Materials Science and
Engineering—Trends and Issues
Reza Abbaschian
NMAB
October 21, 2002
Outline
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Educational Trends and Issues
Structural Trends and Issues
Splintered Professional Certification
Incoherent professional Representation
Reduced Core Funding(e.g. DOE)
Blurred Boundaries
Core elements of Materials Science and Engineering
Source: Materials Science and Engineering for the 1990s, NRC, 1989
Materials Science and Engineering Core, including the end-user
Source: Materials science and engineering—forging stronger links to users, NRC 1999
BROADENING OF MATERIAL FIELD
Basic Sciences
and engineering
Materials Science
and Engineering
Empirical
knowledge and
Societal Needs
Educational Challenges
Integrated Education
Balanced Science and Engineering Education
Undergraduate Curricula
Based on 11 departments
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Science topics: 28-37 credits, average 33
Humanities: 31-37, average 24
Engineering: 13-19, average 16
Materials: 27-53, average 37
Tech Electives: 8-24, average 11
Free Electives: 0-15
Specialization: yes and no
Core Topics for MSE Curriculum
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Introduction to Materials
Experimental Techniques
Thermodynamics
Transport Properties
Phase Equilibria
Phase Transformation
Kinetics
Structure
Characterization
Mechanical Behavior
Electronic, Magnetic, and Optical Behavior
Synthesis, Processing, and Manufacturing
Materials Selection and Design
Failure Analysis
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
Basic Sciences
Basic Engineering
Materials Core
(Processing-Properties-Structure-Applications of All Materials)
Specialization
Processing*
Properties
Structure
Applications
Ceramics
Electronics
Metals
Horizontal Integration
* Synthesis-Processing-Manufacturing continuum
Polymers
Materials Science and Engineering
Vertical Integration
Materials Science and Engineering
MATRIX COVERAGE OF
MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(UF Model)
Energetics/Kinetics
Transformations
Stability
Intro Materials
Characterization
2 courses
Research/Design
Selection/Failure
Mechanical Behavior
6 - 9 Hours Electives
Mats Lab
Metals Engineering
Ceramics Engineering
Polymers Science
15 - 18 semester hours in one specialization
Metals Specialization
Ceramics Specialization
Polymer Specialization
Electronic Behavior
Electronic specialization
Curricula have become shorter as universities have been forced
to reduce B.S. degrees to a maximum of 128 credits.
At the same time, the topic matter has broadened with
the introduction of coursework on all classes of materials.
Thus, subjects common in the 1960’s are often missing from MSE and Metallurgical curricula today.
Analytical Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
Statistics
Static
Strength of Materials
Mass and Energy Balances
Deformation Processing
Joining
Melting and Refining
Thermal Processing
The larger departments can afford to offer many courses as electives
and have enough students to justify them. Smaller departments cannot.
Source: ASEE Engineering Statistics 2001
Source: ASEE Engineering Statistics 2001
Source: ASEE Engineering Statistics 2001
Source: ASEE Engineering Statistics 2001
Source: ASEE Engineering Statistics 2001
Source: ASEE Engineering Statistics 2001
Materials degrees per year
1000
900
Number of Degrees
800
700
600
B.S. Degrees
500
M.S. Degrees
Ph.D. Degrees
400
300
200
100
0
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
Year
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
B.S. Degrees granted in Metals/Materials /CeramicsFields
1400
1200
Combined
Number of Degrees
1000
800
Met./Materials
600
400
Ceramic
200
0
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
Year
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Ceramic Engr. Trend
400
Number of degrees per year
350
300
250
B.S.
200
150
100
M.S.
50
Ph.D.
0
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
Materials Programs offering Undergraduate Education
Total Programs = 69
Degree titles:
Metallurgical Engineering
Metallurgical and Materials Engr.
5
Materials Engineering
Materials Science
Materials Science and Mineral Engr.
Materials Science and Engineering
Materials Option under Chemical Engr.
Materials Option under Mechanical Engr.
Ceramic Engineering
Polymer Science & Engr.
11
12
4
1
25
4
5
7
4
Faculty size
Equivalent Full Time
35
Average Faculty FTE 15.1 for 28 represnetative
departments
30
25
20
Average
15
10
5
Source: UMC
Department number
Faculty Head Count Average of 107 Departments:
16.4 in 1993 vs 18.3 in 2000
Source: ASM Education yearbook, 1993 and 2000
27
25
23
21
19
17
15
13
11
9
7
5
3
1
0
Source: ASEE Engineering Statistics 2001
Source: ASEE Engineering Statistics 2001
Consolidation of Departments
• Between 1993 and 2000, fifteen departments out
of 107 in North America were merged or
consumed by other departments. Examples:
– Mat Sci and Eng
–
–
– Mat Engineering
– Met & Mat Eng
Chemical &Materials Eng
Interdisciplinary Program
Chemical & Biochem Eng
Mech & Mat Eng
Mech, Mat & Aero Eng
Source: ASM Education Yearbook, 1993 and 2000
Trends in ABET Accreditation
Ceramic Programs
Total
Glass Engineering Science
Ceramic Option in MSE
2002
Ceramic Science and Engineering
1989
Ceramic Engineering Science
Ceramic Engineering
Ceramic and Materials
Engineering
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Diversity and Trends in ABET Accreditation
Metallurgy & Materials Programs
Total
Plastics Engineering
Mineral Process Eng option in MSE
Mineral Processing Eng
Mienerals Engineering
Metals Science & Eng
2002
1989
Met Eng & Mat Sci
Metallurgical Engineering
MSE option in Met Eng
Mat Sci and En(Metals Option)
Mat Sci and En(Electronics Option)
Mat Sci and En(ceramics Option)
Materials Science and Engineering
Materials & Met Eng
Materials Engineering
Extractive Met Eng
Electrical Eng/MSE
Composites
0
10
20
30
40
((In comparison, over 99% of around 230 ME departments are accredited in Mech Eng.))
50
60
70
MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH APPROACH
Applications
AEMES, Civil, Electrical &
Mechanical Engineering
Chemical Engineering, Dental
Synthesis &
Processing
Properties
Physics, Electrical
Engineering
Chemistry, Medical
Structure
Source: ASEE Engineering Statistics 2001
Academic Research Obligations:FY 1999
Field
Total S&E
Total sciences
Physical sciences
Chemistry
Physics
Other
Computer sciences
Life sciences
Biology (excluding environmental)
Total engineering
Aeronautical
Astronautical
Chemical
Civil
Electrical
Mechanical
Materials
Other
NSF
100.0
81.6
21.1
6.9
8.1
4.1
13.4
17.6
12.9
18.4
0.0
0.0
2.0
1.8
2.2
0.3
5.4
6.6
NASA
100.0
83.3
41.9
2.1
15.7
3.4
3.8
7.6
3.2
16.7
5.3
5.3
0.2
0.0
1.2
1.4
2.1
1.2
Source: Science & Engineering Indicators-2002
DOD
100.0
59.8
10.5
3.7
6.0
0.6
20.6
15.7
6.3
40.2
3.3
0.1
1.3
0.2
13.6
5.2
9.9
6.6
DOE
100.0
87.9
58.9
9.1
49.7
0.1
0.6
13.2
9.1
12.1
0.0
0.0
3.3
0.8
0.5
1.6
2.9
2.9
DHHS
100.0
99.3
1.5
1.4
0.1
0.0
0.2
88.9
47.8
0.7
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.7
DOA
100.0
96.6
4.7
4.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
81.6
19.7
3.4
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
3.3
Appendix table 5-13.
Federal academic research obligations provided by major agencies, by field: FY 1999
(Percentages)
Field
Total S&E
Total sciences
Physical sciences
Chemistry
Physics
Mathematics
Computer sciences
Total engineering
Aeronautical
Astronautical
Chemical
Civil
Electrical
Mechanical
Materials
Other
Sixagency
total
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
National
Department
National Aeronautics Department Department
of Health Department
Science and Space
of
of and Human
of
FoundationAdministration
Defense
Energy
Services Agriculture
16.3
5.8
7.7
4.4
62.0
3.8
14.4
5.3
5.0
4.2
67.0
4.0
33.1
23.6
7.8
25.0
8.8
1.7
37.4
4.1
9.6
13.5
29.6
5.9
26.9
18.6
9.4
44.4
0.6
0.0
63.8
1.0
15.3
10.7
8.9
0.2
52.9
5.4
38.7
0.6
2.5
0.0
36.5
11.9
38.0
6.5
5.5
1.6
0.0
54.8
45.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
96.5
3.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
55.0
2.3
17.3
25.0
0.0
0.5
85.2
0.3
3.7
10.6
0.0
0.2
23.9
4.6
70.0
1.6
0.0
0.0
9.0
13.0
66.0
11.9
0.0
0.1
46.3
6.6
40.5
6.6
0.0
0.0
45.7
3.0
21.5
5.4
19.2
5.2
NOTES: Academic research includes both basic and applied research. The six agencies shown are the only ones that report their
research obligations to academia by S&E field; they represent approximately 97 percent of academic research obligations.
Source: Science & Engineering Indicators-2002
SOURCES: National Science Foundation, Division of Science Resources Studies (NSF/SRS), Federal Funds for Research and
Development: Fiscal Years 1999, 2000, and 2001 , Detailed Statistical Tables, Vol. 49, NSF 01-328 (Arlington, VA, 2001); and NSF, annual
series.
MSE Employment Profile(all degrees)
Data based on 620 UF-MSE graduates
25
1971 - 1980
1981 - 1990
1991 - 2000
Total (71 - 00)
20
%
15
10
5
Employment Sector
Academia
Self Employed
Sales/Services
Plastics
Metals
Law/Medical
Government
Electronics
Chemical
Ceramics
Biomedical
Auto
Aerospace
0
Source: Occupational Outlook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2002-2003
Source: Occupational Outlook, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2002-2003
Summary
• Materials Science and Engineering has expanded greatly in
recent years and will continue to do so, most likely at an even
faster pace.
• Various studies show that MSE is crucial to the quality of life, to
the the national defense, and to the economic security and
competitiveness of the nation.
• The broadening of MSE educational and research activities
requires an integrated and well-balanced science and
engineering education that covers all materials.
• MSE departments are challenged by lack of visibility, cohesion,
small enrollment, shrinking faculty, consolidation, and reduced
research in the core areas.
• Lack of a unified professional representation makes it more
difficult to address issues necessary to sustain the education and
training in this crucial discipline.