Chair: J. Barry Andrews
Materials engineering involves the development, production, modification, and application of engineering materials to meet the specific needs of society. It is based on an understanding of the structures and forces that control the engineering properties of metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites. Students learn how to control the properties of materials, how to select the optimum material and predict its behavior under various environmental and service conditions, and how to alter this behavior through materials design, research, and development. Materials Engineers are employed in every major industry, including aerospace, chemical, automotive, metals casting, biomedical, and microelectronics.
The materials engineering program at UAB has a curriculum of 128 semester credit hours that has been continuously accredited since 1971 by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET, http://www.abet.org. In addition to courses in mathematics, calculus-based physics, chemistry, and the humanities/social sciences, students take a core of fundamental engineering course work and a sequence of materials engineering courses. The required materials engineering courses address ceramics, polymers, composite materials, and metals. They emphasize the relationships among properties, structure, processing, and performance. Materials engineering elective courses are also offered to introduce students to leading-edge materials engineering topics. In addition to the general materials engineering program, students can specialize in either Biomaterials, Polymer Matrix Composites or Metallurgy by proper selection of their electives (see Concentrations). The curriculum prepares graduates to directly enter the professional practice of materials science and engineering, to pursue graduate studies in materials science and engineering, or enter a professional school, such a medicine or dentistry. The department has very active research programs in metal casting and composite materials.
The department also offers courses of study leading to the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in materials engineering. These programs are described in the UAB Graduate School Catalog.
Vision
The Vision of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering is to be an internationally recognized research-oriented department – a first choice for undergraduate and graduate education.
Mission
The Mission of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering is to excel in research for the benefit of society while educating students at all levels to be immediately productive.
Educational Objectives
Our Materials Engineering undergraduate program will produce functioning professionals who:
- Advance in materials engineering or related professional positions.
- Continue to develop intellectually and professionally.
Lower Division Requirements For Materials Engineering
The following requirements are in addition to the School of Engineering core requirements.
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| General Chemistry Requirement | ||
| CH 115 & CH 116 | General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory | 4 |
| CH 117 & CH 118 | General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Laboratory | 4 |
| Required Courses | ||
| CE 210 | Statics | 3 |
| CE 220 | Mechanics of Solids | 3 |
| CE 344 | Civil Engineering Analysis I | 3 |
| EE 312 | Electrical Systems | 3 |
| BME 150 | Computer Methods in Engineering | 3 |
| EGR 110 & EGR 111 | Introduction to Engineering I and Introduction to Engineering II | 2 |
| or EGR 200 | Introduction to Engineering Design | |
| EGR 265 | Math Tools for Engineering Problem Solving | 4 |
| MA 126 | Calculus II | 4 |
| ME 102 | Engineering Graphics | 2 |
| ME 251 | Introduction to Thermal Sciences | 2 |
| Total Hours | 37 | |
Major Requirements For Materials Engineering
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Required Materials Engineering Courses | ||
| MSE 280 | Engineering Materials | 3 |
| MSE 281 & 281L | Physical Materials I and Physical Materials I Laboratory | 4 |
| MSE 380 | Thermodynamics of Materials | 3 |
| MSE 381 | Physical Materials II | 3 |
| MSE 382 | Mechanical Behavior of Materials | 3 |
| MSE 401 | Materials Processing | 3 |
| MSE 413 | Composite Materials | 3 |
| MSE 430 | Polymeric Materials | 3 |
| MSE 464 & 464L | Metals and Alloys and Metals and Alloys Laboratory | 4 |
| MSE 465 & 465L | Characterization of Materials and Characterization of Materials Laboratory | 4 |
| MSE 470 | Ceramic Materials | 3 |
| MSE 496 | MSE Honors Seminar | 1 |
| MSE 498 | Capstone Design Project I | 2 |
| MSE 499 | Capstone Design Project II | 3 |
| Materials Engineering Elective | ||
| Choose three hours of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) courses. | 3 | |
| Frontiers of Materials | ||
| Frontiers of Automotive Materials | ||
| Interpretation of Microstructure | ||
| Nanomaterials | ||
| Principles of Metal Casting and Principles of Metal Casting Laboratory | ||
| Nondestructive Evaluation of Materials | ||
| Electronic Magnetic and Thermal Prop of Materials | ||
| Special Topics in (Area) (minimum of 3 hours) | ||
| Individual Study in (Area) (minimum of 3 hours ) | ||
| Completion of Departmental Honors Program satisfies three credits of either a Materials Engineering Elective or an Engineering/Mathematics/Science Elective. | ||
| Science/Mathematics Elective | ||
| Choose three hours of Science/Mathematics courses | 3 | |
Any Biology (BY) course numbered 115 and above. | ||
Any Chemistry (CH) course at the 200 level or above | ||
Any Physics (PH) course above PH 222. | ||
| Introduction to Linear Algebra | ||
| Scientific Programming | ||
| Mathematical Modeling | ||
Any Mathematics (MA) courses MA 434 and above | ||
| Engineering/Mathematics/Science Electives | ||
| Select six hours from MSE, other engineering, BY, MA, CH, or PH. | 6 | |
Any Biology (BY) courses BY115 or above not already taken as a major requirement. | ||
Any Chemistry (CH) courses at 200 level or above not already taken as a major requirement | ||
Any Physics (PH) courses above PH 222 | ||
| Introduction to Linear Algebra | ||
| Scientific Programming | ||
| Mathematical Modeling | ||
Any Mathematics (MA) courses MA 434 and above. | ||
Any engineering course not required in the major except CE 120, EE 305, EGR 125, EGR 301, EGR 499, ME 101, ME 241, ME 301, ME 302, or MSE 350. Completion of Departmental Honors Program satisfies three credits of an Engineering/Mathematics/Science Elective. | ||
| Total Hours | 54 | |
Concentration in Biomaterials
Students seeking the degree of BSMtE may add a concentration in Biomaterials by appropriate selection of their MSE Elective and Science/Mathematics/Engineering Electives (9 credit hours total).
Concentration in Biomaterials
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| BME 311 | Biomaterials for Non-Majors | 3 |
| BME 435 | Tissue Engineering | 3 |
| BME 420 | Implant-Tissue Interactions | 3 |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Concentration in Metallurgy
Students seeking the degree of BSMtE may add a concentration in Metallurgy by appropriate selection of their MSE Elective and Science/Mathematics/Engineering Electives (9 credit hours total).
Concentration in Metallurgy
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select three from the following: | 9 | |
| Failure Analysis | ||
| Interpretation of Microstructure | ||
| Principles of Metal Casting | ||
| Nondestructive Evaluation of Materials | ||
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Concentration in Polymer Matrix Composites
Students seeking the degree of BSMtE may add a concentration of Polymer Matrix Composites by appropriate selection of their MSE Elective and Science/Mathematics/Engineering Electives (9 credit hours total). CH 235/CH 236 may be used as the Science/Mathematics Elective instead of one of the Science/Mathematics/Engineering Electives.
Concentration in Polymer Matrix Composites
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| CH 235 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH 236 | Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select two from the following: | 6 | |
| Failure Analysis | ||
| Nanomaterials | ||
| Nondestructive Evaluation of Materials | ||
| Total Hours | 10 | |
School of Engineering Guidelines for Admission, Academic Progress, and Academic Conduct
Students are required to follow the most up-to-date set of guidelines as detailed in the most current School of Engineering Guidelines for Admission, Academic Progress, and Academic Conduct.
School of Engineering Reasonable Progress Requirement
All students in the School of Engineering must maintain an institutional GPA of 2.0 in all UAB courses and all UAB Engineering courses applicable to the degree.
School of Engineering Graduation Requirements
Students must have a 2.0 GPA in all UAB coursework and all UAB engineering coursework applicable to degree in order to graduate with a degree from the School of Engineering. All required courses failed at UAB must be repeated at UAB in order for a student to receive credit.
Curriculum for the Bachelor of Science in Materials Engineering (BSMtE)
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Term | Hours | Second Term | Hours |
| CH 115 & CH 116 | 4 | CH 117 & CH 118 | 4 |
| EGR 1101 | 1 | EGR 1111 | 1 |
| EH 101 | 3 | EH 102 | 3 |
| MA 125 | 4 | MA 126 | 4 |
| ME 102 | 2 | PH 221 & 221L | 4 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| First Term | Hours | Second Term | Hours |
| CE 210 | 3 | CE 220 | 3 |
| EGR 2652 | 4 | EE 312 | 3 |
| MSE 280 | 3 | ME 251 | 2 |
| PH 222 & 222L | 4 | MSE 281 & 281L | 4 |
| Core Curriculum Area II or IV: Humanities & Fine Art or Social & Behavioral Science3 | 3 | BME 150 | 3 |
| Core Curriculum Area II or IV: Humanities & Fine Art or Social & Behavioral Science3 | 3 | ||
| 17 | 18 | ||
| Junior | |||
| First Term | Hours | Second Term | Hours |
| CE 344 | 3 | MSE 382 | 3 |
| MSE 380 | 3 | MSE 470 | 4 |
| MSE 381 | 3 | Core Curriculum Area II or IV: Humanities & Fine Art or Social & Behavioral Science3 | 6 |
| MSE 401 | 3 | Science/Mathematics Elective4 | 3 |
| MSE 465 & 465L | 4 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Senior | |||
| First Term | Hours | Second Term | Hours |
| MSE 413 | 3 | MSE 430 & 430L | 3 |
| MSE 464 & 464L | 4 | MSE 499 | 3 |
| MSE 496 | 1 | Science/Math/Engineering Elective4 | 3 |
| MSE 498 | 2 | Core Curriculum Area II or IV: Humanities & Fine Art or Social & Behavioral Science3 | 3 |
| Science/Math/Engineering Elective4 | 3 | Materials Engineering Elective 4 | 3 |
| Core Curriculum Area II or IV: Humanities & Fine Art or Social & Behavioral Science3 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Total credit hours: 128 | |||
| 1 | Transfer students may substitute EGR 200 for EGR 110/EGR 111 |
| 2 | Students may also take MA 227 and MA 252 for Engineering Problem Solving and either the SCI/MA or one SCI/MA/EGR elective. |
| 3 | Please refer to the Core Curriculum as specified for Engineering majors. |
| 4 | Completion of Departmental Honors Program satisfies three credits of either a Materials Engineering Elective or an Engineering/Mathematics/Science Elective. |
Courses
MSE 011. Coop/Internship in MSE. 0 Hours.
Engineering workplace experience in preparation for the student's intended career.
MSE 280. Engineering Materials. 3 Hours.
Fundamentals of materials engineering, including terminology, mechanical testing and behavior, heat treating, and processing of metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites. Degradation of materials and criteria for materials selection. Course requires completion of 4 credits of Area III Science.
MSE 281. Physical Materials I. 4 Hours.
Structure of metals, ceramics and polymers; crystal bonding; phase diagrams, diffusion, dislocations and grain boundaries. Applications to the iron-carbon system, including heat treatment. MSE 281L must be taken concurrently.
Prerequisites: MA 125 [Min Grade: C] and MSE 280 [Min Grade: D]
MSE 281L. Physical Materials I Laboratory. 0 Hours.
Laboratory component of MSE 281 and must be taken concurrently.
MSE 350. Introduction to Materials. 3 Hours.
Concepts and applications, crystal structure of materials, formation of microstructures, and selected structure-property relationships. Not available for credit toward engineering major. For non-engineering majors only.
MSE 380. Thermodynamics of Materials. 3 Hours.
First, second, and third laws of thermodynamics. Gibbs free energy, heat capacity, enthalpy, entropy, and relationships between thermodynamic functions. Free-energy versus composition relationships; behavior of ideal and non-ideal solutions; concept of thermodynamic activity of components in solution. Applications to materials systems.
Prerequisites: CH 117 [Min Grade: D] and CH 118 [Min Grade: D] and MA 126 [Min Grade: C] and MSE 280 [Min Grade: D]
MSE 381. Physical Materials II. 3 Hours.
Microstructural changes in response to temperature and time; vacancies, annealing, diffusion, nucleation and growth kinetics. Equilibrium and non-equilibrium microstructures. Applications to precipitation hardening and solidification of metals.
Prerequisites: MSE 281 [Min Grade: D]
MSE 382. Mechanical Behavior of Materials. 3 Hours.
Microscopic deformation mechanisms in materials leading to macroscopic properties of fatigue; creep; ductile, transitional, and brittle fracture; friction; and wear. CE 220 (Mechanics of Solids) is recommended as a prerequisite for this course.
Prerequisites: MSE 281 [Min Grade: D]
MSE 401. Materials Processing. 3 Hours.
Processing of metals, glasses, ceramics, and composites. Powder processing, casting, welding, rapid solidification, and other advanced methods. Ethics and Civic Responsibility are significant components of this course (QEP).
Prerequisites: CE 220 [Min Grade: D], MSE 280 [Min Grade: D] and CE 220 [Min Grade: D]
MSE 402. Frontiers of Materials. 3 Hours.
Recent advances in materials technology and application. Novel processing, structures, properties, and performance issues.
Prerequisites: MSE 281 [Min Grade: D]
MSE 405. Frontiers of Automotive Materials. 3 Hours.
Advanced lightweight automotive materials, manufacturing and modeling techniques. Technology advancements in cost-effective carbon, glass and related reinforcements; "green" and sustainable materials, crashworthiness and injury protection of occupants and pedestrians, metal castings, heavy truck, mass transit, fuel cell and hybrid vehicles. Students taking this class will receive a GATE certificate of training in automotive materials technologies upon successful completion.
Prerequisites: MSE 281 [Min Grade: D]
MSE 407. Interpretation of Microstructure. 3 Hours.
Interpretation of metal and ceramic microstructures with respect to their general type and origin and their relationship to their composition, type of phase diagram, processing, and the driving forces and kinetics of their evolution. The student will learn to identify the prior processing of a material and design means of modification to produce alternate structures.
Prerequisites: MSE 381 [Min Grade: C]
MSE 408. Nanomaterials. 3 Hours.
The emphasis of this course will be to introduce the basic tools of nanotechnology, building blocks of nanostructured materials, the behavior of materials with nanoscale structures and their technological applications, including automotive, medical, and electronic, etc.
Prerequisites: MSE 280 [Min Grade: C]
MSE 409. Principles of Metal Casting. 3 Hours.
Production and evaluation of cast ferrous metals (gray iron, ductile iron, steel) and non-ferrous metals (brass, bronze, aluminum). Design of castings and molds. Laboratory on the gating, risering and molten metal treatment, analysis and handling techniques required to produce high quality castings. MSE 409L must be taken concurrently.
Prerequisites: MSE 280 [Min Grade: D]
MSE 409L. Principles of Metal Casting Laboratory. 0 Hours.
Laboratory component of MSE 409 and must be taken concurrently.
MSE 413. Composite Materials. 3 Hours.
Processing, structure, and properties of metal-, ceramic-, and polymer-matrix composite materials. Roles of interfacial bond strength, reinforcement type and orientation, and matrix selection in physical and mechanical properties of composite materials. MSE 382 (Mechanical Behavior of Materials) is recommended as a prerequisite for this course. Writing is a significant component of this course (QEP).
Prerequisites: MSE 281 [Min Grade: D]
MSE 430. Polymeric Materials. 3 Hours.
Processing methods, structure/engineering/property relationships, and applications of polymeric materials.
Prerequisites: MSE 281 [Min Grade: D] and CH 117 [Min Grade: D] and CH 118 [Min Grade: D]
MSE 430L. Polymeric Materials Laboratory. 0 Hours.
Laboratory component of MSE 430 and must be taken concurrently.
MSE 433. Nondestructive Evaluation of Materials. 3 Hours.
Principles, applications, and limitation of ultrasonic vibrations, acoustic emission, radiographic, magnetic particle, eddy current, and other nondestructive testing methods. Intelligent sensors and health monitoring of real structures.
Prerequisites: MSE 465 [Min Grade: D]
MSE 464. Metals and Alloys. 4 Hours.
Microstructures, properties, heat treatment, and processing of ferrous and nonferrous materials.
Prerequisites: MSE 281 [Min Grade: D]
MSE 464L. Metals and Alloys Laboratory. 0 Hours.
Laboratory component of MSE 464 and must be taken concurrently.
MSE 465. Characterization of Materials. 4 Hours.
Theory and practice of materials characterization, with emphasis on optical metallography, quantitative metallography, scanning electron microscopy, crystallography, and x-ray diffraction. Specific applications in metals and ceramics considered. MSE 465L must be taken concurrently.
Prerequisites: MSE 281 [Min Grade: D]
MSE 465L. Characterization of Materials Laboratory. 0 Hours.
Laboratory component of MSE 465 and must be taken concurrently.
MSE 470. Ceramic Materials. 4 Hours.
Structure, processing, properties, and uses of ceramic compounds and glasses. Mechanical, thermal, and electrical behavior of ceramic materials in terms of microstructure and processing variables.
Prerequisites: MSE 281 [Min Grade: D] and CH 117 [Min Grade: D] and CH 118 [Min Grade: D]
MSE 484. Electronic Magnetic and Thermal Prop of Materials. 3 Hours.
Fundamentals of electron band structure, mechanisms behind rectifying junctions, transistors, and other electronic devices. Magnetic and thermal properties of materials.
Prerequisites: MSE 280 [Min Grade: D] and PH 221 [Min Grade: C]
MSE 489. Undergraduate Research in MSE. 0 Hours.
Undergraduate research experiences in materials science and/or engineering.
MSE 490. Special Topics in (Area). 1-6 Hour.
Special Topics in (Area).
MSE 491. Individual Study in (Area). 1-6 Hour.
Individual Study in (Area).
MSE 496. MSE Honors Seminar. 1 Hour.
Research presentations by faculty, students, and invited guests on topics related to Materials Science and Engineering.
MSE 497. MSE Honors Research. 2-6 Hours.
Honor students develop materials engineering research skills by working closely with faculty and graduate students.
Prerequisites: EGR 301 [Min Grade: P]
MSE 498. Capstone Design Project I. 2 Hours.
Capstone design project: interdisciplinary design teams, ethics, materials selection, design process, development of proposal, project planning and scheduling, project execution and resource scheduling, and communication of design. Writing is a significant component of this course (QEP).
Prerequisites: MSE 401 [Min Grade: D](Can be taken Concurrently) or ME 405 [Min Grade: D](Can be taken Concurrently)
Faculty
| Andrews, J. Barry, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering; Chair, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 1976, B.S. (UAB), M.E., PhD. (Florida), P.E. (Alabama), Research Interests: Polymer and Metal Matrix Composites, Solidification and Physical Metallurgy |
| Chawla, Krishan Kumar, Professor Emeritus of Materials Science and Engineering, 1998, B.S. (Banaras Hindu, India), M.S., Ph.D. (Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), Research Interests: Composite Materials; Fibers; Interfacial Phenomena; Foams, and Micro-balloons |
| Dean, Derrick R., Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, 2004, B.S., M.S. (Tuskegee), Ph.D. (Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), Research Interests: Structure-Property Relationships of Polymer Systems, Nano- and Micro-Composites |
| Dwyer, Zoe. B., Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering; Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs, 1999, B.S., M.S., Ph.D. (UAB), Research Interests: Academic Advising and Engineering Education |
| Foley, Robin D., Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, 1990, B.S., M.S. (Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), Ph.D. (Wisconsin-Madison), Research Interests: Materials Characterization, Physical Metallurgy, and Metals Casting |
| Genau, Amber, Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, 2010, B.S., M.S. (Iowa State); Ph.D. (Northwestern), Research Interests: Solidification, Microstructure Characterization,and 3D Image Reconstruction and Analysis |
| Griffin, John A., , Research Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, 2011, B.S., M.S. (UAB) , Research Interest: Castings, Non-Destructive Evaluation and Steel |
| Janowski, Gregg M., Professor of Materials Science and Engineering; Assistant Dean for Assessment and Accreditation, School of Engineering; Interim Faculty Director of Academic Assessment, Office of the Vice Provost for Student and Faculty Success, 1990, B.S., M.S., Ph.D. (Michigan Technological), Research Interests: Assessment and Accreditation, Physical Materials, and Characterization |
| Monroe, Charles A. , Assistant Professor, 2012, B.S. (Penn State), M.S., Ph.D. (University of Iowa), Research Interests: Solidification/ Metals Casting, Design for Manufacture, Simulation and Modeling |
| Ning, Haibin, Research Assistant Professor, 2010, B.E. (Central South University, China); M.S. (Guangxi University, China), Ph.D. (UAB), Research Interests: Polymer Matrix Composite Materials, Design and Modeling, Testing and Characterization |
| Pillay, Selvum Brian, Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, 2007, Bach (M L Suttan Technikon), M.S.M.E. (Florida A&M), Ph.D. (UAB), Research Interests: Polymer Matrix, Multiscale/Multiphase Composite Systems; Manufacturing, Testing and Characterization |
| Scripa, Rosalia N., Professor of Materials Science and Engineering: Professor of Biomedical Engineering, 1976, B.S. (Alfred), M.S. (Pennsylvania State), M.S., Ph.D. (Florida), P.E. (Alabama), Research Interests: Ceramics and Glass, Semiconductor Crystal Growth, and Electronic-Magnetic Materials |
| Vaidya, Uday K., Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, 2001, B.S.M.E. (Karnataka University, India), M.S. (Shivaji University, India), Ph.D. (Auburn), Research Interests: Advanced Composites, Applications Development, Manufacturing, Process Modeling, NDE and Dynamic Response |