Program Overview

Metallurgy of Iron & Steel Program

The Metallurgy of Iron & Steel program is offered by McMaster University Continuing Education. This program has been serving learners in the local region for more than 50 years and is the only academic certificate in metallurgy in the country.

Program Overview

The program is developed in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering and is offered entirely online, giving students the flexibility to complete courses at their own pace. The interactive learning platform allows students to collaborate and network with peers and learn from industry experts.

Program Highlights

• Interactive classroom
• Learn from industry experts
• Collaborate and network with peers
• Open enrolment program

Learning Outcomes

• Explore the production of iron
• Examine the BOF and EAF routes of steel-making
• Understand metal structure and crystallography
• Chemical reactions and thermodynamics related to the production of steel and how they impact the environment
• Key processes of iron making from the raw materials (iron ore pellet, sinter, coke and flux)
• Relationship between structure and physical properties of metals and alloys
• Understand metal structure and crystallography, alloy theory, mechanical properties and plastic deformation, phase diagrams, the iron-carbon diagram, alloy steels and cast irons
• Learn how to control the properties of steel from the atoms out
• Design and translate optimum steel microstructures into commercial processes
• Theory and practice of manufacturing steel products
• Topics such as carbon and alloy steels, hot-working, cold-working and the manufacturing of common product forms (including both rod and bar, and flat-rolled steel) and welding technology

Certificate in Metallurgy of Iron & Steel

To be eligible for the Certificate in Metallurgy of Iron & Steel, students must successfully complete all five core courses listed below.

Core Courses

• MET 449: Primary Production of Steel
• MET 450: Physical Metallurgy - Fundamentals & Applications
• MET 451: Heat Treatment of Steels
• MET 452: Steels in Service
• MET 453: Steel Products Manufacturing

Program Requirements

• Academic Credit: 15 units
• Students should register for the first course in the program at least three weeks before it begins.
• Note: Students may enroll in multiple courses each term. It is recommended to include MET 450 in the first term of study and to conclude the program with MET 453.
• The Metallurgy of Iron & Steel Certificate program does not require you to be proficient in chemistry but some basic knowledge is strongly suggested to be successful in the program.

Tentative Schedule of Courses

Below is a tentative schedule of courses to help students plan for completion of the certificate:

Who Should Take This Program

Anyone who works in steel manufacturing or fabrication who needs a working knowledge of metals, their properties and applications, this could include (but is not limited to):

• Sales representatives
• Technologists
• Machinists
• Engineers from non-metallurgy disciplines
• Managers
• Administrators
• Quality assurance workers
• Welders
• Purchasers

Important Update

McMaster University Continuing Education is phasing out the current Metallurgy of Iron & Steel Certificate program. Spring 2022 will be the last term new students will be able to start the program. We are committed to assisting our current students in completing program requirements. Except for MET 450 Physical Metallurgy which will have a final offering in Spring 2022, all other metallurgy courses will continue to be offered up to and including the Fall 2023 term, as per a developed schedule of courses, to allow you to complete the program. To complete and graduate from the program, you must complete your final course(s) before or during the Fall 2023 term.