CME Program - Curriculum - Overview (Effective Fall Semester 2008)

The Department of Engineering offers the Bachelor of Science degree in composite materials engineering. Composites represent a new group of manufactured materials. These lightweight materials, which have high strength and stiffness, are formed by combining reinforcing fibers in a polymer, ceramic or metal matrix. Over the past three decades, the use of composites has grown significantly in the following industries: aerospace, automotive, biotechnology, construction, electronics, marine, and sporting goods. The future for people educated in the engineering of composite materials is bright.

The Composite Materials Engineering (CME) Program has been developed to meet the engineering needs of the composites industry and is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Graduates from this program will be prepared to practice engineering at a professional level and to enter the composites industry in positions that provide opportunities for professional growth. Graduates also will be prepared to enter graduate-level programs in composite materials and other related engineering disciplines.

The CME Program is the only accredited undergraduate program in the United States that offers a Bachelor of Science degree in composite materials engineering. Majors in the program may choose to focus on the design, analysis, and manufacture of composite structures (mechanical focus); or on the development, processing, and chemistry of the materials used in composites including fibers, matrices and fiber/matrix systems (chemical focus).

MISSION

OBJECTIVES

The Educational Objectives of the CME Program are to prepare graduates who:
a . Thoroughly understand the materials, processes, and performance of composites.
b. Can successfully address engineering problems within a given global, economic, environmental, and societal context.
c. Can design creative solutions to meet the needs of the composites industry.
d. Can design and recommend tests and properly interpret the results.
e. Can effectively communicate views and interact with others.
f. Can work in and function within multidisciplinary teams.
g. Understand their responsibility to the engineering profession and demonstrate it by properly responding to ethical quandaries.
h. Have knowledge of contemporary issues and recognize the importance of sustaining this knowledge through life-long learning.

The Learning Outcomes of the CME Program are demonstrated by students who attain:
1.  An understanding of the fundamentals of mathematics, science, and engineering science and their application in engineering.
2.  The ability to identify, formulate, model and solve engineering problems.
3. The ability to use state-of-the-art engineering tools (experimental, computational, and statistical) necessary to select, analyze, design, fabricate, and test materials.
4.  The ability to design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze and interpret data related to structure, properties, processing, and performance of materials.
5. The theoretical knowledge and hands-on ability to confidently design components, systems, and processes to meet the needs of the composites industry within a set of realistic constraints including economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.
6. The ability to communicate effectively in oral, written and visual forms.
7. The ability to work effectively in a team environment.
8. An understanding of the proper response to ethical issues and their responsibility to the engineering profession.
9.  An understanding of the impact of their engineering decisions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context.
10.  Knowledge of contemporary issues and recognition of the importance of sustaining this knowledge through life-long learning.