Materials Science and Engineering at Boise State University: Responding to an Industrial Need

The College of Engineering at Boise State University (BSU) is a new program in only its fifth year of existence. Bachelor's degrees in Civil Engineering (CE), Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and Mechanical Engineering (ME) are offered with M.S. Degrees in each discipline added this year. The industrial advisory board for the College of Engineering at BSU strongly recommended enhancement of the Materials Science and Engineering (MS&E) offerings at BSU. In response to local industry's desire for an increased level of coursework and research in MS&E, BSU has created a minor in MS&E at both the undergraduate and graduate level. The MS&E program is designed to meet the following objectives: provide for local industry's need for engineers with a MS&E competency, add depth of understanding of MS&E for undergraduate and graduate students in ECE, ME and CE, prepare undergraduate students for graduate school in MS&E, improve the professional skills of the students especially in the areas of materials processing and materials selection, provide applied coursework for Chemistry, Physics, and Geophysics students, and offer coursework in a format that is convenient for students currently working in local industry.