MSE 500 Modern Concepts in Materials Science
3 Credit Hours
MSE 500 covers the fundamental principles that govern the physical properties of materials. This course is designed to prepare students without an undergraduate materials degree for further graduate-level materials courses. MSE 500 will cover selected topics from senior-level courses in the undergraduate materials science and engineering curriculum.
An emphasis will be placed on developing and applying an understanding of basic materials science concepts:
- Atomic structure and bonding
- Crystal structures
- Defects
- Diffusion
- Phase diagrams and phase transformations
- Mechanical, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties
The types of materials covered in this course primarily include ceramics, metals, and polymers.
Prerequisite
Graduate standing. Although not required, a BS degree in engineering or a science field, with courses in chemistry, math, physics, thermodynamics, and mechanics of solids, can be helpful.
Course Objectives
After completing this course, the student will be able to:
- Discuss, understand, and compare the structure of crystalline and amorphous solids
- Identify the structure and chemistry of point, line, and planar defects in solids
- Read and interpret unary and binary phase diagrams
- Understand the crystalline lattice and the nomenclature used to describe it
- Articulate the physical properties associated with ceramic, semiconducting, metallic, and amorphous solids
- Understand the roles of thermodynamics and kinetics in regulating phase transitions
Course Requirements
Grading
The grade will be based on one midterm exam given during the semester and one final exam given during the final exam period . Each exam will be weighted equally for the final class grade. In addition, there will be several homework assignments and a course participation online forum.
Exams
Midterm, covering Chapters 1-6.
Final, covering a selected set of remaining chapters.
Grading scale
The following grading scale will be used to assign a letter grade for this course:
| 98 ≤ A+ ≤ 100% | 88 ≤ B+ < 90 | 78 ≤ C+ < 80 | 68 ≤ D+ < 70 | 0 ≤ F < 60 |
| 92 ≤ A < 98 | 82 ≤ B < 88 | 72 ≤ C < 78 | 62 ≤ D < 68 | |
| 90 ≤ A- < 92 | 80 ≤ B- < 82 | 70 ≤ C- < 72 | 60 ≤ D- < 62 |
Textbook
Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction, W. D. Callister and D. G. Rethwisch, 10th Edition. ISBN: 9781119721772 (Earlier editions acceptable).
Updated: 6/12/2025