Sustainable Materials and Technology (BS): SMT Wood Products Concentration
The Sustainable Materials & Technology degree prepares students for 21st century jobs helping businesses and communities reduce their ecological footprint through efficient use of renewable natural materials, such as wood, bamboo and cork, in the manufacture and use of value-added products. You'll gain a strong foundation in environmental science, economics, social sciences, and materials science which prepares you to design, manufacture and sell sustainable bio-based products. This degree is for students interested in a career in a growing field with job flexibility, high placement rates, great starting salaries, a tradition of success and an unlimited future.
Summer Internship
Graduates of the Sustainable Materials and Technology program enter the real world with hands-on experience gained through internships, lab experiments, and practical coursework. More than one half of students participate in paid undergraduate research and work study opportunities. In addition, students are required to complete a paid summer internship or a semester co-op with a company in the industry. There are many other summer employment opportunities that are available to you beyond the required internship.
Contact
Perry N. Peralta
Director of Undergraduate Programs
919.515.5731
perry_peralta@ncsu.edu
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours | Counts towards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Departmental Requirements | |||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | ||
| Student Success in Environmental First Year and Exploring the Environment | |||
| Introduction to Environmental Sciences | |||
| SMT 200 | Introduction to Sustainable Materials and Technology | 3 | |
| SMT 203 | Physical Properties of Sustainable Materials | 4 | |
| SMT 210 | Sustainable Materials Internship | 1 | |
| SMT 301 | Chemistry of Sustainable Materials | 3 | |
| SMT 441 | Mechanical Properties of Sustainable Materials | 4 | |
| SMT 444 | Sustainable Composites and Biopolymers | 3 | |
| SMT 450 | Sustainable Business and Innovation | 2 | |
| SMT 483 | Capstone in Sustainable Materials and Technology | 3 | |
| PSE 476 | Environmental Life Cycle Analysis | 3 | |
| MIE 201 | Introduction to Business Processes | 3 | |
| EC 205 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 | |
| ISE 311 | Engineering Economic Analysis | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | ||
| U.S. Environmental Law and Politics | |||
| Global Environmental Politics | |||
| Environmental Law & Economic Policy | |||
| Mathematics & Natural Sciences | |||
| Select one of the following Calculus courses: | 3 | ||
| Elements of Calculus | |||
| Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | |||
| Calculus I | |||
| ST 311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 | |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 | |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 | |
| CH 220 | Introductory Organic Chemistry | 3 | |
| CH 222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 | |
| Select one of the following Physics courses: | 4 | ||
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists I | |||
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | |||
| College Physics I | |||
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 | |
| Concentration Requirements | |||
| SMT 202 | Anatomy and Properties of Renewable Materials | 3 | |
| SMT 206 | Wood Manufacturing Site Visits | 1 | |
| SMT 240 | Introduction to Wood Products Industries | 2 | |
| SMT 308 | Wood Processing | 4 | |
| Advised Electives 2 | 15 | ||
Courses should expand student’s sustainability portfolio and must be approved by a faculty advisor. | |||
| Advised IP Elective 2 | 2 | ||
| Technical Electives 2 | 15 | ||
Student is encouraged to select courses that will fulfill an academic minor. Courses should enhance student’s career objectives and must be approved by a faculty advisor. | |||
| General Education Program (GEP) Courses | |||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 | |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | ||
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | ||
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | ||
| GEP U.S. Diversity (Verify Requirement) | |||
| GEP Global Knowledge (Verify Requirement) | |||
| World Language Proficiency (Verify Requirement) | |||
| Total Hours | 120 | ||
- 1
A grade of C- or better is required.
- 2
Students should consult their academic advisors to determine how to complete this requirement.
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Student Success in Environmental First Year and Exploring the Environment | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Sciences | ||
| SMT 200 | Introduction to Sustainable Materials and Technology | 3 |
| MA 121 | Elements of Calculus (CP) | 3 |
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SMT 240 | Introduction to Wood Products Industries | 2 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science (CP) | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory (CP) | 1 |
| Select one of the following Physics electives: | 4 | |
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists I | ||
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | ||
| College Physics I | ||
| Hours | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SMT 202 | Anatomy and Properties of Renewable Materials (CP) | 3 |
| CH 220 | Introductory Organic Chemistry (CP) | 3 |
| CH 222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab (CP) | 1 |
| MIE 201 | Introduction to Business Processes | 3 |
| Advised Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SMT 203 | Physical Properties of Sustainable Materials (CP) | 4 |
| EC 205 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Advised Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Summer | ||
| SMT 206 | Wood Manufacturing Site Visits | 1 |
| SMT 210 | Sustainable Materials Internship | 1 |
| Hours | 2 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SMT 308 | Wood Processing | 4 |
| ST 311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Advised Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SMT 301 | Chemistry of Sustainable Materials (CP) | 3 |
| ISE 311 | Engineering Economic Analysis | 3 |
| GEP US Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SMT 441 | Mechanical Properties of Sustainable Materials | 4 |
| SMT 444 | Sustainable Composites and Biopolymers | 3 |
| SMT 450 | Sustainable Business and Innovation | 2 |
| PSE 476 | Environmental Life Cycle Analysis | 3 |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SMT 483 | Capstone in Sustainable Materials and Technology | 3 |
| Environmental Law Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Advised IP Elective 2 | 2-3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
A grade of C- or better is required.
- 2
Courses should expand student’s sustainability portfolio and must be approved by a faculty advisor.
- 3
Student is encouraged to select courses that will fulfill an academic minor. Courses should enhance student’s career objectives and must be approved by a faculty advisor.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Sustainable Materials and Technology curriculum have many and varied job opportunities upon graduation with most receiving more than one job offer. Graduates enter the industry as management trainees, sales trainees, process engineers, quality assurance specialist, research & development associates and many others.
Career Titles
- Director of New Products
- Certification Specialist
- Sustainability Manager
- Plant Manager
- Quality Control Manager
- Project Engineer
- Material Scientist
- Market Analyst
Learn More About Careers
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Sustainable Materials and Technology Careers