Materials Science and Engineering
Focusing on fundamentals of various materials and the interactions between them
Does a career in digital electronics and materials technology or engineering interest you? Look to the Materials Science and Engineering program at Alfred University. This challenging program will provide exposure to the concepts relating to multi-material and composite technologies, as well as composite material interactions with living biological systems for students interested in the focus of biomedical materials science.
School/Division
Campus Locations
Main Campus - Alfred, NY
Major
Materials Science and Engineering (BS)
Double Major
Double Major option(s) offered.
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Minor
Materials Science and Engineering
In addition to Alfred University’s physical education requirement and global perspective requirement and the School of Engineering general requirements, the requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering are:
- CEMS 214 Structure and Properties of Materials
- CEMS 215 Microscopy and Microstructural Characterization
- CEMS 216 Bonding and Structure of Materials
- CEMS 235 Thermodynamics of Materials
- CEMS 237 Thermal Processes in Materials
- CEMS 251 Mechanics of Materials
- CEMS 314 Ceramic Processing Principles
- CEMS 322 Introduction to Glass Science
- CEMS 334 Introduction to Polymers
- CEMS 336 Physical Metallurgy I
- CEMS 342 Thermal and Mechanical Properties
- CEMS 344 Properties II: Electrical, Magnetic, and Optical
- CEMS 446 Composite Design and Fabrication
- CEMS 347 Spectroscopy
- CEMS 349 X-ray Characterization
- CHEM 105 General Chemistry I
- CHEM 106 General Chemistry II
- ENGR 101 Introduction to Engineering
- ENGR 102 Computer Aided Design
- ENGR 104 Computer Aided Engineering
- ENGR 110 Technical Communication
- ENGR 11x Exploration Labs (select 2, 1 credit each)
- ENGR 220 Circuit Theory I
- ENGR 305 Engineering Statistics
- ENGR 306 Engineering Economics
- ENGR 395 Engineering Design
- ENGR 480 Senior Capstone Project
- MATH 151 Calculus I
- MATH 152 Calculus II
- MATH 253 Calculus III
- MATH 271 Differential Equations
- PHYS 125 Physics I
- PHYS 126 Physics II
- Technical Electives
- Humanities, Social Science and Arts electives
For more information, please review the School of Engineering Curriculum by Semester Worksheets by degree program.
Materials Science and Engineering is available as a double major to students in the following programs: Biomaterials Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Renewable Energy Engineering. Students earning a double major in Materials Science and Engineering will complete all required courses for Materials Science and Engineering along with courses required for their primary Engineering major.
The minor in Materials Science and Engineering is ideal for students who want to learn more about materials science while majoring in chemistry, physics, mechanical engineering or renewable energy engineering.
Core Courses
- CEMS 214 Materials Structure and Properties
- CEMS 216 Materials Structure and Bonding
- CEMS 235 Thermodynamics of Materials (or CHEM 343 or MECH 320)
Elective Courses (Choose minimum of 6 credits from the following list)
- CEMS 203 Introduction of Ceramic Powder Processing
- CEMS 237 Thermal Processes in Materials
- CEMS 3xx Any regularly scheduled CEMS course at 300-level except CEMS 302
- CEMS 4xx Any regularly scheduled CEMS 400-level course except special topics and independent study
The BS program in Materials Science and Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and the Program Criteria for Materials, Metallurgical, Ceramics and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.
If you have varied interests in engineering but are unsure which you excel at or enjoy working with the most, consider exploring our Undecided Engineering pathway. The Inamori School of Engineering provides this option to students who are undecided as first-year students and allows them to discover the field of engineering that's the best fit for them.
| Major | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biomat. Eng./Biomed Mat. Eng. | 24 | 25 | 32 | 30 | 31 | 33 | 34 |
| Ceramic Engineering | 35 | 39 | 44 | 61 | 68 | 68 | 63 |
| Electrical Engineering | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Glass Engineering Science | 11 | 11 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 15 | 15 |
| Materials Sci and Engineering | 19 | 31 | 38 | 36 | 48 | 48 | 48 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 119 | 145 | 167 | 194 | 168 | 182 | 185 |
| Renewable Energy Engineering | 19 | 27 | 40 | 44 | 29 | 30 | 44 |
| Undecided Engineering | 18 | 17 | 34 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 37 |
| Non-Degree | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | |
| Unduplicated Headcount | 245 | 295 | 374 | 410 | 394 | 402 | 426 |
| Major | 2022-2023 | 2021-2022 | 2020-2021 | 2019-2020 | 2018-2019 | 2017-2018 | 2016-2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biomat. Eng./Biomed Mat. Eng. | 3 | 4 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 7 |
| Ceramic Engineering | 8 | 15 | 8 | 21 | 16 | 12 | 19 |
| Electrical Engineering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glass Engineering Science | 2 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Materials Sci and Engineering | 7 | 15 | 8 | 9 | 16 | 7 | 10 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 28 | 58 | 35 | 53 | 36 | 51 | 37 |
| Renewable Energy Engineering | 13 | 11 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Total Degrees | 61 | 105 | 84 | 99 | 85 | 88 | 89 |
What Will You Do?
Within the past few years, graduates have obtained jobs as:
- Process Development Engineer - Greatbatch Medical
- Data Analytics Engineer - FacilityConnX
- Project Engineer - Kaman Composites
- Lab Technician - Corning Incorporated
- NDT Technician - Pratt & Whitney Amercon
- Post Bachelor Research Assistant - Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Program Educational Objectives
Program educational objectives (or PEOs) are broad statements that describe what we expect graduates of AU's materials science and engineering program to attain 3-5 years after graduation. PEOs are reviewed and revised regularly to ensure that the program educational objectives are relevant to the needs of today's employers.
During the first few years after graduation, graduates will:
- Be employed in materials-related industries and will continue to move into positions with both increased technical skill requirements and increased managerial responsibilities.
- Be engaged in continuing their education and lifelong learning in both technical and non-technical fields including graduate studies in Materials Science and Engineering, and other science and engineering majors; MBA programs; medical school; law school or short course/workshops applicable to growth within their career.
- Become leaders in the development of their professions including professional society activities, conference presentations, scholarly publications, entrepreneurship, student recruiting and mentoring.
Program Outcomes (Student Learning Outcomes)
Graduates of the Materials Science and Engineering program at Alfred University will have:
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
- An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Student Stories
News
Similar Programs
Students enrolling in the Materials Science and Engineering major often bolster their education by double majoring or minoring in these other closely related fields: