Tag: Environment & Nature

Brain and Cognitive Science

Major Description

Brain and Cognitive Science majors investigate the brain and behavior of intelligent biological systems (e.g. people) from the perspective that the brain is a kind of computer.

More About Brain and Cognitive Science
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • BCOG 100—Introduction to the Brain and Cognitive Science
  • BCOG 200—Introduction to Programming for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

Brain and Cognitive Science is an interdisciplinary major with an emphasis on the relationship between computation, data, and the mind, and making use of the scientific method to study these relationships. As such, the major prepares students for a wide range of potential careers related to the intersection of these topics. Cognitive Science majors who make sure to take classes in statistics, research methods, programming, and/or machine learning will have many opportunities in fields like data science, machine learning, and statistical and experimental design.

Common Career Skills
  • Data analysis 
  • Data Visualization 
  • Experimental design
  • Problem solving
  • Research design
  • Statistical analyses 
  • Written and verbal communicative skills
  • Writing and Reviewing Scientific Research Articles
Common Career Titles
  • Data Scientist
  • Machine Learning Programmer
  • Quantitative Scientist
  • R&D Scientist
  • Research Scientist
  • Statistician

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

Biochemistry

Major Description

Biochemists deal with the chemical composition of living matter and the molecular nature of the processes of living systems. We seek to learn the chemical structure of biological molecules and to define chemical principles underlying biological functions.

Questions that we might ask include: What is the composition of cells? What chemical reactions go on inside cells, how are they regulated, and what are their functions? What is the chemical mechanism of inheritance, of growth, of cell division, of differentiation? How are the energy and material of food stuff converted to the material of new cells and energy of movement, heat, and so on? What chemical and physical properties of naturally occurring molecules enable them to carry out such highly specific functions? Our work also encompasses the practical application of this fundamental knowledge about biological processes. Biochemists are involved in medicine, pharmacology, agriculture, nutrition, microbiology, cell biology, food technology, pollution control, and biotechnology.

More About Biochemistry
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • CHEM 102/103—General Chemistry I / General Chemistry Lab I
  • CHEM 104/105—General Chemistry II / General Chemistry Lab II
  • MATH 220—Calculus
  • MCB 150—Molecular & Cellular Basis of Life

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

The career possibilities for students trained in the life sciences have never been better. Biochemists may work in industry, pharmaceutical houses, hospitals, universities, or private research labs. The federal government employs many biochemists, as do state and local government agencies, and the rapidly growing field of biotechnology has a great need for biochemists. Many jobs in biochemistry involve high-level research and require advanced-degree training. However, with the demand for biochemists at all levels and the excellent quality of University of Illinois’s training at the undergraduate level, a variety of employment opportunities can be found with a bachelor’s degree.

The undergraduate biochemistry major is excellent preparation for professional schools, such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, or veterinary medicine. This major also provides a sound background for pursuing advanced master’s or PhD degree work in the biological sciences. In general, jobs for graduates with master’s degrees involve more responsibility and higher pay. For positions designing or directing research projects, a PhD is a must.

Common Career Skills
  • Analytical & quantitative abilities
  • Biology theory & practical knowledge
  • Curiosity and creativity
  • Independent worker
  • Information handling & organization
  • Innovative talents
  • Numerical computation
  • Operate scientific equipment
  • Oral & written communication
  • Problem solving
  • Statistical awareness
  • Teamwork
  • Technical skills
Common Career Titles
  • Air Pollution Specialist
  • Analytical Biochemist
  • Biochemist
  • Bio-Organic Chemist
  • Clinical Laboratory Technologist
  • Criminalist
  • Dentist
  • Food Scientist
  • Genetic Technician
  • Geneticist
  • Immunologist
  • Industrial Salesperson
  • Medical Technologist
  • Microbiologist
  • Nutritionist
  • Pharmaceutical Salesperson
  • Pharmacist
  • Pharmacologist
  • Physician
  • Plant Biochemist or Physiologist
  • Quality Control Technician
  • Research Assistant
  • Science Librarian
  • Technical Writer
  • Toxicologist
  • Weights & Measures Assistant

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

  • Participating in undergraduate research
  • Applying for a study abroad experience
  • Utilizing resources of The Career Center
  • Joining a Registered Student Organization (RSO) related to this major, such as:
    • American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Undergrad Chapter: links together students interested in Biochemistry and provides a medium for students to pursue and discover the plethora of fields associated with Biochemistry.

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Biochemistry.  Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Biochemistry.  These organizations include American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Atmospheric Sciences

Major Description

Atmospheric Sciences prepares students for careers in a wide range of disciplines within the atmospheric sciences including meteorology, environmental science, climate, remote sensing, atmospheric chemistry, computational science and other areas. The curriculum is tailored to achieve the student’s long term educational goals, their career aspirations in atmospheric sciences and their general interests in the field.

All students receive a firm foundation in mathematics, physics and chemistry and develop data analysis and computational skills that can be used in a wide range of applications within and beyond the atmospheric sciences, including the opportunity to emphasize specific areas of interest in their elective choices. Students majoring in Atmospheric Sciences will have opportunities for employment within agencies of government (e.g. the National Weather Service/NOAA, NASA, EPA, DOD, DOE), many private firms and in colleges and universities for those who continue with graduate education.

More About Atmospheric Sciences
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • ATMS 100: Introduction to Meteorology
  • ATMS 120: Severe and Hazardous Weather
  • ATMS 140: Climate and Global Change

Students should reach out to the Atmospheric Sciences academic advisor (atmos-advising@illinois.edu) regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

Atmospheric Sciences can open up opportunities in many STEM fields as well as other areas.

Common Career Skills
  • Conducting research
  • Forecasting
  • Communication skills
  • Math Aptitude
  • Computer literacy
  • Work well under pressure
  • Forecasting
  • Leadership skills
  • Organization skills
  • Management skills, etc.
Common Career Titles
  • Broadcast Meteorologist
  • Engineering Meteorologist
  • Forecaster
  • Instrumentation Specialist
  • Meteorologist
  • Researcher

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

  • Participating in undergraduate research
  • Applying for a study abroad experience
  • Utilizing resources of The Career Center
  • Joining a Registered Student Organization (RSO) related to this major, such as:
    • Student Chapter of the American Meteorological Society at Illinois: provide a forum for students interested in the atmospheric sciences to voice their opinions/concerns, to serve as a conduit between students and the Department of Atmospheric Sciences faculty and staff, to serve as a conduit between the students and the surrounding community, to promote and support social, professional, and academic activities related to the atmospheric sciences, and to promote the welfare of all members within the organization.

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Atmospheric Sciences.  Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Atmospheric Sciences.  These organizations include The American Meteorological Society and International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences.

Anthropology

Major Description

Anthropology is the study of what makes us human. Anthropologists study different societies, practices, and beliefs; the interaction of biological and social features of human and primate life; and the analysis of human material culture and built environment from past to present.

Concentrations are offered in biological, archaeological, sociocultural, linguistic and general anthropology. Students can combine coursework in forensic, biological, linguistic and social sciences within one plan of study.

Anthropologists play important roles in solving complex human problems. You can find anthropologists working wherever people and organizations face complex social problems and the challenges of intercultural communication.

More About Anthropology
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Concentrations

Anthropology offers four concentrations.

General Anthropology

The General Anthropology Concentration includes the four fields of biological anthropology (biological diversity and evolutionary history of human and nonhuman primates), archaeology (human prehistory and the organization and growth of technology and society), sociocultural anthropology (comparative study of identity and power in social contexts from hunter-gatherer to complex urban settings, with attention to contemporary global movements of peoples and diasporic social formations), and linguistic anthropology (comparative study of languages and communication). Although you should strive for a topical and geographical balance, you may specialize in one of these four branches and may also study some world cultural area intensively through an area studies program.

Archaeology

Offers students a program to explore the human past through its material remains to understand cultural and societal change through time, and the role of heritage in the present. Students have the opportunity to conduct research with faculty in archaeology labs and the department’s extensive research collections.

Human Evolutionary Biology

The Human Evolutionary Biology Concentration offers students a program to examine the interconnections between genetics, environment and culture to address issues from human origins and morphology to primates, forensics, and health.

Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology

The Sociocultural and Linguistic Anthropology Concentration offers students a program of more focused coursework in sociocultural and linguistic anthropology.

Sociocultural anthropology is the study of the daily lives of people around the world, both at home and abroad. Sociocultural anthropologists conduct field research to get a hands-on feel for people’s lives and passions. They examine everything from beauty pageants to political protest marches, from Disney films to nuclear scientists’ lab practices. Sociocultural anthropology distinguishes itself from other disciplines by its conviction that these local and personal details offer a wonderful window on the largest processes and problems of our time, from globalization to race relations and violence.

Linguistic anthropology complements sociocultural anthropology with detailed attention to spoken and signed languages-their structure and use in the daily lives of people around the world, both at home and abroad. Linguistic anthropologists examine such things as the “English Only” movement in the United States, the persuasive language of advertising and politics, racism and hate speech, oral/gestural storytelling traditions around the world, communication in the classroom or at the United Nations, as well as how the way we talk creates our sense of self and reality. Because the field of anthropology presents a wide range of disciplinary perspectives on the human condition, students electing this major concentration are encouraged to select from among relevant course offerings in archaeology or biological anthropology to fulfill General Education requirements.

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • ANTH 101—Introduction to Anthropology
  • ANTH 102—Human Origins and Culture
  • ANTH 103—Anthropology in a Changing World
  • ANTH 104—Talking Culture
  • ANTH 105—World Archaeology
  • ANTH 110—Humanizing Science
  • ANTH 143—Biology of Human Behavior

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

Anthropologists work in a range of areas as diverse as public health and epidemiology; biomedical research; technology and ethics; user-centered design and research; organizational management; law; human rights and social advocacy; heritage management and preservation.

Majors go on to careers in:

  • Medicine and public health
  • Museums, cultural and heritage management
  • Forensic Science
  • Immunology
  • Design and marketing
  • International development
  • Media and public relations
  • Public policy and governmental agencies
  • High-tech industries
Common Career Skills
  • Problem solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills
  • Research, collect, and identify historical and existing cultural references across
  • Scientific research methods
  • Oral and written expression
  • Observation and interviewing
  • Speak more than one language
Common Career Titles
  • Archivist 
  • Community Service
  • Conservator 
  • Consumer/User Experience/Marketing Survey Researcher 
  • Cultural Resource Specialist 
  • Diplomatic Service/U.S. Foreign Service/Immigration Specialist/Cultural Affairs 
  • Educator 
  • Field Archeologist 
  • Forensic Scientist/Crime Lab Assistant  
  • Friend of the Court Case Worker/Legal Aid
  • Genealogist 
  • Genetic Counselor 
  • Human Resources Management/Diversity Specialist
  • Legislative Aid (U.S. Congress)
  • Museum Curator/Exhibit Designer
  • Museum Worker 
  • Paleontologist 
  • Park Ranger/Consultant  
  • Peace Corps Volunteer 
  • Public Health Worker 
  • Research Assistant 
  • Resource Manager 
  • Sociologist 
  • Sustainable Tourism/Environmental Programs
  • Translator/Communication
  • Urban Planner

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

Anthropology offers hands-on, skill-based learning in professional settings such as labs, internships, small seminars and field schools.

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Anthropology.  Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Anthropology.  These organizations include American Anthropological Association, American Association of Biological Anthropologists and Society for Historical Archaeology.

Urban Studies & Planning

Major Description

Urban Studies & Planning looks at the way our cities are designed, constructed, and planned. It studies the socio-economic factors and conditions behind housing projects in the city while also studying the effect of public transportation in suburban areas. It emphasizes both an analytical and quantitative approach combining policy, statistics, a sense of history, and more. Urban Planners help us look at the ways we can improve our neighborhoods, preserving some of the past while keeping an eye open for future improvements. The degree is professionally accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board.

More About Urban Studies & Planning
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Concentrations

  • Sustainability Concentration
  • Policy and Planning Concentration
  • Social Justice Concentration
  • Global Cities Concentration

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • UP 101—Introduction to City Planning
  • UP 136—Urban Sustainability
  • UP 185—Cities in a Global Perspective.

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

Urban planners do many types of jobs and are involved in almost any kind of government or private activity which seeks to affect the future or accommodate community change. 

Common Career Skills
  • Analytical and critical thinking skills
  • Computer skills
  • Independent, self-motivated work ethic
  • Interpersonal
  • Leadership
  • Oral/written communication
  • Organizational skills
  • Research
  • Teamwork skills
Common Career Titles
  • Assistant Associate Planner
  • Associate Planner
  • City Planner
  • Community Planner
  • Land Planner
  • Land Use Environmental Planner
  • Landscape Architect Land Planner
  • Landscape Planner
  • Planner Coordinator Senior Planner
  • Principal Planner
  • Senior Planner
  • Transportation Traffic Planner
  • Urban And Regional Planner
  • Urban Planner

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

  • Participating in undergraduate research
  • Applying for a study abroad experience
  • Utilizing resources of FAA Career Services
  • Joining a Registered Student Organization (RSO) related to this major, such as:
    • Student Planning Organization: SPO’s mission is to provide a vehicle for communication between staff, faculty and students in the planning program, provide forums for workshops and discussions, and organize social events for the department.

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Urban Studies & l Planning.  Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Urban Studies & Planning.  These organizations include American Planning Association, Urban Institute, and The Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Sustainable Design

Major Description

Sustainable Design calls on a student’s creativity to conceptualize, visualize, analyze, communicate, and build products, buildings, cities, landscapes, and communities that use energy and materials in a more environmentally and socially sustainable manner. You will learn how design can contribute to solving problems of sustainability in a constantly evolving society and building equitable, healthy, and thriving places.

With course work in graphic and industrial design, architecture, landscape architecture and urban and regional planning, the program grounds concrete skills development with opportunities to move between disciplinary barriers and traverse traditional boundaries.

Graduates of this program will be prepared for a future in a sustainable world where ideas from many disciplines will be necessary to solve complex problems.

More About Sustainable Design
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • FAA 230—Sustainable Design of the Built Environment
  • LA 101—Introduction to Landscape Architecture
  • UP 136—Urban Sustainability
  • ARCH 171—Concepts of Architectural Design

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

With expertise across disciplines, students in this program will be prepared to enter jobs in design firms, planning agencies, industry, and public and non-profit agencies, or continue preparation in a variety of graduate or professional programs such as Architecture, Industrial Design, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design and Urban Planning. 

Common Career Skills
  • Creativity
  • Analytical and critical thinking skills
  • Computer skills
  • Oral, written, and graphic communication skills
  • Research skills
  • Teamwork skills
Common Career Titles
  • Sustainability Coordinator
  • Urban planner
  • Sustainable design specialist
  • Industrial designer
  • Product designer
  • Green Business marketer
  • Architect
  • Landscape Architect
  • Graphic designer
  • Green buildings consultant
  • Climate designer

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to sustainable design.  Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse of what sustainable designers do.  These organizations include U.S. Green Building Council , American Sustainable Business Council, Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, Environmental Design Research Association, International Society for Industrial Ecology, and Biomimicry Institute.

Landscape Architecture

Major Description

Landscape Architecture orients students to the profession and its specialties while developing both breadth of viewpoint and technical competency in the widest possible range of activities. Aspects include an understanding of the natural resource constraints on land-use for design decisions and activities; an awareness of the cultural determinants of human behavior and the social, political, economic, and legal institutions that influence these decisions; a working knowledge of the basic skills used in the design profession; and a guiding sense of responsibility to the land.

More About Landscape Architecture
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • LA 101 – Introduction to Landscape Architecture
  • LA 222 – Islamic Gardens & Architecture
  • LA 242 – Nature & American Culture
  • GGIS 103, GEOL 100 or GEOL 107 – Earth’s Physical Systems, Planet Earth, or Physical Geology
  • GGIS 220 – Landscape, Ecosystems and Environmental
  • HORT 223 – The Intelligent Behavior of Plants

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

Landscape Architects work on a vast array of projects in diverse settings: parks, campuses, memorials, reuse of salvaged materials/infrastructure, residential design, urban revitalization, rain gardens, green roofs, heritage study and transportation. Because the BLA at the U of I is accredited, with some additional study and supervision, our graduates are license eligible.

Common Career Skills
  • Developing a landscape plan based on the requirements of the client, interest groups and needs of the animals and plants of the area
  • Meeting with interested parties to report on the landscaping plan and any environmental impact that may occur
  • Promoting environmental landscaping and architecture in the various sectors of the economy
  • Providing evaluations of the various plans and making recommendations to clients
  • Researching various land types, animals, plants and other living organisms in the area to be landscaped
  • Ability to analyze problems in terms of design and physical form
  • Ability to communicate effectively–orally and in written and graphic form–with clients, the public, and other professionals
  • Artistic talent–the ability to see and compose functional, creative environments
  • Sensitivity to landscape quality
  • Skills in all aspects of professional practice including management and professional ethics
  • Technical competence to translate a design into a built work
  • Understanding of the arts and a humanistic approach to design
Common Career Titles
  • Business Owner
  • Civil Engineer
  • Civil Engineer Technician
  • Drafter
  • Environmental Planner
  • Graphic Designer
  • Historical Preservationist
  • Industrial Designer
  • Land Trust Manager
  • Landscape Architect
  • Landscape Designer
  • Park & Recreational Planner
  • Professor/Educator
  • Real Estate Developer
  • Regional Landscape Planner
  • Residential & Commercial Designer
  • Site Planner
  • Urban Designer
  • Urban or Regional Planner

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

  • Participating in undergraduate research
  • Applying for a study abroad experience: for BLA students, study abroad programs are available in Sheffield, England; Taipei, Taiwan; Uppsala or Alnarp, Sweden
  • Utilizing resources of The Career Center
  • Joining a Registered Student Organization (RSO) related to this major, such as:
    • American Society of Landscape Architects – Illinois Student Chapter: promotes student engagement, creates professional networks, helps to develop necessary skill sets, and encourages academic growth.

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Landscape Architecture.  Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Landscape Architecture.  These organizations include The American Society of Landscape Architects, The International Federation of Landscape Architects, the Council of Landscape Architecture Boards (CLARB) for information about licensure, and ASLA-Illinois Chapter.

Industrial Design

Major Description

Industrial Design determines the form of a manufactured product, shaping it to fit the people who use it and the industrial processes that produce it. Areas of design investigation include furniture, appliances, transportation, tools, farm equipment, medical instruments, electronics, human–computer interfaces, and recreational support equipment.

Industrial designers look for innovative and better ways to do things, linking technical knowledge with understanding people and the visual arts. They approach their work as problem solving, asking, “How do people want to travel?” rather than, “Let’s build another car.” To answer such questions, industrial designers explore a broad range of alternatives through drawings and models, steadily refining their designs as they test them against the user’s needs and manufacturer’s capabilities.

More About Industrial Design
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • ARTF 101—Contemporary Issues in Art
  • ARTF 102—Observational Drawing
  • ARTF 104—Expressive Drawing
  • ARTF 106—Visualization Drawing
  • ARTD 101—Introduction to Industrial Design
  • ARTH 110 —Introduction to the History of Art and Visual Culture

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

Industrial Designers are well rounded problem solvers and have access to a variety of careers.

Common Career Skills
  • Ability to convey concepts with quick sketches
  • Computer proficiency
  • Creative problem-solving skills
  • Good verbal and written communication skills
  • Mechanical aptitude and basic understanding of how things work
Common Career Titles
  • Exhibit Designer
  • Industrial Designer
  • Interface Designer or Developer
  • Multimedia Designer
  • Product Designer
  • Product Developer

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Industrial Design. Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Industrial Design. These organizations include: Industrial Designers Society of America and IDSA’s Women in Design.

Physics

Major Description

In this major, you will study, measure, and manipulate the fundamental interactions of matter, energy, space, and time. This branch of science forms the foundation of all natural sciences and engineering disciplines. Students in this major will gain a deep conceptual and mathematical understanding of the world around us through their coursework and hands-on learning opportunities. This program will give you the tools to quantitatively break down complex problems to solve scientific mysteries and reveal the inner workings of nature. This program provides a solid training in physics, but also allows space for electives, thereby providing students more flexibility to take more advanced Physics coursework or pursue other interests. Our Physics program will give you the keys to a wide range of challenging and fulfilling careers, whether you plan on entering a graduate or a professional school, or joining the private-sector workforce after graduation. There is also the option for those in Physics to earn a Secondary Education minor and obtain certification to teach Physics in high schools.

More About Physics
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • MATH 221—Calculus I
  • MATH 231—Calculus II
  • PHYS 211—University Physics: Mechanics
  • PHYS 212—University Physics: Electricity & Magnetism

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

There are a variety of career options for majors in Physics in the following areas: Data Science, Engineering, Finance, Government and Private-Sector Research, Medicine, Physics, Software, Teaching, and Technology Development.

Common Career Skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Communication
  • Design and conduct experiments
  • Knowledge of math, science, and engineering
  • Logic and reasoning skills
  • Teamwork
Common Career Titles
  • Acoustical Physicist
  • Application Engineer
  • Astrophysicist
  • Biophysicist
  • Engineer
  • Environmental Specialist
  • Fiber Optic Engineer
  • Fluid Physicist
  • Geophysicist Health
  • Physicist
  • Lab Technician
  • Materials Scientist
  • Medical Physicist
  • Project Engineer
  • Quality Engineer
  • Research Assistant
  • Research Physicist
  • Systems Engineer
  • Technical Analyst
  • Technical Consultant

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Physics. Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Physics.  These organizations include American Institute of Physics and American Physical Society.

Materials Science & Engineering

Major Description

Materials Science and Engineering provides an understanding of the underlying principles of synthesis and processing of materials and of the interrelationships between structure, properties, and processing. Students learn how to create advanced materials and systems required, e.g., for flexible electronic displays and photonics that will change communications technologies, for site specific drug delivery, for self-healing materials, for enabling the transition to a hydrogen-based economy, and for more efficient photovoltaics and nuclear systems for energy production. The curriculum uses concepts from both basic physics and chemistry and provides a detailed knowledge of what makes the materials we use every day behave as they do.

More About MatSE
Degree Requirements
ICT Requirements

Areas of Focus

The MatSE program provides a diverse set of courses enabling a plan of study designed around the interest of the student. Highlights of the possible focus areas are:

Biomaterials

The science and engineering of materials for use in biological applications, particularly as related to human health. This area includes concepts in basic and intermediate chemistry and basic and intermediate biology, with relatively less coverage of physics topics. It includes a subset of the standard junior year courses and requires additional chemistry and biology in the junior year

Ceramics

Studies the science and engineering of ceramic materials, including alloy design, composites, synthesis, and processing methods. Ceramics makes significant use of concepts from both basic physics and basic chemistry.

Electronic Materials

Describes the design and engineering of materials primarily for the microelectronics industries. Topics span the ceramics, metals, and polymers areas. Concepts from basic and intermediate physics are used along with basic chemistry.

Metals

Introduces the design and processing of metals and alloys to achieve desired properties. This area primarily uses concepts from basic and intermediate physics with relatively less emphasis on chemical concepts.

Polymers

Teaches the methods for molecular design to achieve desired properties in individual polymers, polymer blends, and polymer composites as well as processing methods. This area primarily uses concepts from basic and intermediate chemistry with relatively less emphasis on physics concepts.

Advanced Processing and Characterization Methods

Introduces principles for designing and engineering materials structure, properties, and chemistry from atomic to macroscopic scales, this area also teaches fundamental and practical concepts necessary for determining materials structure and chemistry at different length scales. This area utilizes basic knowledge from physics and chemistry.

Composites

Studies the science and engineering of materials formed by combining multiple materials into a single material. Studies of composites make significant use of properties of materials and mathematical knowledge.

Materials for Energy and the Environment

Studies materials for energy production, harvesting, and storage; materials for environmental remediation, water purification, and recycling; and includes discussions on sustainability and life-cycle analysis of the environmental impact of materials. Materials issues related to both renewable and non-renewable energy production are covered. This area utilizes concepts from both physics and chemistry.

Materials Theory and Computation

Introduces computational modeling approaches for materials that span length- and time-scales from the atomic to the macroscopic. This area focuses on computational prediction of material response to different stimuli (mechanical loads, temperature, electronic excitations, etc.) and fundamental material properties.

Courses That Introduce the Major

  • MSE 201—Phases & Phase Relations
  • MATH 221—Calculus I
  • MATH 231—Calculus II
  • PHYS 211—University Physics: Mechanics
  • PHYS 212—University Physics: Electricity & Magnetism

Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course selection prior to the advanced registration period.

Possible Career Opportunities

Graduates with MatSE degrees find jobs in aerospace, automotive, biomedical, chemical, electronics, energy, nanotechnology, computational modeling, consulting, patent law and telecommunications industries—virtually any industry that uses “stuff.”

Common Career Skills
  • Communicate effectively
  • Design and conduct experiments
  • Identify materials-related problems and formulate plans to solve such problems
  • Knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering, including calculus, thermodynamics, transport phenomena, solid state physics and mechanics
  • Understanding of contemporary and cultural issues
  • Understanding of the impact of materials engineering on society and the environment
  • Understanding of the professional and ethical responsibilities of materials engineers
Common Career Titles
  • Consultant
  • Manufacturing Engineer
  • Material Engineer
  • Materials Consultant
  • Metallurgical Engineer
  • Process Engineer
  • Research and Development

Some careers may require education beyond an undergraduate degree.

Enhancing Your Academic Experience

Further Information

There are several professional organizations dedicated to Materials Science and Engineering. Their websites might be able to provide a glimpse in the world of Materials Science and Engineering.  These organizations include ASM International, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, and Society of Plastics Engineers.

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