Department of Materials Science & Engineering

Materials Science and Engineering is a dynamic field that is arguably one of the most important engineering disciplines. Materials Engineers combine material properties and structures with fundamental knowledge to optimize and develop materials. Materials such as metals, ceramics, polymers, semiconductors, and composites are part of our everyday lives. Materials Engineers strive to improve such materials by studying the following:

• extraction of materials from natural and recycled resources,
• selection of appropriate materials for a given application,
• performance analysis of materials in use,
• investigate modes of failure,
• behavior of materials under various conditions,
• manufacture new products from raw materials.

Materials Science and Engineering is an interdisciplinary field. Physics, chemistry and engineering sciences are core concepts needed to study a material’s structure and properties in order to develop materials that meet the demands of modern technology. Many other university departments and affiliate faculty are involved and support the MSE program and research topics.

Students are encouraged to use the College of Engineering’s website as a resource for linking to the department’s information, where advisement information is kept up to date with current information. See http://coen.boisestate.edu/

The information provided below is not a substitute for personal advisement, but is a first step in getting registered for classes for students that cannot attend an on-campus advisement session. Students with questions after reading the material on this page are encouraged to email their questions to the Chair of the Materials Science and Engineering program, Professor Darryl Butt: DarrylButt@boisestate.edu

• What Mathematics course do I take?
• What level English do I sign up for?
• What Computer Science course should I take?
• Now that I know what Mathematics and English courses to take, what else do I sign up for?
• How many credits should I sign up for?
• What is the most important thing I can do to be a successful engineering student?

Academic Advising

What mathematics course do I take?

• The first question is to determine the appropriate level of Mathematics course to register for. This is the most important factor, as, for example, Math 147 is a pre-requisite for Chem 111 and ENGR 120. The following information, taken from the Fall 2006 Schedule of Classes, can be used in conjunction with your Math ACT or SAT scores to determine the appropriate math course to take the first semester. If you do not have an ACT or SAT score, the COMPASS exam is available to make the placement decision.
• Students that score between between 18 and 22 for ACT, or between 430 and 530 for the SAT, should sign up for Math 108 (Intermediate Algebra).
• Students that score between 23 and 28 on the ACT, or between 540 and 640 for the SAT, should sign up for Math 147 (Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry, or pre-Calculus).
• Students that score 29 or higher on the ACT, or 650 or higher on the SAT should sign up for Math 170 (Calculus I).
• Students that receive an AP placement score of 3, 4 or 5 on the Calculus AB Advanced Placement exam, qualify to take Calculus II, Math 175. We strongly recommend that students with the score of 4 or 5 not repeat Math 170 but take Math 175. The score of 3 on the exam is more of a personal choice for the student to make in terms of whether they should retake Calculus I (Math 170) or take the next level course, Calculus II (Math 170). Either decision is fine.
• Students that receive an AP placement scores of 3, 4 or 5 on the Calculus BC exam, qualify to take Math 275 (Multivariable and Vector Calculus), and should do so. There is little to no benefit for these students to repeat Calculus I or II.

COMPASS Examination

If you feel that the ACT or SAT exam score does not accurately reflect your ability in Math, or did not take recently take the ACT or SAT, then we recommend you take the COMPASS placement examination to determine the appropriate mathematics course. Your highest placement score is used (whether SAT, ACT or COMPASS). Boise State University has a testing center where the Math COMPASS exam can be taken for $10.00. To take the COMPASS placement exam, bring photo ID and cash to cover the testing fee. Call 208 426 2762 to obtain information about when the testing center is open. You are allowed to take the exam twice each semester or during the summer, if you desire. It is worthwhile reviewing some math before taking the exam!

The preparatory mathematics course sequence in engineering, beginning from the lowest, and moving up to the highest, is as follows: Math 15, Math 25, Math 108, Math 147, Math 170. The Compass Exam results may suggest other math courses you are qualified to take, but you should restrict yourself to the ones on the list, taking the one that you qualify to take as a result of the Compass exam.

• A score lower than a 40 on the Algebra portion of the Math Compass exam the student should take MATH 025
• A 40 or higher on the Algebra portion of the Math Compass is needed to enter MATH 108
• A 61 or higher on the Algebra portion of the Math Compass is needed to enter MATH 147, MATH 143 or COMPSCI 120 (COMPSCI 197 for S07)
• A 51 or higher on the College Algebra portion of the Math Compass is needed to enter MATH 144
• A 51 or higher on the Trigonometry portion of the Math Compass is needed to enter MATH 170 and COMPSCI 125

An excellent online mathematics program to learn math on your own, or to just review math during the summer, can be found at http://www.aleks.com/ If you work this online tutorial for an hour a day during the summer, you may find that you learn enough algebra to move your COMPASS scores up to the next level math course. This will save you a semester in college and also the tuition fees.

TOP

What level English do I sign up for?

• A score of 0 to 17 on the ACT English, or 200 to 440 on the SAT Critical Reading qualifies you to take ENGL 90.
• A score of 18 to 24 on the ACT English, or 450 to 560 on the SAT Critical Reading qualifies you to take ENGL 101.
• A score of 25 to 30 on the ACT English or 570 to 690 SAT Critical Reading qualifies you to take ENGL 102.
• A score of 3 or 4 on the AP English Composition exam qualifies you to take ENGL 102.
• A score of 5 on the AP English Composition exam means you do not have either of the freshman English courses (ENGL 101 or ENGL 102). Of course, you may want to take an advanced English course, but that is up to you. You have tested out of Freshman English.

TOP

What Computer Science course should I take?

In Materials Science and Engineering students are required to take one of the following courses: COMPSCI 115, COMPSCI 117 or COMPSCI 119.

COMPSCI 115 Introduction to C is a 2 credit course and has a prerequisite of a satisfactory math placement score on the COMPASS exam. COMPSCI 117 Introduction to C++ is a 3 credit course and has a prerequisite of MATH 147 of a satisfactory placement score. COMPSCI 119 Introduction to Java is a 2 credit course and has a prerequisite of MATH 108 or a satisfactory placement score.

TOP

Now that I know what Mathematics, English and Computer Science courses to take, what else do I sign up for?

The following section is broken out by Math placement level.

• If you place into Math 15 or Math 25
• If you place into Math 108
• If you place into Math 147
• If you place into Math 170
• If you place into Math 175

If you place into Math 15 or Math 25

• Math 15 or Math 25 (4)
• English (3)
• COMM 101 or another Area I or II class (3)
• University 101 (3)
• Total Credits: (13)

If you place into Math 108

• Math 108 (4)
• English (3)
• COMM 101 or another Area I or II class (3)
• Another Area I or II class (3)
• Total Credits: (13)

Note 1: Math 15 and Math 25 do not give college credit because they contain knowledge that students are expected to remember from high school. Math 108 is a 4-credit course. If you are enrolled in Math 15 or Math 25, you will need one more class to have a full-time load (which you may need for financial aid or for a scholarship). In this case, take a second 3-credit Area I or II class.

If you place into Math 147

• Math 147 (5)
• English (3)
• ENGR 110 (4) [Fall offering only].
• COMPSCI 120/197, COMM 101 or another area I / II class (2 or 3)
• Total Credits: (14 or 15)

ENGR 110, Introducing Engineering is not a required course in the College of Engineering. It is designed to be a supplemental course for engineering students, and contains supplemental math tutoring for Math 147 as well as instruction in engineering software (Solidworks) and other engineering topics. There is a 1-credit Univ 101 component within ENGR 110.

If you place into Math 170

• Math 170 (4)
• English (3)
• Chem 111 (4)
• ENGR 120 (3)
• Optional: COMM 101 or another Area I / II class (3)
• Total Credits: 14 to 17.

If you place into Math 175

• Math 175 (4)
• English (3)
• Chem 111 (4) [or, Phys 211 and PHYS 211L if you placed out of Chem 111]
• ENGR 120 (3)
• Optional: COMM 101 or another Area I / II class (3)
• Total Credits: 14 to 17

TOP

How many credits should I sign up for?

If you are planning to work 10 to 20 hours/week, don’t take more than 13 to 15 credits!!! Remember, your progress in mathematics is important, and it is better to take fewer credits the first semester than to overload it and have to repeat classes. So – keep it low, and work harder at the ones you have with your time.

TOP

What is the most important thing I can do to be a successful engineering student?

Do math homework every night! Do not save it up for the weekend. This is the most important thing to keep in mind. If you do at least 2 hours of math homework a day, you will be a successful engineering student. Here is some advice from 15 different freshman students from fall 2005 who took ENGR 110, to you, an incoming student:

• Spend time on your homework, learn what you’re doing!
• Don’t give up 1/4 or 1/2 way through! Find a small group of people to bounce ideas off.
• Don’t drop out!
• Don’t get behind in the homework, it’s hard to catch up but worth the effort if you do get behind.
• Do 2 hours of homework a night (this student got an A in Math)
• Do your homework as soon as possible after the class.
• Do all the homework assigned and do the practice problems the teacher assigns
• Do all your homework, and if you don’t understand something, ask someone immediately
• Always finish your homework!
• Practice
• Do your homework and much much more math than you’d like.
• All I can say is, you need to understand it, whether it takes tutoring or whatever, you need to understand.
• Review a teacher’s stats before signing up.
• Go to all your classes and do your homework.