mccormick.northwestern.edu/materials-science

Materials science is the study of processing-structure-property relationships in materials of importance to society, such as metals, ceramics, polymers, semiconductors, biomaterials, nanomaterials, and their combinations (composites). Materials scientists pay special attention to “microstructure”—i.e., how materials are constructed on the microscopic, submicroscopic, and even the nanometer levels, and how this affects their properties. Given the wide range of uses for materials, their properties of interest are similarly broad, from mechanical (e.g., strength) to electrical (e.g., semiconduction) to biological (e.g., biocompatibility).

By offering the opportunity to study materials science within the context of the liberal arts and sciences, the Materials Science Program in Weinberg College is distinct from the program in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. The Weinberg program has strong connections with Weinberg’s physical and biological sciences departments in addition to its links with McCormick’s various engineering disciplines.

Program of Study

Materials Science Learning Objectives

• To understand the basic concepts of Materials Science and Engineering: bonding, crystal structure, defects in solids, phase diagrams, and development of microstructures.
• To apply knowledge of the relationships between processing, structure, properties, and performance to analyze, explain, and engineer the behavior of metals, ceramics, polymers, semiconductors, and composites.
• To understand, broadly, how materials’ performance influences technological development, the economy, the environment, and society.
• To formulate and solve problems related to materials science and engineering.
• To be able to conduct experiments, analyze data, and draw conclusions using fundamental knowledge of the field.
• To be able to communicate technical information effectively. 

Materials Science Courses

These courses are offered by the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.  See Materials Science and Engineering.