Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Main Departmental Office
Discovery Park, Room E132

Mailing address:
1155 Union Circle #305310
Denton, TX 76203-5017
940-565-3260
Fax: 940-565-4824

Vijay Vasudevan, Chair

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering addresses the education and technological challenges of creating, applying and characterizing new materials for the 21st century. The Department of Materials Science and Engineering is committed to training students at the undergraduate and graduate levels in all aspects of modern materials including metals, ceramics, polymers, electronic and optical materials, and materials characterization. Students have opportunities for hands-on instruction and research with modern equipment and facilities. The department has strong collaborative programs with industries in the Dallas–Fort Worth region and with universities both locally and throughout the world.

The department offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, all with a major in materials science and engineering. Presently, the department has 18 tenured or tenure track faculty who divide their time between teaching and research in the different areas mentioned above. Research support comes from a variety of federal, state and industrial entities. The department has one of the most advanced analytical characterization facilities in the country, and both undergraduate and graduate students receive training on state-of-the-art equipment. Finally, the department has strong connections with industry and national research laboratories for cooperative education experiences and internships so that students can receive practical training in addition to classroom and laboratory instruction.

Students who graduate with a Bachelor of Science with a major in materials science and engineering can expect a very healthy job market and relatively high starting salaries in a variety of industries. In fact, materials science and engineering graduates are heavily sought after by industries of all types, including automotive, chemical, aerospace, microelectronics, magnetic storage, medical, transportation, sports, defense, forensics and manufacturing. A BS with a major in materials science and engineering also prepares students for continuing their education with a master’s or a doctoral degree either in materials science and engineering or in a related field.

The materials science and engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET (415 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201; 410-347-7700).

Vision and mission

The vision of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of North Texas is to have a world-class materials science and engineering research program with local, national and international scientific and technological impact; to provide an outstanding educational experience for a diverse student population; and to provide a collegial environment for students, staff and faculty.

The mission of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering is to provide a high quality engineering education to our diverse student population by maintaining a balance between the theoretical and applied aspects of materials science and engineering through course work, laboratories and independent research topics. The department provides national and international leadership in research and scholarship, and strives to build mutually beneficial partnerships with both internal and external collaborators, with alumni and with the professional and business communities. The department mission is aligned with the mission of the University of North Texas. Finally, the department facilitates a collegial atmosphere that is conducive to the intellectual and scholarly pursuits of its faculty and students.

Program educational objectives

Graduates will have successful careers in materials science and engineering or related disciplines.
Graduates will successfully participate in continuing education or education towards advanced degrees.

Student outcomes

Our student outcomes mirror the ABET outcomes:

An ability to identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics. (ABET 1)
An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors. (ABET 2)
An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences. (ABET 3)
An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and societal contexts. (ABET 4)
An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives (ABET 5)
An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions (ABET 6)
An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies. (ABET 7)

Research

The department has an active and robust research portfolio that ranges from fundamental studies to applications-oriented development programs. These research activities span economic sectors ranging from aerospace applications to electronic devices to biomaterials, and integrate both computational and experimental approaches. The department strives to create a learning environment, which includes multiple opportunities for research with integration of education and research activities. Students develop and practice teamwork and leadership skills, and expand their professional networks for future employment through research and internship programs with industry and national laboratories. In these programs, it is common to find both undergraduate and graduate students engaged together in diverse research teams in laboratories and centers/institutes, including the following.

Laboratories

The Laboratory of Polymers and Composites
Laboratory for Moving Mechanical Assemblies
Laboratory for Laser Materials Synthesis and Fabrication
Laboratory for Computational Materials Modeling
Laboratory for Electronic Materials and Devices
Advanced Metallic Materials and Manufacturing Processes (AM3P) Laboratory
The Materials Synthesis and Processing Laboratory
The Optoelectronic and Thin Films Laboratory
Structural Metallic Materials Laboratory

Centers/Institutes

Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Processing Institute
Additive Manufacturing Laboratory
NSF Center for Friction Stir Welding
UNT Materials Research Facility
ARL South Campus Research Center

Programs

Majors

Materials Science and Engineering, BS

Grad Track Options

Minors

Materials Science and Engineering minor

Courses

Materials Science and Engineering

Quicklinks

Catalog