University Catalog 2023-2024

Materials Science and Engineering (BS): Biomaterials Concentration

The Materials Science and Engineering (BS): Biomaterials Concentration emphasizes biomedical materials for human compatibility. This concentration introduces the foundation of biomaterials in the areas of biological performance of materials, material design, and appropriateness for medical applications. 

Admission

Students complete the standard set of engineering first-year courses, which include courses in the humanities, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and computing. Students may apply to join the Department of Materials Science and Engineering as degree-seeking students via the CODA process. Students can declare a biomaterials concentration during the CODA process or any subsequent semester once they join the MSE department. 

Curriculum

The MSE curriculum trains students to understand the wide range of phenomena that occur in all classes of materials: metals, polymers, composites, ceramics, and electronic materials. 

Fundamental courses provide a foundation in thermodynamics, kinetics, and structure, followed by more applied courses that cover mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties of materials.  

Two laboratory courses introduce students to analytical methods used to characterize the structure of materials at all length scales and to measure properties of all classes of materials. Cutting-edge technologies in materials science and engineering such as nanotechnology, biomaterials, computer modeling, and forensics (materials degradation and failure analysis) are covered.  

As a part of the Biomaterials concentration, students will take BIO 183: Intro Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology and MSE 485: Biomaterials. Three electives are included, which allow students to select from a broad range of courses in materials processing, engineering, biology, and other disciplines. The flexibility afforded by these electives allows students to customize their education to prepare them for careers in industry or for graduate school.

The two-semester capstone senior design sequence provides a bridge between concepts learned in the classroom and the practical application of these concepts in an industrial setting. Teams of students work on real-world materials problems supported by local industrial sponsors.

Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Program

The Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's (ABM) program gives students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in five years. Four graduate courses (12 credit hours) can be taken while still an undergraduate student and can be double-counted towards both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees. 

Contact Information

3002 Engineering Building 1 (EB1)
911 Partners Way, Raleigh NC 27695-7907
919.515.2377
Website

To see more about what you will learn in this program, visit the Learning Outcomes website!

Plan Requirements

Math
MA 141Calculus I4
MA 241Calculus II4
MA 242Calculus III4
MA 341Applied Differential Equations I3
ST 370Probability and Statistics for Engineers3
Sciences
CH 101
CH 102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory
4
CH 201
CH 202
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory
4
CH 220Introductory Organic Chemistry3
or CH 221 Organic Chemistry I
CH 222Organic Chemistry I Lab1
PY 205
PY 206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory
4
PY 208
PY 209
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory
4
Economics
EC 205Fundamentals of Economics3
or EC 201 Principles of Microeconomics
or ARE 201 Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
Ethics Elective3
Required Courses
MSE 201Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials3
MSE 255Experimental Methods for Structural Analysis of Materials2
MSE 260Mathematical Methods for Materials Engineers3
MSE 270Materials Science and Engineering Seminar1
MSE 300Structure of Materials at the Nanoscale3
MSE 301Introduction to Thermodynamics of Materials3
MSE 320Introduction to Defects in Solids3
MSE 335Experimental Methods for Analysis of Material Properties2
MSE 355Electrical, Magnetic and Optical Properties of Materials3
MSE 360Kinetic Processes in Materials3
MSE 370Microstructure of Inorganic Materials3
MSE 380Microstructure of Organic Materials3
MSE 420Mechanical Properties of Materials3
MSE 423Introduction to Materials Engineering Design1
MSE 470Materials Science and Engineering Senior Design Project3
MSE 480Materials Forensics and Degradation3
Biomaterials Concentration Courses
BIO 183Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology4
MSE 485Biomaterials3
Biomaterials Elective (5 credit hour minimum)5
MSE Processing Elective 3
Orientation Courses
E 101Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving1
E 115Introduction to Computing Environments1
Technical Writing
ENG 331Communication for Engineering and Technology3
or ENG 333 Communication for Science and Research
GEP Courses
ENG 101Academic Writing and Research4
GEP Humanities3-6
GEP Social Sciences3
GEP Health and Exercise Studies2
GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion3
GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives2-5
GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement)
Foreign Language Proficiency (verify requirement)
Total Hours126

Biomaterials Electives

BCH 351General Biochemistry3
BCH 451Principles of Biochemistry4
BEC 462/562/CHE 462/562Fundamentals of Bio-Nanotechnology3
BEC 488/588/CHE 488/588Animal Cell Culture Engineering2
BIO 414Cell Biology3
BIT 410Manipulation of Recombinant DNA4
BIT 466/566/PO 466/566Animal Cell Culture Techniques2
BME 466/566/TE 466/566Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering3
BME/TE 467Mechanics of Tissues & Implants Requirements3
BME 483/583/BEC 483/583Tissue Engineering Technologies2
MSE 490Special Topics in Materials Engineering1-4
MSE 495Materials Engineering Projects1-6
MT 323Introduction to Theory and Practice of Medical Fiber and Yarn Formation3
MT 366Biotextile Product Development3
MT 432Evaluation of Biotextiles3
MT/PCC 471Chemistry of Biopolymers3
PSE 332Wood and Pulping Chemistry3
PSE/CH 335Principles of Green Chemistry4
PSE 425Bioenergy & Biomaterials Engineering3
Other biomaterials electives (with departmental approval). Contact your MSE academic advisor for options.
500-level courses (with departmental approval). Available to students who are admitted to an engineering ABM program OR have a minimum 3.5 overall GPA.

MSE Processing Electives

MSE 440Processing of Metallic Materials3
MSE 445Ceramic Processing3
MSE 455Polymer Technology and Engineering3
MSE 456Composite Materials3
MSE 460Microelectronic Materials3
MSE 540Processing of Metallic Materials3
MSE 545Ceramic Processing3
MSE 556Composite Materials3
MSE 560Microelectronic Materials Science and Technology3

Ethics Electives

IDS 201Environmental Ethics3
PHI 214Issues in Business Ethics3
PHI 221Contemporary Moral Issues3
PHI 227Data Ethics3
PHI 325Bio-Medical Ethics3
PHI 375Ethics3
STS 302Contemporary Science, Technology and Human Values3
STS 304Ethical Dimensions of Progress3
STS 325Bio-Medical Ethics3

Semester Sequence

This is a sample.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Fall SemesterHours
CH 101
CH 102
Chemistry - A Molecular Science
and General Chemistry Laboratory 1
4
E 101 Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 1, 2 1
E 115 Introduction to Computing Environments 1,2 1
ENG 101 Academic Writing and Research 1, 2 4
MA 141 Calculus I 1 4
EC 205
Fundamentals of Economics *
or Principles of Microeconomics
or Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics
3
 Hours17
Spring Semester
CH 201
CH 202
Chemistry - A Quantitative Science
and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory
4
MA 241 Calculus II 1 4
PY 205
PY 206
Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1
4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
GEP Requirement 2
 Hours15
Second Year
Fall Semester
MSE 201 Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials 1 3
BIO 183 Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology 4
MA 242 Calculus III 4
PY 208
PY 209
Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory
4
GEP Health and Exercise Studies 1
 Hours16
Spring Semester
MSE 255 Experimental Methods for Structural Analysis of Materials 2
MSE 260 Mathematical Methods for Materials Engineers 3
MSE 270 Materials Science and Engineering Seminar 1
CH 220
Introductory Organic Chemistry
or Organic Chemistry I
3
CH 222 Organic Chemistry I Lab 1
MA 341 Applied Differential Equations I 3
GEP Requirement 3
 Hours16
Third Year
Fall Semester
MSE 300 Structure of Materials at the Nanoscale 3
MSE 301 Introduction to Thermodynamics of Materials 3
MSE 320 Introduction to Defects in Solids 3
MSE 335 Experimental Methods for Analysis of Material Properties 2
GEP Requirement 3
GEP Requirement 3
 Hours17
Spring Semester
MSE 355 Electrical, Magnetic and Optical Properties of Materials 3
MSE 360 Kinetic Processes in Materials 3
MSE 370 Microstructure of Inorganic Materials 3
MSE 380 Microstructure of Organic Materials 3
MSE 485 Biomaterials 3
 Hours15
Fourth Year
Fall Semester
MSE 420 Mechanical Properties of Materials 3
MSE 423 Introduction to Materials Engineering Design 1
ENG 331
Communication for Engineering and Technology
or Communication for Science and Research
3
MSE Processing Elective 3
Biomaterials Concentration Elective 2-4
GEP Requirement 3
 Hours15
Spring Semester
MSE 470 Materials Science and Engineering Senior Design Project 3
MSE 480 Materials Forensics and Degradation 3
ST 370 Probability and Statistics for Engineers 3
Biomaterials Concentration Elective 2-4
Ethics Elective (GEP Requirement) 3
 Hours15
 Total Hours126
1

Courses required for Change of Degree Audit (CODA). CH 101, CH 102; MA 141, MA 241; PY 205, PY 206 must be completed with a C or higher.

2

Minimum grade of C-, E 115 requires satisfactory completion (S).

What can I do with a Biomaterials Concentration? 

Graduates of the Biomaterials Concentration will be well suited for a career in medical device and medical technology industries that require an understanding of materials selection, processing, and characterization. 

Career Opportunities

An MSE degree is interdisciplinary and, upon graduation, will qualify you for a variety of jobs with an average starting salary of $60-70k per year.

Example Job Titles

Materials Engineer, Product Engineer, Metallurgist Engineer, Quality Control Engineer, Failure Analysis Engineer, Renewable Energy Materials Engineer, Biomaterial Engineer, Polymer Materials Engineer, Project Manager

Example Job Description

  • Identify and produce a diverse range of materials for applications of interest
  • Develop and improve methods for the analysis of complex materials
  • Assist in the selection of materials for product application, the calculation of design parameters, the performance of material properties testing
  • Apply scientific methods to resolve technical challenges related to materials and their use in products and processes