Program Overview

Introduction to the Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Plastics Engineering

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Plastics Engineering is a comprehensive program designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of plastics engineering principles and practices. This program is tailored for students who entered fall 2022 and beyond.

Academic Catalog

The academic catalog for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Plastics Engineering includes:

• Undergraduate Programs & Policies
  • Majors
  • Degree Pathways by Major
  • Core Curriculum
  • Minors
  • Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
  • Policies
• Graduate Programs & Policies
• Online & Professional Studies
• About the University and Mission
• Accreditation and Professional Memberships
• Academic Catalog Archives
• Advanced Course Search
• Print My Catalog

Suggested Degree Pathway for Plastics Engineering

The suggested degree pathway for Plastics Engineering is outlined below:

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

• PLAS.1070: Introduction to Plastics Engineering (AIL) - 2 credits
• ECON.2010: Principles of Microeconomics (SS) - 3 credits
• ENGL.1010 / HONR.1100: College Writing I / First Year Seminar in Honors: Text in the City (CW) - 3 credits
• CHEM.1210: Chemistry I (SCL) - 3 credits
• CHEM.1230L: Chemistry I Laboratory (SCL) - 1 credit
• MATH.1310: Calculus I (MATH) - 4 credits
• Total: 16 credits

Spring Semester

• ENGL.1020: College Writing II (CW) - 3 credits
• MATH.1320: Calculus II (STEM) - 4 credits
• PHYS.1410: Physics I (SCL) - 3 credits
• PHYS.1410L: Physics I Lab (SCL) - 1 credit
• PLAS.1080: Introduction to Polymer Sustainability - 3 credits
• Total: 14 credits

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

• PLAS.0010: Plastics Safety Lecture I - 0 credits
• PLAS.2010: Polymer Materials I - 3 credits
• PLAS.2150: Plastics Processing Engineering Laboratory I - 1 credit
• PLAS.2190: Principles of Processing Equipment and Automation - 4 credits
• CHEM.2040: Introduction to Organic and Polymer Chemistry - 3 credits
• MATH.2310: Calculus III - 4 credits
• Total: 15 credits

Spring Semester

• PLAS.0020: Plastics Safety Lecture II - 0 credits
• PLAS.2020: Polymer Materials II - 3 credits
• PLAS.2100: Professional Development Seminar - 1 credit
• PLAS.2110: Engineering Mechanics - 3 credits
• PLAS.2160: Plastics Process Engineering Laboratory II - 1 credit
• PLAS.2470: Thermodynamics - 3 credits
• MATH.2340 / MATH.2360: Differential Equations / Engineering Differential Equations - 3 credits
• Total: 14 credits

Junior Year

Fall Semester

• PLAS.0010: Plastics Safety Lecture I - 0 credits
• PLAS.3060: Methods of Experimental Analysis - 3 credits
• PLAS.3140: Fluid Flow - 3 credits
• PLAS.3150: Plastics Process Laboratory III - 1 credit
• PLAS.3770: Plastics Process Engineering I - 3 credits
• PLAS.3810: Polymer Science for Engineers I (QL) - 3 credits
• PLAS.3830: Polymer Science I Lab - 1 credit
• xxxx.xxxx: Arts and Humanities Perspective (AH) - 3 credits
• Total: 17 credits

Spring Semester

• PLAS.0020: Plastics Safety Lecture II - 0 credits
• PLAS.3160: Plastics Process Engineering Laboratory IV - 1 credit
• PLAS.3480: Heat Transfer - 3 credits
• PLAS.3730: Mold Engineering - 4 credits
• PLAS.3780: Plastics Process Engineering II - 3 credits
• PLAS.3820: Polymer Science for Engineers II - 3 credits
• PLAS.3840: Polymer Science II Lab - 1 credit
• PHIL.1030 / PHIL.2410: Introduction to Ethics / Engineering and Ethics (AH), (SRE) - 3 credits
• Total: 18 credits

Senior Year

Fall Semester

• PLAS.0010: Plastics Safety Lecture I - 0 credits
• PLAS.4030: Mechanical Behavior of Polymers - 3 credits
• PLAS.4040: Process Control (CTPS) - 3 credits
• PLAS.4150: Capstone Project I (IL), (WOC) - 1 credit
• xxxx.xxxx: Technical Elective - 3 credits
• xxxx.xxxx: Technical Elective - 3 credits
• xxxx.xxxx: Social Sciences Perspective (SS) - 3 credits
• Total: 16 credits

Spring Semester

• PLAS.0020: Plastics Safety Lecture II - 0 credits
• PLAS.4060: Polymer Structure, Properties and Applications - 3 credits
• PLAS.4160: Capstone Project II - 1 credit
• PLAS.4180: Product and Process Design - 3 credits
• xxxx.xxxx: Arts and Humanities Perspective (AH) - 3 credits
• xxxx.xxxx: Social Sciences Perspective (SS) - 3 credits
• xxxx.xxxx: Technical Elective - 3 credits
• Total: 16 credits

Total Minimum Credits

The total minimum credits required for the Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Plastics Engineering is 126 credits.

Notes

1. Appropriate honors courses may be substituted for students enrolled in the honors program.
2. The list of technical electives is in the undergraduate catalog. An upper-level technical course given by another Engineering Department can be substituted if pre-approved by your advisor.
3. Plastics Engineering students meet the Core Curriculum Essential Learning Outcome of Diversity and Cultural Awareness (DCA) outside of the major. See the DCA course listing for a complete list of options.
4. PLAS.2100 Professional Development Seminar may also be taken in spring of the junior year.

Breadth of Knowledge (BOK) Glossary

• SS: Social Sciences Perspective - 3 courses, 9 credits
• AH: Arts and Humanities Perspective - 3 courses, 9 credits
• SCL: Sciences with Lab Perspective - 2 courses, 6 credits
• STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Perspective - 1 course, 3 credits
• CW: College Writing I and II - 2 courses, 6 credits
• MATH: Math Perspective - 2 courses, 3 credits

Essential Learning Outcomes (ELO) Glossary

• AIL: Applied and Integrative Learning
• CTPS: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
• DCA: Diversity and Cultural Awareness
• IL: Information Literacy
• QL: Quantitative Literacy
• SRE: Social Responsibility and Ethics
• WOC: Written and Oral Communication