BS-MATE - B.S. in Materials Engineering

Advanced technologies in for example the electronic or aerospace industries, are often initiated with innovations in new Materials. These innovations rest on a fundamental understanding of how the structure of a Material at different length scales, ranging from sub-atomic to nano-, to micro- and macro-scale influences material properties. The state of the Material at these length scales are probed by various characterizing methods, which provide understanding of mechanisms responsible for observed phenomenon. Thereby Material problems can be resolved and innovations made that are both efficient and based on solid scientific principles. The undergraduate Materials program provides this foundations in an academic atmosphere that fosters growth and collaboration. With a small class size, students have the opportunity to interact closely with professors and conduct research in laboratories.
Students are exposed to Materials science principles starting from their freshman year and continuing through their senior year. A number of options are available in the department so that students have the flexibility to select courses that suit a specialization. In addition to theoretical courses, students obtain an excellent experience in processing and characterization techniques during their junior and senior years, these constituting the core of most experimental research and innovations. Material probing methods include spectroscopic (e.g. X-ray, FTIR, Raman), electron microscopic, thermal, and mechanical characterization.
The processing-structure-property relations are developed and expanded upon throughout the undergraduate curriculum. Four classes in the junior year target the theories used to understand characteristics of metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites. Senior-level elective Materials courses target specialized topics such as electronic, structural, nano Materials, biomaterials, and computational Materials science. The senior design sequence emphasizes the synthesis of skills and ideas as well as providing experience in teamwork and practical design.
Research experience for the students is available and encouraged through part-time employment in the broad range of Materials research projects that are on-going in the department and also in other in-house research entities, such as the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center and the Petroleum Recovery Research Center. Departmental collaborations with scientists at Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories provide another avenue for student involvement in research projects. Many of our students pursue graduate degrees either at New Mexico Tech or elsewhere while others seek employment directly.
The department operates and maintains a broad range of instrumentation. A full list of these resources is available on the department’s web site. Of particular note is the broad range of microscopy capabilities for research and instruction, including scanning electron microscopes, Auger probe and a scanning probe (atomic force) microscope.