Requirements
The materials science option customized to include applied courses in a variety of materials areas to enhance career opportunities in, for example, electronics, polymers and biotechnology. Students can earn a chemistry degree in four years while targeting a career in this field or preparing for graduate school in chemistry or related areas.
Chemistry core (79 - 81 credits)
Materials science option (30-33 credits)
Notes
aMTH 112 can be taken to prepare for MTH 251 if the score on ALEKS Math Placement assessment is 60-74. MTH 112 is not a required course for the chemistry degree.
bChemistry majors are strongly encouraged to take the chemistry major's orientation course, CH 220, Careers in Chemistry, fall term. This is 1cr (P/N).
cFor electives, choose three courses from the following list:
- CH 401 or CHE 401 Research (3)
- ENGR 221 The Science, Engineering And Social Impact of Nanotechnology (3)
- ME 581 Thermodynamics Of Solids (4)
- ECE 416 Electronic Materials and Devices (4)
- MATS 322 Mechanical Properties of Materials (3)
- ENGR 212 Dynamics (3)
- ME 316 Mechanics of Materials (3)
All pre-requisite courses to ENGR, CBEE or CHE courses require a C or better grade.
dCH 445 and CH 448 are not taught every year. CH 513 substitutes for this requirement otherwise CH 513 or CH 417X can be used as a material science elective.
Note: Students will be assigned a chemistry advisor involved in materials science in chemistry.
The order of courses is suggested. For the track-two core courses (CH, MTH, PH), the order is critical because of prerequisites and the fact that most CH courses are taught only one term per year. The options courses (ENGR, CHE, ME, etc.) can be taken at different times than indicated, but one must be concerned with the prerequisites and the fact that many of these courses are taught only one term per year.
Bacc Core courses are not shown in the table but are specified as Baccalaureate Core Requirements
This timetable is based on the courses in the enforced curriculum not necessarily listed in the OSU catalog.
Additional information
- If students choose the analytical chemistry sequence CH 421, 422, 461, only one inorganic course (3 cr), CH 411, is required. CH 411 and CH 412 are a sequence so that CH 411 is the specified inorganic chemistry course.
- CH 462 is the recommended WIC course and CH 422 is strongly recommended as a co-requisite. If this course does not fit with your schedule you can take one of the other WIC lab courses (CH 464 Fall or CH 463 Spring).
- Students will need to contact the College of Engineering to obtain approval to enroll in restricted ENGR courses; for CBEE course overrides, contact the CBEE Advising Office, and for MATS courses, contact the MIME Advising office MIME.Advising@oregonstate.edu. Please make sure that you indicate on your override request form that you are in the materials science option in the B.S. in chemistry degree. Students should first complete math through MTH 256 and the physics sequence through PH 212.
- Students interested in materials science are encouraged to do undergraduate research in this area. Contact one of our researchers in chemistry materials sciences or in the MIME department for example.
- The elective courses for the materials science option are to be approved by the student's academic adviser by the end of the winter quarter of the junior year. A maximum of three credits of research (CH 401 or CHE 401) can be applied to the program.
Enforced materials science courses (30-33 cr.)
Select one of the three following courses:
Physical Chemistry of Materials (3) or Surface Chemistry (3) or Solid State Chemistry (3)
Note: CH 445 or 448 are rarely taught
- CH 445 or CH 448 or CH 513
Polymer Engineering and Science (4)
Statics (3)
Strength of Materials (3)
Introduction to Materials Science (4)
Applied Differential Equations (4)
Material science electives (9-12 cr,)
Select three elective courses from the following list:
- CH 401 or CHE 401 Research (3)
- ECE 416 Electronic Materials and Devices (4)
- ENGR 212 Dynamics (3)
- ENGR 221 The Science, Engineering And Social Impact of Nanotechnology (3)
- MATS 322 Mechanical Properties of Materials (3)
- ME 316 Mechanics of Materials (3)
- ME 581 Thermodynamics Of Solids (4)
Typical course availability
Required courses
CH 513 Solid State Chemistry (3-4)
- Spring term
- Prerequisites: CH 442 recommended
CHE 445 Polymer Engineering and Science (4)
- Fall term
- Prerequisites: CH 336 and MTH 256
CHE 446 Polymer Engineering and Science (4)
- Spring term
- Prerequisites: CH 336 and MTH 256
ENGR 211 Statics (3)
- Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer term
- Prerequisites: MTH 252
ENGR 213 Strength of Materials (3)
- Fall, Winter and Spring term
- Prerequisites: ENGR 211
MATS 321 Introduction to Materials Science (4)
- Fall and Winter term
- Prerequisites: CH 232/272
MTH 256 Applied Differential Equations (4)
- Fall, Winter and Spring term
- Prerequisites: MTH 254
Electives
CH 401 or CHE 401 Undergraduate research (3)
- Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer term
- Prerequisites: Instructor approval
CH 513 Solid State Chemistry (3)
- Spring term
- Prerequisites: CH 442 recommended
ECE 416 Electronic Materials and Devices (4)
- Fall term
- Prerequisites: ENGR 201 or equivalent
ENGR 212 Dynamics (3)
- Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer term
- Prerequisites: ENGR 211 and PH 211
ENGR 221 The Science, Engineering And Social Impact Of Nanotechnology (3)
- Fall term
- Prerequisites: One Year of College Science
MATS 322 Mechanical Properties of Materials (3)
- Winter and Spring term
- Prerequisites: ENGR 213, MATS 321
ME 316 Mechanics of Materials (3)
- Fall and Winter term
- Prerequisites: ENGR 213 and MTH 256
ME 581 Thermodynamics of Solids (4) (cross listed as MATS 581)
* = may be taken currently