Bachelor of Science in Materials Engineering
Our undergraduate program is a 5-year program consisting of 3 major components:
| Fall | Winter | Spring | Summer |
| Freshman Year | Common Engineering Courses | Vacation! |
| Sophomore Year | Common Courses | Co-op |
| Pre-Junior Year | Materials Courses | Co-op |
| Junior Year | Materials Courses | Co-op |
| Senior Year | Materials Courses | Graduation! |
Drexel Engineering Core Curriculum (Years 1 & 2)
The innovative award winning introductory curriculum to engineering covers the first two years of the program and is common for all engineering students. During these two years, students may decide to switch to another engineering discipline without penalty. Undecided engineering students also have up until the end of their sophomore year to decide which discipline they wish to pursue.
The Core MATE Curriculum (Years 3, 4, & 5)
At this point, engineers begin taking courses specific to their major. This part of the program runs in parallel with the co-op program for the third and fourth year, and runs all 3 quarters of the senior year.
The Co-Op Program (Years 2, 3, & 4)
The Drexel Co-Op Program enables undergraduate students to balance classroom theory with practical experience prior to graduation. Every undergraduate spends three 6-month periods in industry, and gains valuable real-world skills that leads to improved learning and enhanced professional development.
B.S./M.S. Combined Degree in Materials Engineering
What is the Bachelor's/Master's (B.S./M.S.) Dual Degree Program?
It is an accelerated program providing the academically qualified student an opportunity to earn both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in program areas of his/her choice in five years, the time normally required to finish a bachelor's degree alone. Because both degrees are completed in the time usually required for just the bachelor's degree, you can get both degrees for the cost of the undergraduate program alone.
What are the real world advantages of completing the B.S./M.S. program?
The program combines the practical work experience of Drexel undergraduate cooperative education with the graduate credentials of an advanced degree. Students may earn both degrees in the same major, or may complete their master's degree in a different field. With both an undergraduate and graduate degree and practical work experience, B.S./M.S. graduates enter the work force with specialized knowledge and training—a definite plus which can give the Drexel B.S./M.S. student a wide range of career opportunities.
How can I complete two degrees and co-op in five years?
This is a demanding program. But several benefits are built into the B.S./M.S. dual degree program which make it possible to do in the time allotted. For instance, 12 fewer undergraduate credits are required for the degree. Also, co-op experiences may be adjusted (2 co-op periods instead of 3) giving the B.S./M.S. student two additional quarters to take courses. If needed, students may take one evening course per term while on co-op.
Who is eligible to apply for the program?
Exceptional students with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 and who are enrolled as five-year co-op students are eligible for the program. Students formally apply for the program after they have completed 90 credits and before completion of 120 credits, but are strongly encouraged to begin planning for it as early as their freshman year.
What is the application process?
Interested students must make formal application for the program to their dean. The application is accompanied by a Plan of Study, prepared in consultation with an undergraduate and graduate advisor and approved by-the department head and dean. Approval of entry into the program is granted by the undergraduate and graduate department heads and the academic dean.
What are the requirements?
Students enrolled in the B.S./M.S. program must complete 181 undergraduate quarter credits for the bachelor's degree and at least 45 graduate quarter credits for the master's degree. All graduate department requirements must be satisfied in full, including a thesis, if required by the program. Master's thesis requirements may be completed in the summer term of the final year with prior approval. B.S./M.S. students work closely with the program advisor to make sure that they are following their plan of study and progressing appropriately.
For additional information, contact Judith Trachtman at judith.trachtman@coe.drexel.edu or 215-895-2328.
B.S./Ph.D. Combined Degree in Materials Engineering
The College of Engineering's accelerated B.S./Ph.D. program, SuperNOVA, combines high-level research with the core engineering and departmental curricula required for a bachelor's degree. As early as their first year, SuperNOVA students begin working with faculty advisors, who guide them through research plans that are intended to culminate in the students' theses. Students and advisors work together to develop a personalized, research-intensive accelerated program that will result in an integrated B.S. and Ph.D. in as little as six or seven years as opposed to the traditional track of eight, nine or more years of sequential study.
Double Major including Materials Engineering
In addition to the courses taken by all engineering students in the freshman and sophomore years, students pursuing a Double Major including Materials Engineering must take MATE 130 (Materials Laboratory II) and CHEM 241 (Organic Chemistry I).
The Double Major including Materials Engineering requires the standard Materials curriculum, in addition to the courses required for the students joint major. For students taking a Double Major including Materials Engineering, the Senior Design Project should be performed jointly with the department in which the student is also majoring.
Minor in Materials Science and Engineering
In addition to the core engineering curriculum and the courses required for the major in Chemical, Civil, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering, students electing to pursue the Minor in Materials Engineering must take:
- MATE 221 – Intro. to Mechanical Behavior of Materials (3 credits)
as well as 21 or more credits from the following courses:
- MATE 215 - Intro. to Polymers (4 credits)
- MATE 240 - Thermodynamics of Materials (4 credits)
- MATE 245 - Kinetics of Materials (4 credits)
- MATE 370 - Mech. Behavavior of Solids (3 credits)
- MATE 455 - Biomedical Materials (3 credits)
- MATE /// - Structure & Characterization Cryst. Solids (3 credits)
- MATE /// - Defects in Solids (3 credits)
- MATE /// - Electronic & Photonic Materials (4 credits)
Substitution of these courses with equivalent courses offered by other departments and/or institutions may be made with the approval of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering on a case-by-case basis. At least 2/3 of the content of a substitute course must be the same as that of the course in the cited list. Some of the above courses do have prerequisites which are not included in the number of required credits but could possibly be used as technical or free electives in your home department.
Students taking the Minor in Materials Engineering are encouraged to select a Senior Design topic that is relevant to materials.
For additional information, contact Judith Trachtman at 215-895-2328 or judith.trachtman@coe.drexel.edu
Minor in Business, Major in MSE
Are you looking to be a leader
in the field of materials science and engineering?
Do you want to use your skills to
pursue entrepreneurial
endeavors and opportunities?
Majoring in Materials
Science and Engineering
with a Minor in Business
may be right for you!
The LeBow College of Business requires taking 6 of the following courses for a minor:
- ACCT 115: Financial Accounting Foundations
- BLAW 201: Business Law I
- BLAW 360: Intellectual property and Cyber Law
- FIN 301: Introduction to Finance
- FIN 335: Entrepreneurial Finance
- MKTG 301 WI: Introduction to Marketing Management
- MGMT 364: Technology Management
- MGMT 260: Introduction to Entrepreneurship
- MGMT 365: Business Planning for Entrepreneurs
- ECON 201: Economics I
- ECON 202: Economics II
Two of the courses listed, Economics I and II, are required by the MSE B.S. curriculum. Therefore, a student can receive a business minor by taking 4 of the other courses above in the place of the 3 liberal studies courses and 1 technical elective in the MSE B.S. curriculum. For students participating in the recently introduced specialization tracks program, a reduced track consisting of 3 courses will be decided upon. The business minor results in 3 additional credits compared to the regular curriculum (195 vs. 192).
Questions?
To find out more about the Business Minor in Materials, please contact Judy Trachtman, Academic Coordinator, at Judith.Trachtman@coe.drexel.edu or 215.895.2328
