Coordinator: Christopher Hughes
Email: hugheswc@jmu.edu
Phone: (540) 568-8069
Materials Science Minor Website
Program Description
The educational mission of the Center for Materials Science is to develop and maintain an innovative cross disciplinary and multidisciplinary undergraduate program in materials science that will increase the maturation of students, their research experience and their employment opportunities. The mission includes the integration of undergraduate education with basic and applied research in materials science. Faculty and students focus on problems of interest to industry and government in materials processing, materials characterization, materials applications and thermal sciences including thermal structural interactions and infrared analysis.
Minor Requirements
The minor in materials science includes four major components:
- Choice of an entry-level introductory course in materials science.
- Lecture or laboratory course that emphasizes more specialized areas in materials science.
- Materials science electives that can include all specialized courses.
- Research or an additional materials science lecture or laboratory experience.
Courses for the minor are offered through the departments of chemistry, geology and environmental studies, integrated science and technology, mathematics, and physics.
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| MATS/PHYS/CHEM 375 | An Introduction to Materials Science | 3 |
| or ISAT 430 | Materials and Manufacturing Processes |
| 3 |
| PHYS 381 | Materials Characterization (Lecture/Lab) | 3 |
| or ISAT 432 | Materials Selection in Product Design |
| 3 |
| 9 |
| Mineralogy (3, 2) | |
| Introduction to Petrology (3, 3) | |
| Materials and Intermediate Solid Mechanics | |
| Solid State Physics | |
| Materials Characterization (Lecture/Lab) | |
| Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | |
| Physical Chemistry I | |
| Materials Selection in Product Design | |
| Polymer Chemistry | |
| Science of the Small
and Science of the Small Laboratory | |
| Science of the Small
and Science of the Small Laboratory | |
| |
| Selected Topics in Chemistry (materials science) | |
| Topics in Geology (materials science) | |
| Topics in Integrated Science and Technology (i.e., light metals) | |
| Undergraduate Materials Science Research | |
| Topics in Physics (materials science) | |
| 9 |
| 3 |
| Undergraduate Chemical Research (A, B, C) (in materials science, 2-4 credits) | |
| Work-Based Learning Experiences in Geology and Environmental Science (in materials science, 1-3 credits) | |
| Senior Capstone Project I
and Senior Capstone Project II
and Senior Capstone Project III (in materials science, 6 credits) | |
| Undergraduate Research in Physics or Astronomy (in materials science, 2-4 credits) | |
| Undergraduate Materials Science Research (1-3 credits, repeatable to 6 credits) | |
| 3 |
| Total Credits | 18 |
