Materials Science and Engineering, Comprehensive Major

Materials Science and Engineering, Comprehensive Major, B.S.

The following is a sample degree plan, based on the current catalog. It is based on the 120-credit graduation requirement and assumes no transferred credits, no requirements waived by placement tests, no courses taken in the summer or winter, no repeated courses, and no remedial courses that may be required. This sample degree plan is intended for first-year students entering UW-Eau Claire in the fall semester. Your own degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). UW-Eau Claire cannot guarantee all courses will be offered as shown, but will provide a range of courses that may enable prepared students to fulfill their requirements in a timely period. This sample degree plan is just a guide. Please consult your advisor, your degree audit, and the catalog to create your own degree plan. Note: In order to earn the required minimum of 120 credits for the degree in four years, you should plan to take 15 credits each semester or 30 credits each year.

To earn a degree, students must fulfill all University Graduation Requirements, including the Liberal Education (LE) Core.  LE Core course work in the following sample degree plan uses abbreviations such as LE-K1, LE-S2, LE-R3, and LE-I1 to represent the learning outcomes students will meet via completion of their liberal education course work.  Please click here for a description of the Liberal Education Core outcomes and requirements. Note that the LE Core may be completed through both course and non-course experiences.

FIRST YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
CHEM 105General Chemistry I Lecture3
CHEM 106General Chemistry I Laboratory (LE-K1)2
WRIT 114Intensive Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (LE-S1)5
OR
Blugold Seminar in Critical Reading and Writing (LE-S1)
MATH 114Calculus I (LE-S2)4
MSE 120Introduction to Engineering (LE-S3)2
TOTAL16
SECOND SEMESTER
CHEM 109General Chemistry II with Lab4
MSE 221Living in a Materials World3
MATH 215Calculus II4
PHYS 231University Physics I (LE-K1)5
TOTAL16
SECOND YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
PHYS 232University Physics II (LE-K1)5
MSE 286Engineering Sophomore Seminar1
MSE 315Materials Characterization (LE-S3)4
LE Option: Skills 1 (LE-S1) Written and Oral Communication3
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology (LE-K2, LE-R1) a3
TOTAL16
SECOND SEMESTER
CHEM 325Organic Chemistry I with Laboratory4
MSE 307Engineering Statistics4
MATH 312Differential Equations and Linear Algebra4
MSE 256Introduction to Computer Aided Design1
LE Option: Responsibility 2 (LE-R2) Global Perspectives3
TOTAL16
THIRD YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER - Apply for Admission to Major
MSE 386Engineering Junior Seminar b1
MSE 350Thermodynamics of Materials4
MSE 357Phase Transformation & Kinetics3
MSE 334Soft Materials4
PHIL 120Ethical Reasoning (LE-K3, LE-R3) a3
TOTAL15
SECOND SEMESTER
MSE 367Macroprocessing of Materials3
MSE 368Macroprocessing Materials Lab2
Engineering Elective c3
MSE 372Transport Phenomena3
LE Option: Knowledge 2 (LE-K2) Social Sciences3
LE Option: Integration (LE-I1)3
TOTAL17
FOURTH YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
MSE 362Microelectronic Materials Processing2
MSE 486MS&E Capstone I2
MSE 374Electrical, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Materials4
Technical Elective d3
LE Option: Responsibility 1 (LE-R1, DDIV) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity with Design for Diversity3
LE Option: Knowledge 4 (LE-K4) Fine Arts3
TOTAL17
SECOND SEMESTER
MSE 487MS&E Capstone II (LE-I1)2
MSE 475Nanomaterials3
MSE 451Computational Materials Science3
Technical Elective d3
LE Option: Knowledge 3 (LE-K3) Humanities3
Elective1-3
TOTAL15-17

Minimum total for the baccalaureate degree = 128 credits

a

Or other course that satisfies 2 Liberal Education outcomes.

b

Students must be admitted to the MS&E major to take these courses.

c

Engineering Elective – Courses used to satisfy the engineering elective may not also be used as a technical elective.  3 credits are required from the following courses: Any BME course 200 or above, PHYS 240, PHYS 255PHYS 350, PHYS 360. 

d

Technical Elective – 6 credits are required from the following courses: Any BME 200 or above, CHEM 213, CHEM 326, CHEM 352, CS 145, CS 163, CS 170, CS 245, CS 252, CS 330, MATH 216, MATH 313, MATH 314, MATH 315, MATH 316, MATH 317, MATH 318, MATH 324, MATH 351, MATH 354, MATH 440, MATH 441, MATH 443, MSCI 395, MSCI 399, MSCI 499, MSE 363, MSE 493, MSE 494, PHYS 240, PHYS 255, PHYS 340, PHYS 350, PHYS 356, PHYS 360, PHYS 361, PHYS 362A maximum of three credits from MSCI 395, MSCI 399, MSCI 499, MSE 493, and MSE 494 toward the technical electives.

Note:  All students must complete the 30-hour Service-Learning Requirement via a non-credit or credit option (see Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HIGH IMPACT PRACTICES (HIPs) 
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire encourages all students to participate in High Impact Practices.  The following information identifies any specific recommendations that faculty in this major have concerning which HIPs might be most beneficial to students, and any recommendations about when those HIPs best fit into the degree plan. Students should also consult their faculty advisor for information on HIPs.  There are many additional high impact opportunities available. Talk to your academic advisor for more information about incorporating HIPs like Study Abroad, Intercultural Immersion, Internship, and/or Student/Faculty Collaborative Research into your time at UW-Eau Claire.
Students are especially encouraged to explore immersion experiences including faculty/student collaborative research, off-campus summer research, off-campus internship, Study Abroad, Domestic Intercultural Immersion, or other HIP experience.

Liberal Education (LE) Core Guidance

Liberal Education Core (LE Core) 

The LE Core comprises 17 learning experiences across 11 learning outcomes. Students must complete a minimum of 36 credits in courses approved for the LE Core. 

  • K1 – Natural Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2). 

  • K2 – Social Sciences; two experiences (one lab science experience is required in K1 or K2). 

  • K3 – Humanities; two experiences. 

  • K4 – Fine Arts; one experience. 

  • S1 – Written and Oral Communication; two experiences (one experience must satisfy the University writing requirement). 

  • S2 – Mathematics; one experience (must satisfy the University math competency requirement). 

  • S3 – Creativity; one experience (can be fulfilled in a student’s major). 

  • R1 – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity; two experiences (one experience must meet the UW System Design for Diversity (DD) requirement). 

  • R2 – Global Perspectives; one experience. 

  • R3 – Civic and Environmental Issues; one experience. 

  • I1 – Integration; two experiences (one experience can be fulfilled in a student’s major). 

  • SL—Service Learning; 30 hours 

Additional LE Core Information 

  • Most LE Core learning experiences are course based, and many courses meet more than one learning outcome (e.g., K3 and R2 or K1 and R3). 

  • Some learning experiences can also be met outside of a traditional course (e.g., undergraduate research (S3), study abroad (I1)). 

  • S1 – An English placement score that fulfills the University writing requirement fulfills one S1 experience. 

  • S1 – A foreign Language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 102 level satisfies one S1 experience. 

  • S1, R2 – A foreign language placement score that qualifies the student to enter the 202 level satisfies one experience in S1 and the R2 experience. 

  • S2 – A math placement score that qualifies the student to enter Math 111, 112, 113 or 114 fulfills the S2 experience. 

  • S3 – Completion of two credits from any approved music ensemble fulfills the S3 experience. 

  • I1 – Any semester long study abroad program can fulfill one I1 experience.