Undergraduate Bulletin
Fall 2024
Engineering Science (ESG)
The Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering offers the Bachelor of Engineering degree program in Engineering Science and several interdisciplinary undergraduate programs in conjunction with other science and engineering departments on campus. These programs provide basic training for graduates to enter a wide range of industries or to proceed to graduate studies in engineering fields. They are aimed at the materials aspect of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, physics, and chemistry. Engineering Science students can choose to specialize in biotechnology, mechanical and manufacturing engineering, electronics engineering, materials science and engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering, nanoscale engineering, and engineering management. Reflecting the breadth and variety of topics falling within the domain of engineering science, the Department also offers seven minors that afford undergraduate students the opportunity to enhance their engineering or science studies with knowledge in a specific area. In addition to the minor in Materials Science and Engineering, the Department offers minors in Biomaterials; Energy Science, Technology and Policy; Manufacturing Engineering; Environmental Engineering; and Nanotechnology Studies. Each is detailed under a separate heading in the alphabetical listings of Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs.
The program mission is aimed toward providing an engineering education which thoroughly covers fundamental aspects of engineering design, physical and chemical sciences, mathematics, and materials science and engineering, while also providing flexibility so that students can create a program tailored to their particular academic and career interests in a traditional or emerging discipline. The program is designed to provide core competency and skills in communication, design, and research while preparing students to participate in a rapidly evolving high-technology environment.
Program Educational Objectives
Graduates of the ESG program will:
- Meet or exceed expectations of employers in engineering or science-related disciplines or pursue advanced studies if so desired.
- Assume/undertake leadership roles in their communities and/or professions.
Student Outcomes
Students who graduate from the ESG program should possess the following skill sets:
1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors.
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgements, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts.
5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inlcusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives.
6. An ability to develop and conduct approrpriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
In addition to preparation for graduate study in engineering and materials science, the program in Engineering Science prepares students for a variety of employment opportunities as it is particularly suited to the nature of modern manufacturing processes in industry as well as to scientific institutions and laboratories. Throughout the curriculum, students develop skills needed to participate in the research experience and are encouraged to become involved in the many state-of-the-art research facilities associated with the Department, including world-class laboratories in polymer engineering, thermal spray research, surface science and engineering, nanotechnology, semiconductor materials and crystal growth, environmental materials engineering, and computational modeling of advanced materials. The Department also maintains a number of close collaborations with nearby Brookhaven National Laboratory's Center for Functional Nanomaterials and National Synchrotron Light Source. Graduates of the program, trained to understand the materials and forces of nature and to apply that knowledge to practical problem solving, occupy engineering, scientific, and management positions in development, manufacturing, and marketing in major corporations in areas including communications, computing, and aerospace. Small and medium-sized companies also rely on the expertise of materials scientists in design and manufacturing.
In addition, some graduates apply their knowledge to patent law and consulting. About ten percent of the program’s graduates pursue advanced degrees in engineering research as well as in law, business, and medicine.
The program in Engineering Science is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, http://www.abet.org
