This course is intended for incoming freshmen who are potentially interested in majoring in Materials Science and Engineering. Prerequisites are high school science courses that allow the student to be admitted to College of Engineering.

No required text. Reading material is distributed throughout the semester.

Other reading: The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman

The course is designed for students to learn the different classes of materials, what makes them different, and where they are used. The intent is for students to develop a strong interest in pursuing a degree in MS&E. The class encourages students to ask questions about the composition, microstructure, properties, processing, and applications of materials. But it does not attempt to give them complete answers. In this way it introduces the students to the subjects they will learn in the department.

The current course format is based around the materials in a CD boombox. In the class, groups of students (up to 4 per group) dissect a CD boombox and examine its components and the materials from which they are made. During the semester, there are several talks about the materials and materials and components that are used in the boombox. The topics have included crystal growth, IC fabrication, LEDs, composites, polymers, plastic extrusion, magnetic materials, and energy sources. In one of the class periods we use an SEM to look at parts students select from the boombox.

The students identify technologies that have been affected or created by advances in materials in the past 50 years. Each team chooses a technology and gives a talk (5 minutes per team member) on the materials issues that have advanced the technology.

Students are required to attend sessions outside of class to learn about the different engineering majors.

One reading assignment and class discussion is devoted to ethics.

The students are required to read The World is Flat so they learn how the world is changing and the competitive environment they will face in their professional careers.

50 minutes one time per week

The following statement indicates which of the following considerations are included in this course: economic, environmental, ethical, political, societal, health and safety, manufacturability, sustainability.

The students learn about new materials that are being developed and how they are used. They also learn that new materials may not make it into the mainstream due to economic, environmental, health and safety, and/or manufacturability issues. They also are introduced to ethics in engineering.

During the semester, students write one page summaries of the reading assignment and develop four questions about what they have read. The reading and questions are to prepare them for the talk, but they also encourage the students to start asking questions, even if they don’t get an answer to the question, as the questions are usually not answered, unless the student specifically asks the question in class. They also write a page summary of each talk. They write a summary of the SEM sessions. They get credit for each summary and question set they write. The team presentation is done towards the end of the semester. Each person on the team is talk for about 5 minutes. The students in the audience give each student feedback, and the instructor evaluates the content and delivery of each student’s presentation. The talks are video taped, and each student writes a critique of his/her presentation.