Course Schedule and Catalog

Long Title: MATERIALS SCIENCE

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Distribution Group: Distribution Group III

Credit Hours: 3

Description: Introduction to the science of solid materials. Includes metals, ceramics, plastics, and semiconductors, as well as the properties of solid materials from atomic and macroscopic points of view. Required for mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering majors.

Long Title: MATERIALS SCIENCE JUNIOR LAB

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Laboratory

Credit Hours: 1

Description: Selected lab experiments in materials science. Open only to junior materials science and engineering majors. Required for materials science and engineering majors. At the start of the semester, please check with the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science for the time and location of the organizational meeting for the course.

Long Title: APPLIED MATERIALS ENGINEERING

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory

Credit Hours: 1

Description: Practical application of the basic principles of materials science. Includes case studies of failures under a variety of conditions, as well as topics in the fabrication and heat treatment of metallic materials.

Long Title: INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 4

Description: Introduction of fundamental aspects of design through semester-long group projects. Open to non-majors only with permission of instructor. Required for materials science and engineering majors.

Long Title: THERMODYNAMICS AND TRANSPORT PHENOMENA IN MATERIALS SCIENCE

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 4

Description: Unified presentation of the kinetics and thermodynamics of mass and energy transport. Includes heterogeneous equilibrium, diffusion in solids, and heat transfer, as well as their application to engineering design. Required for materials science and engineering majors.

Long Title: MECH PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite(s): MATH 211

Description: Survey of the mechanical properties of solid materials. Includes basic mechanics, elasticity, plasticity, fracture, fatigue, creep, hardening mechanisms, mechanical testing, and structure-property relationships. Required for materials science and engineering majors.

Long Title: MATERIALS ENGINEERING AND DESIGN

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory

Credit Hours: 4

Description: Exploration of technological aspects of materials selection, design, failure, and analysis. Lab time spent in an industrial setting. Open to non-majors only with permission of instructor. Required for materials science and engineering majors.

Long Title: PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOLIDS

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite(s): MATH 211

Description: Survey of the electrical, magnetic, and optical properties of metals, semiconductors, and dielectrics based upon elementary band theory concepts. Required for materials science and engineering majors. Not offered every year.

Long Title: METALLOGRAPHY AND PHASE RELATIONS

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite(s): MSCI 301

Description: Study of microstructures that may be observed in metals and alloys, optical metallography (in addition to more sophisticated techniques), and the relationships between structural properties and failures. Required for materials science and engineering majors.

Long Title: CERAMICS AND GLASSES

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Description: Fundamentals of ceramic and glassy materials, including phase relations, theoretical properties, structure, bonding, and design.

Long Title: MATERIALS SCIENCE SEMINAR

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Course Type: Seminar

Credit Hours: 0

Description: A series of seminars on selected topics in Materials Science. Required for materials science and engineering majors. Repeatable for Credit.

Long Title: MATERIALS SCIENCE SEMINAR

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Course Type: Seminar

Credit Hours: 1

Description: See MSCI 500. Required for materials science and engineering majors. Repeatable for Credit.

Long Title: COMPUTATIONAL NANOMECHANICS

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Description: Fundamentals of mechanical properties in nanometer scale. Role of discrete structure, underlying atomic, molecular and interfacial forces is illustrated with modern examples. Includes overview of computational modeling methods with the emphasis on multi-scale physics. Accessible for senior undergraduates. Instructor Permission Required.

Long Title: PROPERTIES, SYNTHESIS AND DESIGN OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Description: Study of the science of interfaces and the properties that govern their use in composite materials. Not offered every year.

Long Title: CRYSTALLOGRAPHY AND DIFFRACTION

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Description: Study of crystals by x-ray, electron and neutron diffraction. Includes basic diffraction theory as well as methods for characterizing the structure, composition and stresses in crystalline materials. Required for undergraduate materials science and engineering majors. Cross-list: PHYS 535.

Long Title: CRYSTALLOGRAPHY AND DIFFRACTION LAB

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Laboratory

Credit Hours: 1

Description: Selected lab experiments in materials science. Required for undergraduate materials science and engineering majors.

Long Title: THIN FILMS

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Description: Exploration of materials issues relevant to thin films. Includes techniques for vapor phase deposition of thin films (e.g., evaporation, sputtering, and chemical vapor deposition), epitaxy, generation of thin film defects, strain, growth anisotropy, and grain structure, as well as electrical, optical, and magnetic properties of thin film materials and structures. Cross-list: ELEC 545.

Long Title: ADVANCED METALLURGICAL LAB I

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Laboratory

Credit Hours: 1

Description: Students whose interest lies primarily in the field of materials and metallurgy are given the opportunity for research in these fields. Instructor Permission Required.

Long Title: CORROSION SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite(s): MSCI 301

Description: Survey of surface activity and corrosion processes on metals, semiconductors, and insulating materials. Survey of the principles and theories of corrosion, corrosion testing, and the selection of materials for corrosion prevention. Not offered every year.

Long Title: SENIOR DESIGN THESIS PROJECT

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Laboratory

Credit Hours: 2

Description: A design project in the materials science field will be undertaken by the student in close collaboration with at least one materials science faculty member.

Long Title: SENIOR DESIGN THESIS PROJECT

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 2

Description: A design project in the materials science field will be undertaken by the student in close collaboration with at least one materials science faculty member.

Long Title: MICROSCOPY METHODS IN MATERIALS SCIENCE

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture/Laboratory

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite(s): MSCI 535

Description: This course focuses on theories, applications, and sample preparation for various microscopy methods including Atom Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron Micrscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and related spectroscopy techniques. Hands on experience is emphasized. Students are expected to be able to independently operate related instruments after taking the course.

Long Title: POLYMER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite(s): CHEM 211 AND CHEM 212

Description: Basic concepts in macromolecular chemistry and their application in the synthesis and chemical modification of polymers.

Long Title: PROPERTIES OF POLYMERS

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Description: Study of the molecular organization and physical properties of polymeric materials. Includes elastomeric, semi-crystalline, and glassy polymers, as well as the processing and technology of polymeric systems. Required for materials science and engineering majors. Cross-list: CHBE 594.

Long Title: CHEMISTRY OF ELECTRONIC MATERIALS

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Description: A review of the chemical processes involved in the manufacture of microelectronic chips, including: crystallization, purification, oxidation, thin film methods, lithography and ceramic processing. Usually alternates with CHEM 595. Open to undergraduates by special permission only. Cross-list: CHEM 596.

Long Title: POLYMER SYNTHESIS, SOFT MATERIALS AND NANOCOMPOSITES

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Description: The course will cover methods of characterization and some basic synthetic polymer methods (step growth and chain growth approaches). New synthetic polymer methods will be presented including ATRP, ADMET, ROMP, metallocene catalysts and the development of flame retardant polymer blends. Carbon-carbon composites will be discussed, along with the functionalization of carbon nanotubes and their use in nanocomposites. Cross-list: CHBE 597, CHEM 597. Repeatable for Credit.

Long Title: TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Description: This course is intended for graduate students in science and engineering who are interested in gaining an understanding of the business of technology. Particular emphasis is placed on the financial and human resources management, business strategy, patents, trademarks, and licenses, as well as new business start-up and development. Cross-list: CHEM 603.

Long Title: THEORETICAL FRACTURE MECHANICS

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Description: Topics on the theory of linear and nonlinear fracture mechanics. Energetics of fracture, the J-integral, stress and strain fields near crack tips, R-curve behavior. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: MECH 518.

Long Title: CRYSTAL THERMODYNAMICS

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Description: Discussion of potentials and third-order elastic constants. Includes the lattice dynamics of harmonic phonons and antiharmonic perturbation expansion, as well as the contribution of electrons to the thermodynamics quantities. Not offered every year.

Long Title: INDEPENDENT STUDY

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Independent Study

Credit Hours: 1 TO 9

Long Title: INDEPENDENT STUDY

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Independent Study

Credit Hours: 1 TO 9

Long Title: SPECIAL TOPICS

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Independent Study

Credit Hours: 1 TO 9

Description: Topics may vary. Please consult with the department for additional information.

Long Title: SPECIAL TOPICS

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 1 TO 9

Description: Topics may vary. Please consult with the department for additional information.

Long Title: AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING: MATERIALS AND DYNAMICS

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 1 TO 3

Description: Discussion of the engineering and materials technology that is involved in modern automotive design. Topics include: chassis design and construction; composite design and fabrication; aerodynamics and ground effects; suspension dynamics; performance technology. External expert speakers will provide a real-world perspective. Course will only be offered with sufficient demand. Check with the instructor. Repeatable for Credit.

Long Title: AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING:

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Laboratory

Credit Hours: 1 TO 3

Description: Laboratory application of engineering skills towards the materials technology and dynamics of chassis design, composite design, and fabrication, aerodynamics, and performance technology. Instructor Permission Required. Repeatable for Credit.

Long Title: M.M.S. RESEARCH PROJECT I

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Research

Credit Hours: 3

Description: This is the first part of the M.M.E. research project course. The faculty advisor, taking into account the background and research interests of the student as well as the research interests of the faculty advisor, will determine the contents. Course requirements will include a final report.

Long Title: M.M.S. RESEARCH PROJECT II

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Research

Credit Hours: 3

Description: This is the second part of the M.M.E. research project and continuation of MECH 621. Course requirements will include a final report.

Long Title: ANALYTICAL SPECTROSCOPIES: TOOLS IN MATERIALS SCIENCE

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite(s): MSCI 402 AND MSCI 535

Description: Exploration of concepts in vacuum technology, thin film metallization, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Augen electron spectroscopy, and x-ray absorption fine structure. Includes lab sessions on XPS and EXAFS analysis. Not offered every year.

Long Title: THERMODYNAMICS OF ALLOYS

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Description: Examinations of relations between classical thermodynamics and statistical mechanics as applied to an understanding of solid and liquid alloys. Includes solid-solid, liquid-solid, and gas-solid equilibriums in metallurgy. Not offered every year.

Long Title: TRANSFORMATION IN ALLOYS

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Description: Study of diffusion in metals and alloys. Includes the mechanism and phenomenology of diffusion- controlled transformations, precipitation from saturated alloys and liquid solutions, and transformations in heat-treated alloys. Not offered every year.

Long Title: CONDUCTION PHENOMENA IN SOLIDS

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Prerequisite(s): MSCI 406

Description: Survey of fundamental aspects of electron and energy transport in conductors, semiconductors, and insulators. Not offered every year. Recommended prerequisite(s): MSCI 406 or equivalent.

Long Title: MANAGEMENT FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Description: This course is designed for science and engineering students who want to understand the management of new and/or small technology based businesses. The course is taught in modular format to give students insights into how technology oriented firms manage intellectual property, marketing, organization behavior, strategy, accounting and finance. Concepts covered will be particularly relevant to students interested in careers in technology or entrepreneurial ventures. This course is part of a two- class sequence and provides the foundation for students taking "NEW VENTURE CREATION for SCIENCE and ENGINEERING" which is offered in the spring. Cross-list: CHEM 750, MGMT 750.

Long Title: NEW VENTURE CREATION FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

Department: *Mech Eng & Materials Science*

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Credit Hours: 3

Description: This course deals with the concepts and theories relevant to new venture creation. Our primary focus is the start-up process with particular emphasis being placed on market issues, intellectual property and entrepreneurial finance. As part of the course we will evaluate the commercial potential of a live technology drawn from the Rice engineering/science community. The concepts covered will be particularly relevant to students who are interested in careers in technology or entrepreneurial ventures. Course is offered to senior and graduate students. Cross-list: CHEM 751, MGMT 751.