Materials Science and Engineering Program

2020-21 Materials Science & Engineering UG Program (BS, BSH, MINOR)

UG Director: Dr. Raj Kumar, rkumar14@stanford.edu
117 Durand
Department Chair: Alberto Salleo

Materials Science and Engineering (MSE/MATSCI) essential to the practice of engineering and technology as all facets of engineering depend critically on the materials utilized for specific applications, ranging from semiconductors for computer chips to polymers for new electronic devices.

One important goal of this work involves the development of processes for altering the structure of materials and thereby controlling their properties. This field brings together, in a unified discipline, developments in Physics, Chemistry and Biology that can be, and in fact are, applied to modern materials of technological, engineering, and scientific significance. Materials scientists and engineers utilize a distinctive suite of characterization techniques such as advanced electron microscopes that probe materials structure down to the atomic level. Moreover, our faculty is becoming increasingly involved with nano-technology, energy-related materials and bio-chemical processing.

Students who are interested in both science and its application to important technological problems should consider a career in Materials Science and Engineering. The Undergraduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering provides basic training for those who wish to become materials engineers, and it provides a foundation for more advanced work in the field. Such advanced study enables students to respond effectively to technological change. Able undergraduate Materials Science and Engineering students are encouraged to take at least one year of graduate study in the Stanford Coterminal degree program (see application deadlines at the bottom of this page) to extend their coursework and to obtain training in research. Conterminal degree programs are also recommended for any related undergraduate majors. Current research strengths of the department include nano-scale materials, bio-materials, energy and environmental materials, transmission electron microscopy, microelectronic materials science, structure and properties of thin film materials, semiconductors, magnetic materials, photovoltaic and photonic materials, metamaterials, mechanics and mechanical properties of solids, synthesis and applications of nanostructured materials, and computer modeling of materials behavior and processing of metals and alloys.

Research Experience for Undergraduates

The Materials Science and Engineering Department welcomes undergraduates to participate in our Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program. Students have the opportunity to gain hands-on research experience and work directly with MATSCI faculty and their research groups. Research in our department focuses on several of the Grand Challenges in Engineering, including projects on energy conversion and storage, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, and nanomaterials synthesis and characterization. Whether you are well into your major or still testing the waters, all engineering students are strongly encouraged to apply to our REU Program.

The department plans to continue its REU Program through a grant from the School of Engineering/Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education in Summer 2021. Application information will be posted to our REU webpage (http://mse.stanford.edu/REU) around the end of Autumn Quarter. Students are encouraged to reach out to MATSCI faculty to learn about the variety of research projects being conducted in our department. A full list of our faculty can be found at http://mse.stanford.edu/people/faculty along with their associated research webpages.

Students who wish to receive further information about the programs in Materials Science and Engineering should contact:

Dr. Rajan Kumar, Lecturer

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

496 Lomita Mall, William F. Durand Building Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-4034

2020-21 Versions are now posted:

MATSC Program Sheet

MATSC 4-Year & Flex Quarter Plans

MATSC Flowchart

Program Requirements

School of Engineering (SoE) Requirements

This set of requirements is monitored by the SoE and is required for all engineering majors. Petitions to transfer credit, deviate from the requirements, or approve appropriate AP credit must be made to the SoE Dean’s Office of Student Affairs in 135 Huang .

Mathematics and Science (40 units combined, minimum)

◦ Math (20 units minimum): Must include

• CME100/ENGR 154 or MATH 51

• CME 104/ENGR 155B or MATH 52

• CME 102/ENGR 155A or MATH 53

• 1 additional course¹

◦ Science (20 units minimum)^2,3,4: Must include a

• Full year of either physics or chemistry

• At least one quarter of study in the other subject. AP credit is also acceptable and must be approved by the Dean’s office (see “Approved Courses” page of this website for courses that fulfill the science requirement)

¹ See “Approved Courses” page of this website for a list of SoE approved Mathematics & Statistics courses.

² See “Approved Courses” page of this website for a list of SoE approved Science courses. AP credit is also acceptable with SoE Dean’s Office approval.

³ Choice of Physics or Chemistry may affect choice of MatSci Focus Area. See Focus Area listings later in this section

⁴ To reach the required 15 units in one year under the Physics option, students should enroll in both the appropriate 4-unit Physics courses and accompanying 1-unit lab courses.

Technology in Society (One course; 3-5 units)

See the “Approved Courses” page of this website for courses that fulfill the TIS requirement.The course chosen must be on the Approved list the year it is taken.

School of Engineering (SoE) Fundamentals

(Two courses minimum: one of the ENGR 50 options and one elective)

Departmental Requirements: MSE Fundamentals, Depth, & Focus Area Options

These requirements are specified and monitored by the department of Materials Science and Engineering. Petitions for exceptions must be made to the department. The MATSCI 140-150 series represents a stand-alone curriculum, which is recommended for undergraduates. The 190 series courses are advanced level courses, which may be substituted for the equivalent 150 series courses or can be taken as follow-on courses. MATSCI 142, 143, 144, and 145 are required MSE fundamentals.

MSE Fundamentals (24 units)

All of the following courses:

Two courses from Undergraduate Core Courses and Advanced Level Courses:

Undergraduate Core Courses

Advanced Level Courses:

⁴ ENGR 30 (if taken 2016-17 or before)) can be substituted for MATSCI 144 (previously MATSCI 154), but cannot be used for both the SoE fundamental and MSE Fundamentals requirements. No petition is required for this substitution as long as a student’s overall units (including SoE Fundamentals and all MSE requirements) total 60 or more units.If ENGR 30 is substituted for MATSCI 144, MSE Fundamentals may contain only 23 units.

MSE Depth (16 units)

Focus Area Options

(Choose one area; 4 courses with a minimum of 13 units ⁷)

Each focus area option below includes a recommendation for either a background in Physics or Chemistry, as well as a short description and list of recommended courses. Recommended class lists are not necessarily exhaustive and students are encouraged to explore the full catalog of relevant courses in the School of Engineering when designing a focus area option that matches their areas of interest.

BioEngineering

One year of Chemistry recommended

Students pursuing this focus area will learn more about biocompatible, biomimetic, or even naturally occurring biological materials, along with how they can be engineered or otherwise created.

Chemical Engineering

One year of Chemistry recommended

Students pursuing this focus area will learn more about the chemistry involved in the synthesis of materials, as well as the design of the systems and processes necessary to create them.

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Chemistry

One year of Chemistry recommended, including CHEM 35

Students pursuing this focus area will gain a deep foundational knowledge of chemistry

Electronics and Photonics

One year of Physics recommended

Students pursuing this focus area will learn more about the design and function of electronic and/or photonic devices, as well as the underlying principles of physics relevant to their operation.

Energy Technology

One year of Physics recommended

Students pursuing this focus area will learn more about materials used in modern energy technologies, potentially including solar cells, wind turbines, batteries, and fuel cells, as well as other emerging energy production or storage devices.

Materials Characterization Techniques

One year of Physics recommended

Students pursuing this focus area will learn more about the tools and techniques used in advanced materials characterization, particularly at the micro- and nanoscale.

Mechanical Behavior and Design

One year of Physics recommended

Students pursuing this focus area will learn more about the mechanical behavior of materials, including how to characterize them, and how these mechanical properties influence the design of technologies.

Nanoscience

Either Physics or Chemistry

Students pursuing this focus area will learn more about how materials properties change at the nanoscale, including the new and interesting ways in which these changes can be exploited for novel technologies.

Physics

One year of Physics recommended

Students pursuing this focus area will gain a deep foundational knowledge of physics. 

Self-Defined Focus

Either Physics or Chemistry

Student may petition for approval of a self-defined option containing a minimum of 12 units (4 courses) that comprise a cohesive program of study.

⁷ If the focus area option contains only 12 units, but the combined unit total in major (SoE Fundamentals, MSE Fundamentals, MSE Depth, MSE Focus Area) is at 60 or more, it will be allowed and no petition is necessary.

MSE Major Unit Requirement

Combined units from the following group of courses must total a minimum of 60 units. Units cannot be counted under more than one category.
SoE Fundamentals 7-9 units
MSE Fundamentals 24 units
MSE Depth 16 units
Focus Area Options⁴ 13 units

By adding these 60 units to the 40 required math and science units and the minimum of 3 units for the Technology in Society course, your Materials Science undergraduate major program will require a minimum of 103 units of the 180 you need to graduate. Your advanced placement math and science units from high school may count toward the 40 units of basic math and science, thereby allowing you more electives during your Stanford career.

MATSC Coterm Information

Declaring a Major in Materials Science & Engineering

• Enter your major declaration for Materials Science and Engineering in Axess. Do not choose the Honors option in Axess unless you have already submitted an honors application to the department.
• Send an email to the Director of Undergraduates Studies, Dr. Rajan Kumar, to set up an initial MATSCI advising appointment. The purpose of the meeting is to review the basics of getting a BS in MATSCI and to assign a faculty advisor.
• Download and complete the MATSCI Program Sheet from the School of Engineering website. When completing the Program Sheet, include courses you plan to take as well as those you have already taken. Download a copy of your unofficial Stanford transcript from Axess and attach to your Program Sheet.
• Meet with your faculty advisor to review your Program Sheet and transcript; have your advisor sign your Program Sheet to approve it.
• Procedures and forms for requesting transfer credit, AP credits, and program deviations are described in detail on the Petitions page. SoE petitions must be approved by SoE Dean’s Office of Student Affairs; email to dlazar@stanford.edu or bring into Huang 135.

• Email your completed and signed Program Sheet to Dr. Rajan Kumar. The MATSCI Student Services Office will update Axess to reflect your completed major declaration, major advisor assignment, and add you to the MSE undergraduate email listserv.
• Congratulations and Welcome to MATSCI!

Note: Stanford requires the declaration of a major by the end of sophomore year. The department will accept later declarations from students who change major