MSE 201

Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering

Spring 2015 Class Syllabus
Prerequisites: Chemistry 120
Lectures: MWF 10:10-11:00
Estabrook Hall Room 200
Instructor: Dr. Philip D. Rack
e-mail: prack@utk.edu
Office: Ferris 320
Phone: (865) 974-5344
Office Hours: by appointment
General Description:
All engineering structures and devices utilize materials which have been selected based
on their properties. These properties along with design considerations enable a desired
performance level. Therefore, engineers of every type are well served in their careers by
an understanding of the scientific foundations of materials that govern these properties.
Accordingly: This course is designed to provide an introduction to engineering materials
with an emphasis on how atomic and molecular bonding, structure, composition and
processing influence material properties.
The format for the class is lecture/homework/exam.
Textbook: Materials Science and Engineering 8th edition, William D. Callister, John
Wiley and Sons Publisher, 2010.
Course objectives:
1) to provide an understanding of the influence of bonding, nano- and micro-structure,
composition and processing on the properties of materials
2) to provide students with an understanding of various types of materials, their ranges of
properties, and how their properties can be tailored for engineering purposes
3) To provide the students with an understanding of the various advantages and
disadvantages offered by specific classes of materials, and an awareness of the possible
tradeoffs associated with optimization of a specific material's properties
MSE 201 Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering Class Policies:
This list of rules may seem arbitrary, long, and severe.
Unfortunately, there is a story behind each rule. The stories range from the mundane and
expected to the bizarre. The vast majority of you will never come up against any of the
rules. Nonetheless, it seems that there is at least one individual in every class that needs
them.
1. Use e-mail for easy questions and to setup special appt. times.
2. Please display proper decorum during class
Examples of poor decorum: sleeping, reading the newspaper, arriving late to class,
talking to neighbor, leaving during class, cell phones ringing.

3. When you have questions, ASK !!

4. When I ask questions, ANSWER !
5. Class attendance is mandatory. Class attendance will improve your chances of learning
the material more thoroughly. While attendance records will not be officially kept,
students who attend classes and review sessions, ask questions and attempt to answer
questions by the instructor will be given the benefit of the doubt if their grade is
borderline. The class has been organized so that learning is optimized through a
combination of lecture/text reading/homework review. Participation in only one of these
activities is usually insufficient for learning.
Rules for exams and quizzes:
1. Exams/quizzes will be closed book individual efforts. Cheating will result in a score of
zero.
2. Make-up major quizzes will not be given unless arrangements have been made before
the scheduled major quiz time. Make-up major quizzes will normally be given before the
scheduled quiz time except in extreme emergencies.
3. Place final answers in a box with units, show all work, define all variables, state all
assumptions for partial credit.
Tentative Evaluation
Daily Pop Quizzes 25%
Chapter tests 60%
Final exam 15%