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B.S. in Materials Science Program

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Learn more about the program

Program Overview

The program is a new interdisciplinary major being launched in the academic year 2022-2023 by the Department of Physics in the College of Science and Technology, with required or elective courses in Physics, Chemistry, Math, Computer Science, and Engineering.
Four new focused courses (phenomenological, experimental, computational, and theoretical) will be offered. A major can specialize in either a “computational track” or a “synthesis/characterization track”, both well supported by faculty expertise in the Departments of Physics and Chemistry. All majors will have a two-semester capstone research experience with a Temple faculty member or as an intern in the materials industry.
​The B.S. in Materials Science can lead to employment in industry or to graduate study in Materials Science, Physics, and Chemistry.

Why Materials Science?

Materials science brings together quantum theory, computational design, synthesis, and characterization to understand, design, test, and produce novel materials for technological or industrial applications. It is becoming increasingly possible to design useful new materials on the computer, using density functional theory and/or artificial intelligence/machine learning.

What is unique about the program?

Materials science is usually taught in engineering schools. Temple University’s program, offered by the College of Science and Technology, focuses on the fundamental science that drives the development of quantum and energy materials, which largely represent future directions of materials research in both academia and industry.

Courses offered

Core courses (55 credits), including Elementary Classical Physics, Wave Physics, Intro to Modern Physics, and 3 new materials courses.​
Elective courses (15 credits), including Quantum Mechanics, Solid State Physics, and 1 new materials course.​
Senior Research/Capstone (6 credits).

Four new courses in materials science that are offered in the program:
  • Optical and Electronic Properties of Materials: Thin Films, Nanomaterials, and Materials for Energy Production (4 credits) ​
  • Quantum Materials: Properties, Characterization and Application (4 credits) ​
  • Computational Design of Novel and Quantum Materials (3 credits) ​
  • Theoretical/Computational Materials Science (3 credits) ​

Curriculum

Courses offered in Physics


Research Opportunities


​The program encourages all students to participate in interdisciplinary research within the College of Science and Technology and the College of Engineering.

Undergraduates have significant opportunities to conduct research under the guidance and supervision of our department faculty. Students can also look for research opportunities with faculty in Chemistry, Computer Science, and Engineering.
​

Learn more about research in
​Department of Physics

Learn more about research in
College of Science and Technology


Program Outcomes

The BS in Materials Science at Temple University is committed to educational excellence and seeks to graduate materials scientists who within five years of graduation will:
  • Be accepted for or engaged in Ph.D. study at top-tier research institutions. 
  • Be moving into leadership positions in private industry.
  • Have successfully transitioned into influential positions in related professional fields.

Additionally, students will have gained both conceptual knowledge and technical skills in materials science such that students will:
  • Have an understanding of materials based on physics, chemistry, mathematics, and computational science. 
  • Be capable of developing new materials as part of a team.
  • Be able to contribute to the improvement of existing materials.
  • Be able to develop new approaches to materials or to develop new analytical tools.

Student Outcomes

Students completing this program will have:
  • An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics and science to materials issues.
  • An ability to design and conduct experiments and to critically analyze and interpret data.
  • An ability to contribute to team efforts to design materials for specific applications. 
  • An ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, and to provide leadership to such teams
  • An ability to identify, formulate, and solve challenges in materials design.
  • An ability to communicate effectively. 
  • A knowledge of contemporary issues in materials science, applications, and society.
  • An ability to use modern techniques, skills, and experimental tools appropriate for materials research.
  • An integrated understanding of the structure, properties, and performance of materials systems.

Director of B.S. in Materials Science Program

Prof. John Perdew

Office: SERC Room 720D
Phone: 215-204-1407
email: perdew@temple.edu


TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS


Department of Physics (035-08)
Temple University
1925 N. 12th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19122-1801

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