Materials Science, B.S.
Learn more about the Bachelor of Science in Materials Science.
The Bachelor of Science in Materials Science 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 & information science, and applied mathematics, with innovation and technology applications bridging to applied sciences. Its foundational structure is embedded in multiple CST disciplines. Indeed, the frontiers of the subject now demand participation of artificial intelligence/machine learning (CIS) 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. The Temple CST Bachelor of Science program 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.
Undergraduate Contact Information:
Dr. Bernd Surrow, Chair
Science Education and Research Center, Room 406
215-204-7736
Dr. Adrienn Ruzsinszky, Vice Chair
Science Education and Research Center, Room 708
215-204-8479
Dr. Zbigniew Dziembowski, Faculty Advisor
Science Education and Research Center, Room 412
215-204-7639
zbig.dziembowski@temple.edu
Bachelor of Science
Summary of Requirements for the Degree
- University Requirements (123 total s.h.)
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Students must complete all University requirements including those listed below.
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All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses 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.
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- College Requirements
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45 Upper Level (2000+) credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), or the College of Engineering (ENG).
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90 credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), or the College of Engineering (ENG).
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All students in the College of Science and Technology are required to take a one credit first year seminar. SCTC 1001 CST First Year Seminar is the appropriate course option for every entering first year CST major. Transfer students should use SCTC 2001 CST Transfer Seminar to fulfill this requirement. Other courses that fulfill this requirement may be found on the CST College Requirements page.
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- Major Requirements for Bachelor of Science (74-77 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 General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory IHonors General Chemical Science I
and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory ISelect one of the following: 4 General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory IIHonors General Chemical Science II
and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory IIMathematics 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 SCTC 1013 Elements of Data Science for the Physical and Life Sciences 3 Physics Select one of the following: 4 Elementary Classical Physics I Honors Elementary Classical Physics I (F) General Physics I Honors General Physics I (F) Select one of the following: 4 Elementary Classical Physics II Honors Elementary Classical Physics II (S) General Physics II Honors General Physics II (S) Select two of the following: 1 3 Scientific Computing I Scientific Computing II Scientific Computing III PHYS 2063 Wave Physics (F) 3 PHYS 2796 Introduction to Modern Physics (S) 4 PHYS 27XX (Optical and Electronic Properties of Materials: Thin Films, Nanomaterials, and Energetic Materials) 3 PHYS 28XX (Quantum Materials: Properties, Characterization, and Application) 3 Select one of the following: 2 3 PHYS 37XX(Computational Design of Novel and Quantum Materials) PHYS 38XX(Computational Materials Science) Materials Science Electives Select five of the following: 15-18 Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory IOrganic Chemistry for Honors I
and Organic Honors Laboratory IOrganic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory IIOrganic Chemistry for Honors II
and Organic Honors Laboratory IIInorganic Chemistry Physical Chemistry Lecture I Crystallography and Diffraction 3 Introduction to Polymer Chemistry 4 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I 5 PHYS 37XX(Computational Design of Novel and Quantum Materials) 2 PHYS 38XX(Computational Materials Science) 2 Thermal Physics (F) Optics 6 Introduction to Solid State Physics (S, even years) 7 Engineering Statics Mechanics of Solids Material Science for Engineers Micro- to Nano-sized Machines Tribology and Surface Engineering 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 Undergraduate Research Undergraduate Research Spring semester of senior year, select one of the following: 3 Undergraduate Research Undergraduate Research Writing Intensive SCTC 2396 Writing for Science and Technology 3 Total Credit Hours 74-77 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 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.
Calculation of Major GPA
Courses listed under the major requirements for the degree will be included in the calculation of the major GPA. Courses that could not apply toward the major as an elective or required course would not be counted in the calculation of the major GPA. This would include MATH 1022, for example.
Distinction in Major
A student who wishes to graduate with distinction in the major must complete all courses required for the physics major with a GPA of 3.5 or better, and carry out an independent study or undergraduate thesis project. Consult the undergraduate physics advisor for more details.
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
Requirements for New Students starting in the 2022-2023 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| MATH 1041 or 1941 | Calculus I | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Elementary Classical Physics I | ||
| Honors Elementary Classical Physics I (F) | ||
| General Physics I | ||
| Honors General Physics I (F) | ||
| SCTC 1001 | CST First Year Seminar | 1 |
| SCTC 1013 | Elements of Data Science for the Physical and Life Sciences | 3 |
| ENG 0802, 0812, or 0902 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| MATH 1042 or 1942 | Calculus II | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Elementary Classical Physics II | ||
| Honors Elementary Classical Physics II (S) | ||
| General Physics II | ||
| Honors General Physics II (S) | ||
| Select one of the following:1 | 1.5 | |
| Scientific Computing I | ||
| Scientific Computing II | ||
| Scientific Computing III | ||
| IH 0851 or 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15.5 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| General Chemistry I | ||
| Honors General Chemical Science I | ||
| MATH 2043 or 2943 | Calculus III | 4 |
| PHYS 2063 | Wave Physics (F) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 1.5 | |
| Scientific Computing I | ||
| Scientific Computing II | ||
| Scientific Computing III | ||
| IH 0852 or 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| Term Credit Hours | 15.5 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| General Chemistry II | ||
| Honors General Chemical Science II | ||
| PHYS 2796 | Introduction to Modern Physics [WI] (S) | 4 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| PHYS 27XX | (Optical and Electronic Properties of Materials: Thin Films, Nanomaterials, and Energetic Materials) | 3 |
| PHYS 28XX | (Quantum Materials: Properties, Characterization, and Application) | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3-4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3-2 | |
| Elective | 1 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| SCTC 2396 | Writing for Science and Technology [WI] | 3 |
| Materials Science Elective 12 | 3-4 | |
| Materials Science Elective 22 | 3-4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3-1 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Select one of the following:3 | 3 | |
PHYS 37XX | (Computational Design of Novel and Quantum Materials) | |
PHYS 38XX | (Computational Materials Science) | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Undergraduate Research | ||
| Undergraduate Research | ||
| Materials Science Elective 32 | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3-2 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Undergraduate Research | ||
| Undergraduate Research | ||
| Materials Science Elective 42 | 3 | |
| Materials Science Elective 52 | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 123 | |
| 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 | 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. |