Undergraduate Course Descriptions

MSE 101 - Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering I (2 units)
Materials science and engineering profession and education; engineering problem solving; engineering teamwork and project planning; process analysis, transport phenomena, reaction engineering, materials science, engineering economics; field trip.

MSE 102 - Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering II (2 units)
Continuation of MSE 101. Prerequisite: MSE 101.

MSE 175 - Nano and Micro Technology: On the Frontiers of Science (3 units)
An introduction to the principles behind high-technology devices. Includes electronics, robotics, materials, and biological devices and why we strive to make them smaller. Prerequisites: None.

MSE 203 - Survey of Extraction Metallurgy (3 units)
Overall view of the art and science of extraction metallurgy including the concentration of ores, the extraction of metals from ores, the refining of metals, and environmental implications of these processes.

MSE 232 - Principles of Metallurgical Engineering (3 units)
Scientific bases for process engineering stoichiometry, gas behavior, combustion and mass energy balances. Problem solving is emphasized. Field trip. To progress to subsequent courses identified by MSE, a grade of "C" or higher must be earned in this course. Corequisite: MATH 181.

MSE 250 - Elements of Materials Science and Engineering (3 units)
Internal structure of materials, the dependence of properties upon these structures, and the behavior of materials in service. Prerequisite: CHEM 121 or 201.

MSE 322 - Mineral Processing I (3 units)
Principles and practices of mineral preparation and concentration.

MSE 324 - Mineral Processing Laboratory (1 unit)
Experiments demonstrating principles of mineral processing. Prerequisites: None.

MSE 361 - Thermodynamics of Materials (3 units)
Introduction including the 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics, concepts of energy, entropy, work, material properties and process variables. Thermodynamics of solutions and phases. Prerequisites: MSE 232, MATH 283. Students cannot receive credit for both this course and CHEM 421.

MSE 383 - Transport in Materials Systems (3 units)
Fundamentals of mass, momentum, and energy transfer in materials. Topics covered will include fluid flow, heat transfer and diffusion. Prerequisites: MSE 232, MATH 285.

MSE 401 - Corrosion of Metals (3 units)
Thermodynamics and kinetic basis for the electrochemical theory of corrosion. Potential-pH diagrams. Polarization curves. Forms of corrosion to include: general and galvanic corrosion, pitting and stress corrosion cracking. Methods of corrosion prevention. Prerequisite: MSE 250.

MSE 410 - Extractive Metallurgy I - Pyrometallurgy (3 units)
Quantitative and descriptive treatment of the unit processes used and fundamentals of smelting, melting, refining of metals by high temperature methods. Prerequisites: CHE 361, (C or higher in) MSE 232.

MSE 411 - Pyrometallurgy Laboratory (1 unit)
Special methods not ordinarily included in chemical analysis to measure quantities that are important in studying and controlling pyrometallurgical operations. Corequisite: MSE 410.

MSE 415 - Materials Characterization (3 units)
Principles and methods of operation of various materials characterization techniques. Topics include optical, electron, and scanning probe microscopy, calorimetry, x-ray methods, spectroscopy, and mechanical tests. Prerequisites: MSE 250 or equivalent with approval of instructor.

MSE 416 - X-Ray Diffraction (3 units)
Generation and properties of x-rays; diffraction techniques, structure determination, x-ray fluorescence and microscopy analysis of metals. Prerequisite: MSE 250.

MSE 421 - Mineral Processing II (3 units)
Continuation of MSE 322 with emphasis on flotation. Prerequisite: CHEM 421.

MSE 423 - Surface Chemistry of Minerals (3 units)
Thermodynamics of surfaces, electrostatic and electrokinetic phenomena, adsorption at interfaces, and properties of monolayers as applied to processing of minerals. Prerequisites: CHEM 422.

MSE 430 - Phase Transformations and Kinetics (3 units)
Thermodynamic and crystallographic aspects of phase transformations; diffusion controlled, diffusionless (martensitic), and order-disorder transformations; transformations in glasses and organic materials. Prerequisite: MSE 460.

MSE 431 - Extractive Metallurgy II - Hydrometallurgy (3 units)
Quantitative and descriptive treatment of unit processes used and fundamentals of leaching, precipitation, electrolysis, both liquid and resin ion exchange, and purification of metals by low temperature methods. Prerequisites: (C or higher in) MSE 232; CHE 361.

MSE 433 - Electronic, Magnetic, and Optical Properties of Materials (3 units)
Electronic transport, elementary band theory, photonic interactions, and magnetism as it relates to the crystal lattice and the microstructure of metallic, polymeric, and ceramic materials. Prerequisites: MSE 250 or equivalent with approval of instructor.

MSE 450 - Techniques of Process Design and Economics (3 units)
Principles of materials science and engineering process design. Economics, safety, social and ethical considerations; organization of process design; process synthesis; computer optimization techniques applied to design. Prerequisites: MSE 361 (Major capstone course).

MSE 457 - Introduction to Biomaterials (3 units)
Principles underlying the use of materials in biological systems and applications. Topics include structure, properties and classes of materials, characterization, materials performance and biological response. Prerequisites: MSE 250 or equivalent with approval of instructor.

MSE 460 - Structure and Properties of Materials (4 units)
Structure, properties and selection of alloys, vacancies and diffusion, phase diagrams, nucleation and growth, hardening of steels, creep, fracture. Prerequisite: MSE 250.

MSE 461 - Mechanical Behavior of Materials (3 units)
Supplementary and advanced treatment of topics introduced in MSE 250.

MSE 470 - Polymeric and Composite Materials (3 units)
Overview of polymeric and contemporary composite materials, physical properties effect on material selection and engineering design. Prerequisites: MSE 250; CHEM 122 or 202.

MSE 472 - Introduction to Ceramics (3 units)
Structures and imperfections, atom mobility, grain boundaries, ceramic phase diagrams, transformation, grain growth and sintering, properties and applications. Prerequisite: MATH 285.

MSE 482 - Design Project (3 units)
Individual projects in the design of processes and plant components including safety, social, and ethical considerations. Prerequisite: MSE 450 (Major capstone course).

MSE 495 - Special Problems (1 to 3 units)
Individual research problems in metallurgy. Maximum of 6 credits.

MSE 498 - Special Topics in Materials (3 units)
Topics which are not covered in regular course offerings. Prerequisites: Approval of department chair.