Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
2024-2025 Academic Catalog
Total Credits: 120
The 4-year plan described on this page is one possible example of how our degree requirements can go together. The plan was designed to support flexibility, allowing students to choose the path that makes the most sense for their future plans. We strongly encourage you to meet with your MSE Advisor to select the elective options that best meet your goals. Content on this page is provided as a quick reference for planning. All official course descriptions and degree requirements are published on the Undergraduate Catalog site. Updated June 2024.
First Year
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| Semester | Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| Fall | CHEM 111 | General Chemistry I FN | 3 |
| Fall | CHEM 111L | General Chemistry I Laboratory FN | 1 |
| Fall | MATH 170 | Calculus I FM | 4 |
| Fall | MSE 101 | Intro to Materials Engineering | 3 |
| Fall | UF 100 | Foundations of Intellectual Life | 3 |
| Fall | SEMESTER TOTAL | 6 courses | 14 credits |
| Spring | PHYS 211 | Physics I with Calculus FN | 4 |
| Spring | PHYS 211L | Physics I with Calculus Lab FN | 1 |
| Spring | MATH 175 | Calculus II | 4 |
| Spring | ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing FW | 3 |
| Spring | *MSE 150 or CS 133 | Computing Requirement | 3 |
| Spring | SEMESTER TOTAL | 6 courses | 15 credits |
Second Year
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| Semester | Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| Fall | MATH 275 | Multivariable and Vector Calculus | 4 |
| Fall | MSE 201 | Introduction to MSE | 3 |
| Fall | MSE 280 | Intro to Materials Lab Practice | 2 |
| Fall | ENGL 102 | Introduction to College Writing and Research FW | 3 |
| Fall | *ENGR 210 | Engineering Mechanics I | 3 |
| Fall | SEMESTER TOTAL | 5 courses | 15 credits |
| Spring | MATH 333 | Differential Equations | 4 |
| Spring | FC | Foundations in Oral Communication | 3 |
| Spring | MSE 315 | Materials Processing | 3 |
| Spring | PHYS 212 | Physics II with Calculus | 4 |
| Spring | PHYS 212L | Physics II with Calculus Lab | 1 |
| Spring | SEMESTER TOTAL | 5 Courses | 15 credits |
Third Year
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| Semester | Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| Fall | MSE 308 | Thermodynamics of Materials | 3 |
| Fall | MSE 311 | Electrical Properties of Materials | 3 |
| Fall | MSE 380 | Materials Properties Laboratory | 3 |
| Fall | UF 200 | Civic and Ethical Foundations | 3 |
| Fall | Varies | *Science Elective | 3-5 |
| Fall | SEMESTER TOTAL | 5 courses | 15-17 credits |
| Spring | MSE 318 | Phase Transformations and Kinetics | 3 |
| Spring | MSE 312 | Mechanical Behavior of Materials | 3 |
| Spring | *MSE 479 | Undergraduate Research | 3 |
| Spring | *MATH 360 | Engineering Statistics | 3 |
| Spring | Varies | FA, FH, or FS course | 3 |
| Spring | SEMESTER TOTAL | 5 courses | 15 credits |
Fourth Year
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| Semester | Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
| Fall | MSE 480 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Fall | MSE 498 | Materials Science Seminar | 1 |
| Fall | *ENGR 240 | Engineering Circuits | 3 |
| Fall | ENGINEERING | FA, FH, or FS course | 3 |
| Fall | ENGINEERING | FA, FH, or FS course | 3 |
| Fall | Varies | Free Elective | 3 |
| Fall | SEMESTER TOTAL | 6 courses | 16 credits |
| Spring | MSE 482 | Senior Project II FF | 3 |
| Spring | Varies | FA, FH, or FS course | 3 |
| Spring | Varies | Upper Division Elective | 3 |
| Spring | Varies | Upper Division Elective | 3 |
| Spring | Varies | Free Elective | 3 |
| Spring | SEMESTER TOTAL | 6 courses | 15 credits |
Notes
- Courses with an asterisk (*) indicate a recommended option for a selective elective course. Pre-approved options listed here:
- Engineering Fundamentals Elective: ENGR210, ENGR 220, CE 330, ENGR 240, ECE 210, ME 302, ME 330
- Statistics Elective: MATH 254, MATH 360, MATH 361
- Science Elective: CHEM 112&L, PHYS 212&L, BIOL 191, BIOL 227, CHEM 307, CHEM 309, CHEM 431, PHYS 309&L
- Project Based Engineering Elective: ENGR 380, MSE 479, MSE 493, Select VIP courses
- Computing Elective: Pick from MSE 150, CS 133, CE 284, CS 111, CS 117, CS 121,ME 271
- Courses in italics indicate elective options. Many of these elective options have pre-approved choices. Choose from among the options listed or talk with your advisor if you’d like to propose something else.
- All students must complete at least 120 total credits, and 40 credits of upper division (300 and 400-level classes). The number of elective credits included in the major will vary depending on what other courses are taken.
- FOUNDATIONS COURSES. In addition to named specific courses ENGL 101, ENGR 102, UF 100, UF 200, students need to take one FC (foundations in oral communication), one FA, one FH, and two FS courses. FS courses must come from two different fields as stated in the University General Education Requirements
- GRADE POLICY: A C- or higher is required for all prerequisite courses & for all upper division courses in the student’s major. University Foundations requirements including University Foundation(UF) and Foundations of the Discipline (FD) courses require a grade of C- or higher in each course
- Contact Cindy Hardy (cindyhardy@boisestate.edu) or Jessica Economy (jessicaeconomy@boisestate.edu) with questions.