Program Overview

Materials Science Program

The Materials Science program at Oregon State University offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers the fundamentals of materials science, including crystal structure, microstructure, and physical properties of metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, and amorphous materials.

Course Offerings

• MATS 321: Introduction to Materials Science (4 Credits)
  • Crystal structure, microstructure, and physical properties of metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, and amorphous materials.
  • Elementary mechanical behavior and phase equilibria.
  • Prerequisite: CH 202 with C or better or CH 222Z with C or better or CH 232 with C or better or CH 232H with C or better
• MATS 321H: Introduction to Materials Science (4 Credits)
  • Crystal structure, microstructure, and physical properties of metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, and amorphous materials.
  • Elementary mechanical behavior and phase equilibria.
  • Attributes: HNRS Honors Course Designator
  • Prerequisite: CH 202 with C or better or CH 222Z with C or better or CH 232 with C or better or CH 232H with C or better
• MATS 322: Mechanical Properties of Materials (4 Credits)
  • Examines mechanical behavior of materials, relating laboratory test results to material structure and elements of mechanical analysis.
  • Prerequisite: MATS 321 with C or better or MATS 321H with C or better or ENGR 321 with C or better or ENGR 321H with C or better
• MATS 413: Thermodynamics of Materials (4 Credits)
  • Explores the statistical interpretation of entropy, heat capacity, enthalpy of condensed phases, solution thermodynamics, liquid-solid and solid-solid phase equilibria.
  • Prerequisite: MATS 321 with C or better or MATS 321H with C or better
• MATS 441: Physical Metallurgy (3 Credits)
  • Introduction to properties of metals and alloys including solidification, diffusion, solid solutions, intermediate phases, annealing, heat treatment, and phase transformation.
  • Prerequisite: MATS 321 with C or better
• MATS 445: Welding Metallurgy (4 Credits)
  • Theory-based course focused on the metallurgy of welds, including welding/joining processes, heat input, diffusion, solidification, phase transformation, materials compatibility, and welding defects.
  • Prerequisite: MATS 321 with C or better or ENGR 321 with C or better or ENGR 321H with C or better
• MATS 478: Thin Film Materials Characterization and Properties (4 Credits)
  • Processing of thin films and characterization of the microstructure; diffusion and solid state reactions; mechanical, magnetic, and electronic properties of thin films.
  • Prerequisite: (ME 311 with C or better or ME 311H with C or better or NSE 311 with C or better or NSE 311H with C or better) and (ENGR 321 with C or better or ENGR 321H with C or better or MATS 321 with C or better or MATS 321H with C or better) and (ENGR 322 with C or better or MATS 322 with C or better)
• MATS 499: Special Topics (1-16 Credits)
  • This course is repeatable for 16 credits.
• MATS 503: Thesis (1-16 Credits)
  • This course is repeatable for 999 credits.
• MATS 506: Projects (1-16 Credits)
  • This course is repeatable for 16 credits.
• MATS 507: Seminar (1-16 Credits)
  • This course is repeatable for 16 credits.
• MATS 545: Welding Metallurgy (4 Credits)
  • Theory-based course focused on the metallurgy of welds, including welding/joining processes, heat input, diffusion, solidification, phase transformation, materials compatibility, and welding defects.
  • Recommended: MATS 321 or MATS 570
• MATS 555: Experimental Techniques in Material Science (4 Credits)
  • Materials processing, characterization, computational, and data analysis techniques in materials science.
  • Prerequisite: MATS 570 with C or better
  • This course is repeatable for 8 credits.
  • Recommended: MATS 321
• MATS 570: Structure-Property Relations in Materials (4 Credits)
  • Fundamentals of the interactions between the structure and properties of materials.
  • Atomic bonding and atom interactions, geometric and algebraic representations of symmetry.
  • Introduction to phase equilibria, phenomenological background of elasticity and plasticity in materials.
  • Equivalent to: ME 570
• MATS 571: Electronic Properties of Materials (4 Credits)
  • Development of a quantitative description of the electronic structure of solids.
  • Equivalent to: ME 571
  • Recommended: CH 545 or ME 570
• MATS 578: Thin Film Materials Characterization and Properties (4 Credits)
  • Processing of thin films and characterization of the microstructure; diffusion and solid state reactions; mechanical, magnetic, and electronic properties of thin films.
• MATS 581: Thermodynamics of Solids (4 Credits)
  • Thermodynamics of solutions and phase equilibrium, phase diagrams and invariant reactions.
  • Order and disorder in solutions, applications to advanced materials development.
• MATS 582: Rate Processes in Materials (3 Credits)
  • Diffusion in solids, including vacancy and interstitial and short-circuit diffusion.
  • Phase transformations including classic nucleation and growth theory.
  • Prerequisite: MATS 581 with C or better or ME 581 with C or better
  • Equivalent to: ME 582
• MATS 584: Advanced Fracture of Materials (4 Credits)
  • Fracture mechanics will be used as a basis for predicting failure of materials, understanding failure mechanisms, and identifying causes of failure.
  • Equivalent to: ME 584
  • Recommended: ENGR 322
• MATS 587: Dislocations, Deformation, and Creep (4 Credits)
  • The effects of point, line, and planar defects on plastic deformation and creep behavior in solids.
  • Equivalent to: ME 587
  • Recommended: ENGR 322
• MATS 588: Computational Methods in Materials Science (4 Credits)
  • A broad introduction to important materials science simulation methods.
  • Equivalent to: ME 588
  • Recommended: Experience with Matlab or Mathematica or an equivalent numerical and programming environment.
• MATS 599: Special Topics (1-16 Credits)
  • This course is repeatable for 16 credits.
• MATS 603: Thesis (1-16 Credits)
  • This course is repeatable for 999 credits.
• MATS 625: Materials and Surface Characterization (3 Credits)
  • Covers scientific principles of surface and structural characterization techniques.
  • Equivalent to: CH 625, CHE 625, PH 625
• MATS 659: Principles of Transmission Electron Microscopy (4 Credits)
  • This lecture-only course covers basic principles of transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
  • Recommended: MATS 570 and (CH 616 or MATS 555)
• MATS 671: Electronic Properties of Oxides (3 Credits)
  • Emphasizes band theory of solids applied to metal oxide materials.
  • Equivalent to: ME 671
  • Recommended: MATS 571 or PH 575

Program Structure

The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of materials science, including the structure, properties, and applications of various materials. The curriculum includes a range of courses that cover the fundamentals of materials science, as well as more advanced topics in areas such as thermodynamics, mechanical properties, and electronic properties.

Research Areas

The Materials Science program at Oregon State University has a strong research focus, with faculty members working in a range of areas, including:

• Materials synthesis and characterization
• Mechanical properties and behavior
• Electronic and optical properties
• Thermodynamics and phase equilibria
• Computational materials science

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Materials Science program at Oregon State University are well-prepared for careers in a range of industries, including:

• Aerospace and defense
• Energy and environment
• Electronics and optoelectronics
• Biomedical and healthcare
• Manufacturing and materials processing