Katherine Page in her MSE lab

Materials Science and Engineering Minor

Materials science and engineering is a unique, interdisciplinary field centered on developing new materials and improving existing materials with broad applications in all engineering fields. Obtaining a minor in this field of study will deepen students’ understanding of the fundamentals of the principals and processes of materials, honing expertise in an area of engineering that is rapidly growing as new materials and solutions create new opportunities.  

Program Overview 

A minor in materials science and engineering is offered through the Tickle College of Engineering to those undergraduate students who have met the prerequisites for the courses required by the minor. The minor requires completion of a minimum of 13 hours in coursework which develops a foundation in materials science and engineering. The minor allows for a concentration in materials science and engineering areas to be selected by the students (e.g., metallurgy, polymers, ceramics, composites, or electronic materials). Some of the courses used for the materials science and engineering minor may also satisfy requirements for the student’s major. 

Why Get a Minor in Materials Science and Engineering? 

UT’s minor program for materials science and engineering offers undergraduate students a choice to study specific concentrations, catering to individual interest in the field and potentially clarifying future academic and professional goals. The minor builds on fundamental knowledge in multiple areas of study, preparing scholars to dive deeper into the world of materials science and engineering.  

Featured Courses

MSE 201 Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering

Correlation of atomic structure, crystal structure, and microstructure of solids with mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of engineering significance. 

MSE 340 Principles and Processing of Polymeric Materials

Synthesis and molecular structure of polymers and polymerization kinetics. Molecular characterization, crystalline and glass transitions, crystallization kinetics, mechanical properties, rheology, and processing. 

MSE 360 Principles and Processing of Ceramic Materials 

Description of the atomic structure of ceramic materials and glasses. Description of defects in ceramic materials and correlations to physical properties. Features and operations of ternary phase diagrams of ceramic systems. 

MSE 302 Mechanical Behavior of Materials I 

Fundamentals of deformation and fracture in solids, including metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites. Topics include stress and strain tensors, isotropic and anisotropic elasticity, anelastic and viscoelastic deformation, plasticity, tensile testing, mechanisms of plastic deformation in crystalline solids, basic strengthening mechanisms, and elementary fracture mechanics. 

Admissions and Aid

Choosing the right university to pursue an engineering degree is an important decision—and a significant investment. We want to make sure that you have the information you need to both apply and make attending UT affordable.