Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Materials Science, offered by the Department of Physics, provides both a strong preparation for those wishing to attend graduate school in materials science or related disciplines and for those who intend to enter the scientific workforce upon completion of a bachelor's degree. Students who wish to transfer into this program should consult first with the Physics faculty advisor.

The Bachelor of Science in Materials Science stands at the interface between physics, chemistry, computer and information science, and applied mathematics, with innovation and technology applications bridging to applied sciences. Its foundational structure is embedded in multiple College of Science and Technology (CST) disciplines. Indeed, the frontiers of the subject now demand participation of artificial intelligence/machine learning methodologies. Materials science is important as a research and education driver that reaches students in almost every discipline of science and technology. Graduates proficient in this area are more and more in demand. Indeed, the national initiative in Quantum Information Science makes it clear that Quantum Materials will be a focus for industry and academia. Temple's Bachelor of Science in Materials Science focuses on the science behind materials science, and is not an engineering program.

As a discipline, materials science represents the confluence of quantum theory, computational design, synthesis and characterization, in a feedback loop to produce advanced materials for technology applications and subsequent processing by industry. Importantly, the theory and computational design component now harnesses artificial intelligence and machine learning to create heretofore unknown "designer" materials. These ideas are prominent in Department of Energy (DOE) and National Science Foundation "big ideas" such as the "Quantum Leap" that establish an understanding of complex matter-energy relationships, leading to next-generation quantum materials and technologies for sensing and computing, modeling, and communicating, from the micro- or nano-structure of materials to their physical, mechanical and chemical properties.

Materials Science evolved historically from the metallurgy of naturally occurring elements and their alloys (and glass) to embrace not only an enormous variety of "hard" elemental (metallic and semiconducting) alloys and oxide-based materials (superconductors, catalysts, etc.) that underpin technology applications, but also a vast array of "soft" materials including synthetic and natural polymers, as well as more recently the two-dimensional graphene-like constructs, which will be needed for future advanced/strategic technologies.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: ST-MSCI-BS

Distinction in Major

To graduate with distinction in this major, a student must satisfy the following criteria:

• achieve a minimum 3.5 major GPA and
• carry out an independent study or undergraduate thesis project.

Consult the undergraduate physics faculty advisor for more details.

Undergraduate Contact Information

Peter Riseborough, Chair
Science, Education and Research Center, Room 444
215-204-5655

Zbigniew Dziembowski, Faculty Advisor
Science, Education and Research Center, Room 412
215-204-7639
zbig.dziembowski@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Materials Science.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2023-2024. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2023 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Bachelor of Science Requirements

Summary of Requirements for the Degree

1. University Requirements (123 total s.h.)
   • Students must complete all University requirements including those listed below.
   • All undergraduate students must complete at least two writing-intensive courses for a total of at least six credits at Temple as part of their major. The specific writing-intensive course options for this major are:

     Course List

     Code	Title	Credit Hours
     PHYS 2796	Introduction to Modern Physics	4
     SCTC 2396	Writing for Science and Technology	3

   • Students must complete the General Education (GenEd) requirements.
     • See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for the GenEd curriculum.
     • Students who complete CST majors receive a waiver for 2 Science & Technology (GS) and 1 Quantitative Literacy (GQ) GenEd courses.
   • Students must satisfy general Temple University residency requirements.
2. College Requirements
   • A minimum of 90 total credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), and/or the College of Engineering (ENG).
     • A minimum of 45 of these credits must be upper-level (courses numbered 2000 and above).
   • Complete a one-credit first-year or transfer seminar.
     • SCTC 1001 CST First Year Seminar for every entering first-year CST student.
     • SCTC 2001 CST Transfer Seminar for every entering transfer CST student.
3. Major Requirements for Bachelor of Science (76-80 s.h.)
   A least 9 courses required for the major must be completed at Temple. At least 8 Physics courses must be completed at Temple.

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credit Hours
   Chemistry
   Select one of the following:		4
   CHEM 1031 & CHEM 1033	General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I
   CHEM 1951 & CHEM 1953	Honors General Chemical Science I and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory I
   Select one of the following:		4
   CHEM 1032 & CHEM 1034	General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II
   CHEM 1952 & CHEM 1954	Honors General Chemical Science II and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory II
   Mathematics and Quantitative Methods
   MATH 1041	Calculus I	4
   or MATH 1941	Honors Calculus I
   MATH 1042	Calculus II	4
   or MATH 1942	Honors Calculus II
   MATH 2043	Calculus III	4
   or MATH 2943	Honors Calculus III
   Select one of the following		3-4
   MATH 2041	Differential Equations I
   MATH 2045	Differential Equations with Linear Algebra
   MATH 2941	Honors Differential Equations I
   SCTC 1013	Elements of Data Science for the Physical and Life Sciences	3
   Physics
   Select one of the following:		4
   PHYS 1061	Elementary Classical Physics I
   PHYS 1961	Honors Elementary Classical Physics I (F)
   PHYS 2021	General Physics I
   PHYS 2921	Honors General Physics I (F)
   Select one of the following:		4
   PHYS 1062	Elementary Classical Physics II
   PHYS 1962	Honors Elementary Classical Physics II (S)
   PHYS 2022	General Physics II
   PHYS 2922	Honors General Physics II (S)
   Select two of the following: 1		3
   PHYS 2511	Scientific Computing I
   PHYS 3511	Scientific Computing II
   PHYS 4511	Scientific Computing III
   PHYS 2796	Introduction to Modern Physics (S)	4
   PHYS 3702	Optical and Electronic Properties of Materials, Including Thin Films and Nanomaterials (F)	4
   PHYS 3703	Quantum Materials: Properties, Characterization and Application (S)	4
   Select one of the following: 2		3
   PHYS 4501	Computational Design of Novel and Quantum Materials (F)
   PHYS 4502	Theoretical/Computational Materials Science (S)
   Materials Science Electives
   Select five of the following:		15-18
   CHEM 2201 & CHEM 2203	Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
   CHEM 2921 & CHEM 2923	Organic Chemistry for Honors I and Organic Honors Laboratory I
   CHEM 2202 & CHEM 2204	Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
   CHEM 2922 & CHEM 2924	Organic Chemistry for Honors II and Organic Honors Laboratory II
   CHEM 3001	Inorganic Chemistry
   CHEM 3301	Physical Chemistry Lecture I
   CHEM 4004	Crystallography and Diffraction 3
   CHEM 4503	Introduction to Polymer Chemistry 4
   PHYS 3701	Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I 5
   PHYS 4501	Computational Design of Novel and Quantum Materials
   PHYS 4502	Theoretical/Computational Materials Science
   PHYS 4101	Thermal Physics (F)
   PHYS 4302	Optics 6
   PHYS 4701	Introduction to Solid State Physics (S, even years) 7
   ENGR 2331	Engineering Statics
   ENGR 2333	Mechanics of Solids
   ENGR 3201	Material Science for Engineers
   ENGR 4201	Micro- to Nano-sized Machines
   MEE 4212	Tribology and Surface Engineering
   MEE 5205	Microscopy and Microanalysis of Materials
   Senior Capstone and Research
   3 credits of research in each semester of senior year
   Fall semester of senior year, select one of the following:		3
   CHEM 4891	Undergraduate Research
   PHYS 4091	Undergraduate Research
   Spring semester of senior year, select one of the following:		3
   CHEM 4891	Undergraduate Research
   PHYS 4091	Undergraduate Research
   Writing Intensive
   SCTC 2396	Writing for Science and Technology	3
   Total Credit Hours		76-80

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credit Hours
   (F) - Fall only course
   (S) - Spring only course

   ¹

   Students with prior programming experience may be prepared to begin in PHYS 3511. Please see a Physics Faculty Advisor for more information.

   ²

   One of these courses is required. The course not selected may be taken as a Materials Science Elective.

   ³

   CHEM 3001 is a prerequisite for this course.

   ⁴

   CHEM 2202 and CHEM 3301 are prerequisites for this course.

   ⁵

   PHYS 2502 is a prerequisite for this course.

   ⁶

   CHEM 3301 is a prerequisite for this course.

   ⁷

   PHYS 3701 is a prerequisite for this course.

Suggested Academic Plan

Please note that this is a suggested academic plan. Depending on your situation, your academic plan may look different.

Bachelor of Science in Materials Science

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2023-2024 Academic Year

¹

Students with prior programming experience may be prepared to begin in PHYS 3511. Please see a Physics faculty advisor for more information.

²

Select from the Materials Science Electives list under Requirements.

³

One of these courses is required. The course not selected may be taken as a Materials Science Elective.