How materials are made, used and disposed of – from the extraction and processing of raw materials to advanced composites and biomaterials, students learn about the lifecycle of materials and their application.
Our curriculum begins with the core material groups: metals, ceramics, polymers and composites. By fourth year, students are tackling process design problems and materials selection solutions for things like high-speed transportation systems, fuel cells, supersonic aircraft, advanced computers, sports equipment and biomedical devices.
We emphasize problem solving and team projects to help students gain strong engineering skills and students have many opportunities to hone their communication skills. Our faculty includes world-leading authorities who work closely with industry and contribute to our status as one of the top-rated materials engineering programs in North America. These strong links with industry also mean what you learn is useful in the real world.
Our students have access to stellar equipment and reap the knowledge that comes from the research and practical experience of faculty members and industry visitors.
Program Learning Outcomes
Materials Engineers are experts on the entire life cycle of materials, including recovery of materials from minerals, making engineered materials, manufacturing materials into products, understanding and evaluating materials performance, proper disposal and recycling of materials, and evaluating societal and economic benefits.
At the end of the program, students will be able to:
- Characterize and select materials for design by evaluating the linkages between material properties, microstructures and processing.
- Analyze materials engineering problems using a balance of mathematics, physics and chemistry including thermodynamics, mass, momentum and energy transport, kinetics and mechanics of materials.
- Solve materials engineering problems. Identify and formulate problems, develop and apply analytical and experimental methods of investigation, identify contributing factors and generate, validate, and evaluate alternative solutions.
- Design processes for the extraction, synthesis and processing of materials to meet technical, economic, environmental and ethical needs and constraints.
- Communicate effectively in a professional environment through technical reports and presentations. Articulate and justify technical solutions to diverse audiences.
- Recognize and evaluate the societal benefits of materials engineering. Appreciate and evaluate the environmental and societal impact of materials. Recognize the importance of professional and ethical responsibilities, the evolving nature of materials engineering and the importance of lifelong learning.