Materials Science with tracks in Chemistry and Physics
Many of tomorrow’s innovations in fields such as fast computing, renewable energy generation, batteries, plastics, textiles, and transportation will rely on the unique and novel properties of materials. The development of such materials requires integrated knowledge in physics, chemistry, and biology, along with advanced mathematics and computation. The Materials Science major introduces students to the interdisciplinary study in materials science, which includes atomic and molecular structure, mechanical and thermodynamic properties, electric and magnetic properties, and fabrication methods and applications, together with disciplinary training in either physics or chemistry.
This major can prepare students for advanced studies in various departments in graduate school such as physics, chemistry, materials science and mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, etc. Within the requirements of this interdisciplinary major, students have the flexibility to design a program of study with a greater emphasis on one particular field of study, such as, physics, chemistry or materials science. Students with greater interests in industrial positions can also customize their backgrounds for domestic and international manufacturers or companies specializing in automobiles, aircrafts, batteries, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, electronics, etc.
Major Requirements
(Not every course listed is offered every term, and the course list will be updated periodically. Please refer to the online Course Catalog for Courses offered in 2023-2024.)
Materials Science / Chemistry
Divisional Foundation Courses
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Course Credit |
|
Choose one from the following two Math courses |
||
|
MATH 101 |
Introductory Calculus |
4 |
|
MATH 105 |
Calculus |
4 |
|
And complete the following courses |
||
|
BIOL 110 |
Integrated Science – Biology |
4 |
|
CHEM 110 |
Integrated Science – Chemistry |
4 |
|
PHYS 121 |
Integrated Science – Physics |
4 |
Interdisciplinary Courses
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Course Credit |
|
CHEM 201 |
Organic Chemistry I |
4 |
|
MATSCI 201 |
Fundamentals of Materials Science |
4 |
|
MATSCI 301 |
Materials Synthesis and Characterization (Lab) |
4 |
|
MATSCI 302 |
Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Materials |
4 |
|
MATSCI 401 |
Mechanical Properties of Materials |
4 |
Disciplinary Courses
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Course Credit |
|
PHYS 122 |
General Physics II |
4 |
|
CHEM 150 |
General Chemistry II |
4 |
|
MATH 201 |
Multivariable Calculus |
4 |
|
CHEM 202 |
Organic Chemistry II |
4 |
|
CHEM 301 |
Elements of Physical Chemistry |
4 |
|
CHEM 401 |
Analytical Chemistry |
4 |
|
CHEM 402 |
Inorganic Chemistry |
4 |
Electives
Courses listed in the table below are recommended electives for the major. The course list reflects the most recent intellectual organization of major electives. Depending on the academic year in which you matriculated, some of the courses below may be requirements for your major. To verify required courses, always consult the requirements for the relevant class year in the bulletin of the year in which you matriculated unless you have been approved to complete the major requirements of a subsequent year. (See Ability to Meet Major Requirements Published in Years Subsequent to Year of Matriculation.)
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Course Credit |
|
Methods |
||
|
INTGSCI 205 |
Integrated Science – Research Methods and Science Communication |
4 |
|
Chemistry in General |
||
|
CHEM 130 |
Science of Cooking |
4 |
|
CHEM 403 |
Advanced Topics in Physical Chemistry |
4 |
|
Environmental Chemistry |
||
|
ENVIR 304 |
Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology |
4 |
|
CHEM 315/ ENVIR 315 |
Aqueous Geochemistry |
4 |
|
ENVIR 402 |
Chemical Transformation of Environmental Contaminants |
4 |
|
Materials Chemistry (Nanoscience, Polymers and Others) |
||
|
MATSCI 303 |
Phase Transformations |
4 |
|
MATSCI 402 |
Introduction to Nanoscale Functional Materials |
4 |
|
PHYS 402 |
Solid State and Soft Matter Physics |
4 |
|
PHYS 310 |
Physics of Particulate Materials |
4 |
|
MATSCI 403 |
Quantum Physics for Materials Science |
4 |
|
MATSCI 404 |
Polymers and Biomaterials |
4 |
|
PHYS 408 |
Quantum Information Science |
4 |
|
CHEM 410 |
Advanced Materials Chemistry Laboratory (Lab) |
4 |
Materials Science / Physics
Divisional Foundation Course
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Course Credit |
|
Choose one from the following two Math courses |
||
|
MATH 101 |
Introductory Calculus |
4 |
|
MATH 105 |
Calculus |
4 |
|
And complete the following courses |
||
|
BIOL 110 |
Integrated Science – Biology |
4 |
|
CHEM 110 |
Integrated Science – Chemistry |
4 |
|
PHYS 121 |
Integrated Science – Physics |
4 |
Interdisciplinary Courses
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Course Credit |
|
CHEM 201 |
Organic Chemistry I |
4 |
|
MATSCI 201 |
Fundamentals of Materials Science |
4 |
|
MATSCI 301 |
Materials Synthesis and Characterization (Lab) |
4 |
|
MATSCI 302 |
Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Materials |
4 |
|
MATSCI 401 |
Mechanical Properties of Materials |
4 |
Disciplinary Courses
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Course Credit |
|
PHYS 122 |
General Physics II |
4 |
|
MATH 201 |
Multivariable Calculus |
4 |
|
PHYS 201 |
Optics and Modern Physics |
4 |
|
MATH 202 |
Linear Algebra |
4 |
|
PHYS 302 |
Thermal and Statistical Physics |
4 |
|
PHYS 405 |
Advanced Physics Laboratory and Seminar |
4 |
|
And choose two from the following courses |
||
|
PHYS 301 |
Classical Mechanics |
4 |
|
PHYS 304 |
Electricity and Magnetism |
4 |
|
PHYS 306[1] |
Quantum Mechanics |
4 |
Electives
Courses listed in the table below are recommended electives for the major. The course list reflects the most recent intellectual organization of major electives. Depending on the academic year in which you matriculated, some of the courses below may be requirements for your major. To verify required courses, always consult the requirements for the relevant class year in the bulletin of the year in which you matriculated unless you have been approved to complete the major requirements of a subsequent year. (See Ability to Meet Major Requirements Published in Years Subsequent to Year of Matriculation.)
|
Course Code |
Course Name |
Course Credit |
|
Methods |
||
|
INTGSCI 205 |
Integrated Science – Research Methods and Science Communication |
4 |
|
Physics in General |
||
|
PHYS 101 |
Frontiers of 21st Century Physics |
4 |
|
PHYS 105 /ARTS 105[2] |
The Science of Traditional Asian Music |
4 |
|
PHYS 134 |
Introductory Astronomy |
4 |
|
PHYS 403 |
Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics |
4 |
|
Theoretical and Computational |
||
|
COMPSCI 201 |
Introduction to Programming and Data Structures |
4 |
|
MATSCI 202 |
Mathematical Methods for Materials Science |
4 |
|
MATH 205 |
Probability and Statistics |
4 |
|
MATH 206 |
Probability and Statistics |
4 |
|
MATH 303 |
ODE and Dynamical Systems |
4 |
|
PHYS 404 |
Nonlinear Dynamics |
4 |
|
PHYS 408 |
Quantum Information Science |
4 |
|
Condensed Matter |
||
|
MATSCI 303 |
Phase Transformations |
4 |
|
PHYS 310 |
Physics of Particulate Materials |
4 |
|
MATSCI 402 |
Introduction to Nanoscale Functional Materials |
4 |
|
PHYS 402 |
Solid State and Soft Matter Physics |
4 |
|
MATSCI 403 |
Quantum Physics for Materials Science |
4 |
|
MATSCI 404 |
Polymers and Biomaterials |
4 |
[1] This course was numbered PHYS 401 prior to fall term 2022.
[2] This course was named PHYS 105 The Science of Asian Sound prior to fall term 2023.