San Jose State University : Undergraduate Studies

Navigation

Main Content

Students walking

Department Web

Site

Materials Engineering

B. S. Materials Engineering

The Materials Engineering Program is designed to produce graduates who are prepared to

  1. Apply fundamentals of materials science and engineering to characterize process, structure, property and performance relationships in materials systems, using appropriate techniques and  tools.
  2. Contribute to  process design or materials selection  to solve engineering problems.
  3. Participate effectively in engineering teams, utilizing leadership skills, respect for contributions of other team members and appropriate communication skills.
  4. Communicate engineering problems and solutions effectively in both oral and written formats.
  5. Conduct themselves as ethical and responsible professionals as well as articulate the environmental, safety and economic impacts of their work on society.
  6. Engage in lifelong self-directed learning to maintain and enhance professional skills.
  7. Achieve success in engineering or other chosen career path, or in graduate studies.
ABET Outcome

Program Objectives: Specific Attributes of MATE Graduates

 

1. Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering
  • Can distinguish between and identify the microstructure of metals, ceramics, polymers, liquid crystals and semiconductors.
  • Can measure and identify the materials properties appropriate to a specific application (e.g. mechanical, electrical, etc.)
  • Can apply concepts of thermodynamics and kinetics in the process design of materials system in order to produce desired structure and properties.
2. Ability to design and conduct experiments and analyze/interpret data
  • Can select appropriate characterization methods and interpret experimental results of materials characterization tools.
  • Can design an appropriate experiment to measure specific engineering properties, using statistical procedures.
  • Can analyze results of experiments using appropriate theoretical and empirical models.
  • Can use statistical design of experiments methodology.
3. Ability to design system, component or process to meet desired needs
  • Can describe specific processing techniques for synthesis and modification of materials.
  • Can evaluate and select appropriate materials and processing methods based on desired performance.
4. Ability to function on multidisciplinary teams
  • Can demonstrate knowledge of resources and contribution of other disciplines to solving engineering problems.
  • Can function effectively as both team leader and team member in accomplishing engineering team projects.
5. Ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems
  • Can infer and predict materials properties based on knowledge of materials structure.
  • Can assess needs, formulate problem statement, structure solutions and identify role of materials engineering in solving real-world problems.
6. Understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
  • Can formulate and address ethical issues which arise in solving engineering problems and in the workplace.
7. Ability to communicate effectively
  • Can make effective formal and informal presentations, in written and oral formats appropriate to a specific audience.
  • Demonstrates effective interpersonal communication skills.
8. Understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global/societal context
  • Demonstrates knowledge of environmental impacts of chemicals and processes used in materials processing.
  • Can document the life cycle/disposal requirements of various types of materials.
  • Can describe the role of materials in recyclability and materials-efficient design.
9. Recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in lifelong learning
  • Can conduct an information search through library and Internet.
  • Recognizes when further knowledge in a subject area is required to accomplish goals.
  • Demonstrates resourcefulness in discovering alternative ways of locating information.
  • Can critically evaluate and apply available information.
  • Participates actively in professional society.
10. Knowledge of contemporary issues
  • Demonstrates in at least one project the materials issues relevant to current technological problems.
  • Contributes actively to service, professional, educational or civic organizations.
11. Ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern tools necessary for engineering practice
  • Can demonstrate proper and safe use of specific analytical tools.
  • Demonstrates proper and safe use of specific property measurement tools (e.g. electrical test, mechanical properties)
  • Can use common office software such as spreadsheets, word processors, presentation software and search engines.
  • Can use specific statistical and mathematical software.
  • Can use common materials data formats such as binary and ternary phase diagrams, Ellingham, TTT, Pourbaix, energy band diagrams, Ashby diagrams.

M. S. Materials Engineering

The M.S. MatE Program is designed to produce graduates who:

  1. Are able to solve complex engineering problems and tasks, and use engineering, science and statistics principles to justify recommendations
  2. Are able to evaluate the impact of their work on society, including ethical, economic, global and environmental aspects.
  3. Can deliver effective presentations of engineering results in written and oral formats.
  4. Have life-long learning skills and are able to apply their engineering knowledge to critically evaluate relevant literature and new technologies or systems.
  5. Are effective leaders, capable of working in diverse environments.
  6. Are able to apply their engineering education to a variety of career paths.

Assessment Schedule:   undergraduate (doc)    graduate (doc) 

Assessment reports for undergraduate program: 
spring 2007 (doc)       fall 2007  (doc)

Assessment reports for graduate program: 
spring 2007 (doc)     fall 2007 (doc)

 

Related Information