New Engineering Undergrad Degree Blends Multiple Areas

"The future of engineering is interdisciplinary and flexible," said Dr. Stephanie G. Adams, Jonsson School dean and holder of the Lars Magnus Ericsson Chair and professor of systems engineering. "The Jonsson School continues to prepare students for tomorrow with this new bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering. This new degree program combines engineering with physics, chemistry and more to give students flexible foundations in how they will impact the world through their chosen career."

Materials science is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding how materials are made, how their properties can be changed and how they can be used to develop new technologies. Materials scientists work with substances ranging from metals and polymers to silicon and biomaterials.

The Bachelor of Science in materials science and engineering prepares students for graduate study or industry careers. Graduates of the program will be prepared for careers in a wide range of industries in the semiconductor, manufacturing, aerospace, biomedical and energy sectors.

"We're excited to offer a new materials science and engineering degree at the undergraduate level that gives students a foundation in multiple fields and teaches them how to bring those perspectives together to understand and develop new materials," said Dr. Manuel Quevedo-Lopez, professor and department head of materials science and engineering.

Quevedo-Lopez, who also holds the Texas Instruments Distinguished University Chair in Nanoelectronics, said the interdisciplinary nature of materials science helps prepare students for the next step in their aspirations.

"Materials science encompasses several science and engineering disciplines that allow our students to develop a unique set of skills ideal for either the current job market or graduate school," he said.

The degree program may appeal to students who do not want to focus on a single discipline, said Quevedo-Lopez, who also directs the Center for Harsh Environments Semiconductor Systems (CHESS) at UT Dallas. Students in the program can tailor their coursework to specialize in semiconductors or energy.

Students also can gain hands-on research experience through programs and centers, including CHESS, the North Texas Semiconductor Institute and the Batteries and Energy to Advance Commercialization and National Security center, that are focused on areas such as semiconductors, energy storage and electronics for extreme environments.

The degree program offers a fast-track master's degree option for well-qualified students, who can take graduate-level courses as they are completing their bachelor's degrees. Students can also pursue master's and doctoral degrees in materials science and engineering at UT Dallas.

In recent years, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering also has developed technology certificate programs, including a Certificate in Semiconductor Technology and a Certificate in Sustainable Energy Engineering, that allow undergraduates from all disciplines to gain specialized knowledge in emerging areas. Students in the new bachelor's degree program can embed either certificate program in their studies without adding credit hours.

Dr. Manuel Quevedo-Lopez (left), professor and department head of materials science and engineering and Texas Instruments Distinguished University Chair in Nanoelectronics, stands with fellow materials science and engineering faculty members outside the Natural Science and Engineering Research Laboratory.