MATSC-BS - Materials Science and Engineering (BS)
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Program Overview
The mission of the undergraduate program in Materials Science and Engineering is to provide students with a strong foundation in materials science and engineering with emphasis on the fundamental scientific and engineering principles which underlie the knowledge and implementation of material structure, processing, properties, and performance of all classes of materials used in engineering systems. Courses in the program develop students’ knowledge of modern materials science and engineering, teach them to apply this knowledge analytically to create effective and novel solutions to practical problems and develop their communication skills and ability to work collaboratively. The program prepares students for industry careers and graduate school studies.
The BS in Materials Science and Engineering provides training for the materials engineer and preparatory training for graduate work in materials science. Capable undergraduates are encouraged to take at least one year of graduate study to extend their coursework through the coterminal degree program, leading to an MS in Materials Science and Engineering. Coterminal degree programs are encouraged for undergraduate majors in Materials Science and Engineering and undergraduate majors in related disciplines.
Minimum Units in the Program
Minimum University Units
39 units minimum combined (Math & Science)
MATH 19/20/21 or up to ten units AP/IB credit AND placement into MATH 51/CME 100 via Math Diagnostic, taken before first-year start.
Or more advanced Statistics courses numbered over 100 via approval of a petition to deviate.
CME 106 or STATS 110 are recommended.
AP credit is also acceptable and must be approved by the Dean’s office.
16 units minimum.
AP credit is also acceptable and must be approved by the Dean’s office.
In some cases, AP/IB credit may also be used to meet the 16 units minimum; see the AP/IB credit chart in the Bulletin or check with the School of Engineering at the Huang Engineering Center, Room 135.
Physics laboratory courses are not required and do not count toward this one additional course requirement (i.e., PHYSICS 42, PHYSICS 44, PHYSICS 46, PHYSICS 61L, PHYSICS 71L, PHYSICS 89L), but these courses can be taken to help you meet the 39 unit minimum Math/Science requirement of the Major.
AP credit is also acceptable and must be approved by the Dean’s office.
Seven (7) units minimum.
Students may choose to count a second ENGR 50/50E/50M course (different than the one taken for the SoE fundamental requirement) as part of the MATSCI fundamental requirements. Students who took ENGR 50 must select a different second fundamentals course from the SoE-approved list.
Only one of CS 106A and B is allowed to count toward the Fundamentals requirement.
course online only.
25 units minimum.
Students preparing for advanced graduate study or seeking additional depth are encouraged to take more than two MATSCI Fundamental electives or advanced MATSCI electives (MATSCI 180-series, MATSCI 190-series).
Substitutions/petitions for MATSCI Fundamentals required courses (140 series) and elective courses (150 series) will not be permitted.
Department requirement. Four laboratory courses for 15 units. One course must be a WIM.
As part of the MATSCI bachelor’s degree, students complete a Focus Area of study based on their interests within Materials Science and Engineering and its intersection with other fields. Typically, students take courses that bridge their academic, technical, and research interests to build on knowledge gained through the Fundamentals and Depth requirements. Students can select four courses from one of the Focus Area Tracks below or define their own Focus Area based on their interdisciplinary interests. Recommendations for Science courses are at the bottom of each Focus Area Track to help prepare students for further coursework.
Choose one of the nine focus area tracks listed below or the self-defined focus area option.
Select three (3) courses within one of the focus areas for a minimum of 9 units.
At least one course for the focus area must be a MATSCI course.
Each focus area course must be at least three units and may not include seminars.
The self-defined focus area option requires additional approval; program deviation forms for this option can be found on the MATSCI website.
CHEM 31A and B or CHEM 31M 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.
CHEM 31A and B or CHEM 31M recommended
Students pursuing this focus area will learn about the thermodynamic principles governing materials, the chemistry involved in synthesizing materials, and the design of the systems and processes necessary to create them.
PHYSICS 41, 43, and 45 recommended
Students pursuing this focus area will learn more about computational methods used to study materials structure-property relationships and how to make materials predictions.
PHYSICS 41, 43, and 45 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.
Either Physics or Chemistry
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.
Either Physics or Chemistry
Students pursuing this focus area will learn more about the tools and techniques used in advanced materials characterization, particularly at the micro- and nanoscale.
PHYSICS 41, 43, and 45 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.
PHYSICS 61 and Physics 81 recommended, with Physics 45 or Physics 71 as the science elective.
Students pursuing this focus area will gain a deep foundational knowledge of materials physics, with topics focusing on quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and waves and diffraction, and other advanced topics.
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.
Either Physics or Chemistry
Students may also define their own focus area containing a minimum of 9 units (3 courses) that comprise a cohesive program of study. Many students use this option to create an interdisciplinary focus area that combines parts of the listed focus area options above. Students should also choose this option if including courses not listed in one of the focus area tracks and should include a petition form along with their final program sheet when conferring their degree.
Honors Program: For students pursuing the Honor’s Program, you may count up to six units of MATSCI 150 toward the focus area but cannot use these units to replace the MATSCI course minimum (handbook excerpt)
*Choose one of the nine focus area tracks provided at bulletin.stanford.edu/programs/MATSC-BS or choose the self-defined focus area option. Minimum one MATSCI course in the focus area. Each focus area course must be at least 3 units and may not include seminars. For students pursuing the Honor's Program, you may count up to six units of MATSCI 150 towards the focus area but cannot use these units to replace the MATSCI course minimum.
*For additional information and sample, programs see the Handbook for Undergraduate Engineering Programs.
Must take one WIM course as part of Materials Science & Engineering Depth requirement.
All students would be required to complete a capstone experience in the department and would have the option to choose between the two tracks listed below.
Complete at least two consecutive quarters of independent research within the same research group, totaling at least 6 units of MATSCI 150 with the strong recommendation of completing the Honors Program.
Students are expected to participate in either the annual Materials Science and Engineering Research Symposium or an alternative approved public oral/poster presentation.
Complete at least 4 quarters of MATSCI 169 (1 unit per quarter for a total of 4 units). Students are expected to enroll in both Spring and Autumn quarter offerings bridging their summer internship twice. Following the internship, students complete a research report outlining their work activity, problems investigated, key results, and any follow-on projects they expect to perform.
The Materials Science and Engineering honors program offers an opportunity for undergraduate Materials Science and Engineering majors with a GPA of 3.7 or higher to pursue independent research at an advanced level, supported by a faculty advisor and graduate student mentors. The main requirements are as follows:
Application to the honors program (must be pre-approved by the faculty advisor)
Enrollment in course Undergraduate Research and participation in an independent research project over three sequential full quarters
Completion of a faculty-approved thesis
Participation in a poster or oral presentation of thesis work at a Stanford Symposium/event or, at your faculty advisor’s discretion, in a comparable public event. (*waived for students completing the Honors Program in AY2023-2024.)
Since this requires three full quarters of research and a final written thesis and presentation following completion of the work, students must apply to the program no less than four quarters before their planned graduation date. Materials Science and Engineering majors pursuing a typical four-year graduation timeline should meet with student services no later than winter quarter of their junior year to receive information on the application process.
All requirements for the honors program are in addition to the standard undergraduate program requirements.
Have an overall GPA of 3.7 or higher (as calculated on the unofficial transcript) before application.
Have taken course and at least six MATSCI Fundamentals/Depth courses with passing grades. If you haven't taken enough courses, we ask you to wait before submitting an application.
Seek out a faculty research advisor and agree on a proposed research topic. If the research advisor is not a member of the MSE faculty or not a member of the School of Engineering Academic Council, students must have a second advisor who fulfills these requirements.
Compose a brief (less than 1 page) summary of the proposed research, including a proposed title, and submit it with an unofficial transcript and signed application/faculty endorsement.
Apply to MATSCI student services office (Durand 104) at least four quarters before planned graduation.
Overall GPA of 3.7 or higher at the end of the quarter prior to degree conferral (calculated on the unofficial transcript).
Complete at least three-quarters of research with a minimum of 9 units of MATSCI 150 (students may petition out-of-unit requirement with faculty advisor approval). All quarters must focus on the same topic. Maintain the same faculty advisor throughout, if possible.
For detailed requirements see the MatSci Honors Program Guidelines.
Present a poster or oral presentation of thesis work at the MSE Research Symposium.
Submit final drafts of an honors thesis to two faculty readers (one must be your research advisor, and one must be an MSE faculty member/SoE Academic Council member) at least one quarter before graduation. Both must approve the thesis by completing the signature page.
Submit to MATSCI student services office (Durand 104) one copy of the honors thesis and signed signature page (in electronic or physical form) at least one quarter before graduation.