science and Engineering, B.S.

Program Educational Objectives: Graduates of the Materials Science and Engineering program will (1) establish a productive Materials Science and Engineering career in industry, government or academia; (2) apply critical reasoning and the requisite analytical/quantitative skills in seeking solutions to materials science and engineering problems; (3) promote innovation in materials discovery, development and design through effective leadership, skilled communications, and multidisciplinary teamwork; (4) exhibit a commitment to engineering ethics, environmental stewardship, continued learning, and professional development.

(Program educational objectives are those aspects of engineering that help shape the curriculum; achievement of these objectives is a shared responsibility between the student and UCI.)

The undergraduate major in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) provides students with a thorough knowledge of basic engineering and scientific principles. The undergraduate curriculum in MSE includes (a) a core of Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics; (b) basic Engineering courses; (c) Materials and Engineering core; and (d) technical courses in Materials Science, Engineering, and Sciences.

High School Students: See School Admissions information.

Transfer Students: Preference will be given to junior-level applicants with the highest grades overall, and who have satisfactorily completed the following required courses: two years of approved calculus, one year of calculus-based physics with laboratories (mechanics, electricity and magnetism), completion of lower-division writing, one year of general chemistry (with laboratory), and one course in introductory programming. For course equivalency specific to each college, visit https://assist.org.

Students are encouraged to complete as many of the lower-division degree requirements as possible prior to transfer. Students who enroll at UCI in need of completing lower-division coursework may find that it will take longer than two years to complete their degrees. For further information, contact The Henry Samueli School of Engineering at 949-824-4334.

All students must meet the University Requirements.
All students must meet the School Requirements.
Major Requirements
Mathematics and Basic Science Courses:
Core Courses:
ENGR 1A General Chemistry for Engineers
or CHEM 1A General Chemistry
CHEM 1B- 1C General Chemistry
and General Chemistry
CHEM 1LC General Chemistry Laboratory
MATH 2A- 2B Single-Variable Calculus I
and Single-Variable Calculus II
MATH 2D Multivariable Calculus I
MATH 3A Introduction to Linear Algebra
MATH 3D Elementary Differential Equations
MATH 2E Multivariable Calculus II
PHYSICS 7C- 7LC Classical Physics
and Classical Physics Laboratory
PHYSICS 7D- 7E Classical Physics
and Classical Physics
PHYSICS 7LD Classical Physics Laboratory
Engineering Topics Courses:
Core Courses:
MSE 60 Laboratory in Synthesis and Characterization of Materials
MSE 69 Electronic and Optical Properties in Materials
MSE 151 Polymeric Materials
MSE 155 Mechanical Behavior and Design Principles
MSE 155L Mechanical Behavior Laboratory
MSE 158 Ceramic Materials for Sustainable Energy
MSE 164 X-ray Diffraction, Electron Microscopy, and Microanalysis
MSE 164L X-ray Diffraction, Electron Microscopy, and Microanalysis Lab
MSE 165A Thermodynamics of Materials
MSE 165B Diffusion and Heat Transport in Materials
MSE 165C Materials Kinetics and Phase Transformations
MSE 165CL Laboratory in Materials Kinetics and Phase Transformations
MSE 175 Design Failure Investigation
MSE 189A- 189B- 189C Senior Design Project I
and Senior Design Project II
and Senior Design Project III
MSE 190 Materials Selection and Design
EECS 70A Network Analysis I
or ENGRMAE 60 Electric Circuits
ENGR 54 Principles of Materials Science and Engineering
ENGR 150 Mechanics of Structures
or ENGRMAE 150 Mechanics of Structures
ENGRMAE 10 Introduction to Engineering Computations
ENGRMAE 30 Statics
or ENGR 30 Statics
or ENGRCEE 30 Statics
ENGRMAE 150L Mechanics of Structures Laboratory
Engineering Electives:
Students must complete a minimum of four courses from the lists below (at most two of the courses can be Basic Science or Engineering Electives, and at least two courses must be Technical Electives):
Basic Science or Engineering Electives
From DNA to Organisms
Cell and Molecular Engineering
Cell and Molecular Engineering
Network Analysis II
Introduction to Engineering I
and Introduction to Engineering II 1
Computer-Aided Design
Dynamics
Dynamics
Dynamics
Fundamentals of Experimental Physics
Basic Statistics
Technical Electives
Biomechanics II
Design of Biomaterials
Sensory Motor Systems
Electrochemical Engineering
Electronics I
Semiconductor Devices
Fundamentals of Solid-State Electronics and Materials
Advanced Manufacturing
Fuel Cell Fundamentals and Technology
Solar and Renewable Energy Systems
Sustainable Energy Systems
Theory of Machines and Mechanisms
Vibrations
Mechanical Engineering Design II
Advanced BIOMEMS Manufacturing Techniques
Lightweight Structures
Nano-Scale Materials and Applications
Synthesis and Properties of Biological, Biomimetic, and Bio-Inspired Materials
Green Engineering: Theory and Practice
Fundamentals of Materials Processing: How are Materials Processed to Make Things?
Composite Materials Design
Composite Materials and Structures
Surface and Adhesion Science
Individual Study 2
Students select, with the approval of a faculty advisor, any additional engineering topics courses needed to satisfy school and department requirements.
Engineering Professional Topics Course:
ENGR 190W Communications in the Professional World
(The nominal Materials Science and Engineering program will require 189 units of courses to satisfy all university and major requirements. Because each student comes to UCI with a different level of preparation, the actual number of units will vary. Dual engineering majors are reminded that they are required to satisfy all requirements of both majors individually. Students should not assume that courses for one, such as senior design, will satisfy the requirements of the other, without prior approval.)
1

ENGR 7A-ENGR 7B is available only to lower-division students. Both ENGR 7A-ENGR 7B must be completed to count as one Engineering Elective course.

2

May be used to satisfy a maximum of one elective course requirement.

Students majoring in MSE may elect, with approval of their faculty advisor, to use available engineering electives to complete one of the following specializations.

Specialization in Materials Processing
Requires a minimum of three courses from:
Advanced Manufacturing
Advanced BIOMEMS Manufacturing Techniques
Green Engineering: Theory and Practice
Fundamentals of Materials Processing: How are Materials Processed to Make Things?
Composite Materials Design
Specialization in Energy Materials and Sustainability
Requires a minimum of three courses from:
Electrochemical Engineering
Fuel Cell Fundamentals and Technology
Solar and Renewable Energy Systems
Sustainable Energy Systems
Nano-Scale Materials and Applications
Green Engineering: Theory and Practice
Specialization in Biomaterials:
Requires a minimum of three courses from:
Biomechanics II
Design of Biomaterials
Sensory Motor Systems
Advanced BIOMEMS Manufacturing Techniques
Specialization in Electronic and Functional Materials:
Requires a minimum of three courses from:
Electronics I
Semiconductor Devices
Fundamentals of Solid-State Electronics and Materials
Nano-Scale Materials and Applications
Surface and Adhesion Science
Specialization in Structural and Mechanical Materials:
Requires a minimum of three courses from:
Advanced Manufacturing
Fundamentals of Materials Processing: How are Materials Processed to Make Things?
Composite Materials Design
Theory of Machines and Mechanisms
Vibrations
Composite Materials and Structures
Lightweight Structures

A sample program of study for the major in Materials Science and Engineering is available in the Undergraduate Student Affairs Office. Students should keep in mind that this program is based upon a sequence of prerequisites, beginning with adequate preparation in high school mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Students who are not adequately prepared, or who wish to make changes in the sequence for other reasons, must have their program approved by the MSE undergraduate program advisor. Materials Science and Engineering majors are encouraged to consult with academic counselors as needed, and students who are academically at risk are mandated to see a counselor as frequently as deemed necessary by the advising staff.

Sample Program of Study — Materials Science and Engineering

Freshman
Fall Winter Spring
MATH 2AMATH 2BMATH 2D
ENGR 1ACHEM 1BCHEM 1C
ENGRMAE 10PHYSICS 7CCHEM 1LC
General EducationPHYSICS 7LCPHYSICS 7D
 General EducationPHYSICS 7LD
Sophomore
Fall Winter Spring
MATH 3AMATH 3DMATH 2E
PHYSICS 7EMSE 60EECS 70A
ENGR 30Engineering ElectiveMSE 69
ENGR 54General EducationEngineering Elective
Junior
Fall Winter Spring
MSE 165AMSE 165BMSE 165C
ENGR 150MSE 155MSE 165CL
ENGRMAE 150LMSE 155LMSE 190
MSE 164ENGR 190WGeneral Education
MSE 164LGeneral EducationGeneral Education
Senior
Fall Winter Spring
MSE 151MSE 175MSE 189C
MSE 189AMSE 189BGeneral Education
MSE 158Engineering ElectiveGeneral Education
Engineering ElectiveGeneral Education