Major requirements

Interested?

Begin the process to become a pre-major (PMST). (Strongly recommended but not required for the official major.)

Each MSTC major will choose a research/technology track after their first year and be mentored by a specific faculty member toward research and internships as an undergraduate. After completing a common core curriculum, each MSTC student will take technology-sector-specific coursework in their fourth year.

Every student will be assigned a faculty mentor who will provide guidance with choosing the electives most suited to their academic and career goals.  Contact the Director for that assignment.  A directory of participating faculty is found MSTC Directory.

Course requirements can be found at Major requirements.

Step-by-step guide to the major

Foundation Courses (38-41 credits)

General Course Sequences

Choose one of the following:

• CH 224H, 225H, 226H Advanced General Chemistry I, II, III
  - OR 
  CH 221Z, 222Z, 223Z General Chemistry I, II, III
• PHYS 251, 252, 253 Foundations of Physics I
  - OR by petition
  PHYS 201, 202, 203 General Physics

General Lab Course

Choose one of the following:

• PHYS 204, 205 Introductory Physics Laboratory
• PHYS 290 Foundations of Physics Laboratory (two terms)
• CH 227Z, 228Z General Chemistry Laboratory I, II

Other Foundation Courses

Complete all of the following:

• CH 329 Research Immersion Laboratory
• MSTC 231, 232 Fundamentals of Materials in Technology I, II

Application into Undergraduate Materials Science and Technology Program (after completing Foundation courses)

• Application components, transcripts, preference for research area (for match with faculty mentor)
• Guaranteed admission: GPA of 3.0 or better in Foundation courses
• If grade cutoff is not met - application review based on academic performance plus additional application components: CV, short answer essays, instructor recommendation letter(s)

Mathematics and Computation (28 credits)

Complete all of the following:

• MATH 251Z, 252Z, 253Z Calculus Sequence
• MATH 256 Introduction to Differential Equations
• MATH 281 Several-Variable Calculus I

Advanced Mathematics/Computation Electives

Chose two from the following list:

• CH 447 Computational Chemistry
• CS 210, 211, 212 Computer Science I, II, III
• MATH 282 Several-Variable Calculus II
• MATH 341 Elementary Linear Algebra
• PHYS 389 Mathematical Methods
• PHYS 445 Computational Physics

Other courses that meet advanced math/computation requirements may be requested by petition.

Fundamentals of Materials Science (32 credits)

Physical Chemistry Sequence.  Choose one

• CH 411, 412, 413 Physical Chemistry
  OR
• PHYS 351, 352, 353 Foundations of Physics II

Advanced Lab: Three Courses from the following list:

• CH 337, CH 338 or CH 339 Organic Chemistry Laboratory, or CH 349 Organic Chemistry Lab for Majors
• CH 417, 418, 419 Physical Chemistry Laboratory
• CH 429 Instrumental Analysis
• DSCI 101 Foundations of Data Science I
• PHYS 391 Physics Experimentation Data Analysis Laboratory
• PHYS 431 Analog Electronics
• PHYS 432 Digital Electronics
• PHYS 481 Design of Experiments
• PHYS 495 Nanofabrication

Up to four of the twelve required Advanced Lab credits may be met by undergraduate research credits (CH 401 Research, PHYS 401 Research, PHYS 491/2/3 Research Project I, II, III) instead of the courses listed.

Thermodynamics, Kinetics and Transport in Advanced Materials:

• MSTC 431 Thermal Physics of Advanced Materials
• MSTC 432 Kinetics and Transport in Advance Materials

Materials Science and Technology Focus Area (8 credits)

Choose one focus area within which eight credits are to be completed:

• Solid State Materials, and Devices: MSTC/PHYS 441M Electronic, Optical, Magnetic Properties of Materials I, II
  - OR -
• Soft Biological Materials: Choose two courses out of the following list:
  * BIOE 431 Biomaterials
  * CH 410 Polymer Materials
  * PHYS 444 Introduction to Biological Physics

Upper-division Elective Courses (12 credits)

Three upper division or graduate level materials science, chemistry or physics courses on top of the courses outlined above. Courses are expected to be 400 level or above and must be chosen in consultation with the program director/advisor.  Sample courses are listed by subject area below, but other courses may be added by petition. Graduate courses from the Electrochemistry, Quantum Technologies, or KCGIP Masters programs also qualify.