Department: Materials Science and Engineering

Code Name Description
MATSCI10 Materials Matter All facets of engineering rely on materials to develop modern devices and solve the greatest technological challenges in society today. In this introductory 1-unit course, students will learn about the field of Materials Science and Engineering and i...
MATSCI100 Undergraduate Independent Study Independent study in materials science under supervision of a faculty member.
MATSCI126 Invention to Innovation: The Process of Translation Ideas need to be translated before the world recognizes and benefits by innovation. In other words, not all inventions end up being useful to humanity or the environment. The bridge between conceptualization and practicality is in translation of ide...
MATSCI127 Investigating Ancient Materials This course examines how concepts and methods from materials science are applied to the analysis of archaeological artifacts, with a focus on artifacts made from inorganic materials (ceramics and metals). Coverage includes chemical analysis, microsco...
MATSCI129 Nanomaterials in Medicine The purpose of this course is to provide the students detailed knowledge of functional nanostructured materials, such as self-assembled nanoparticles and their applications in Medicine. This will lay the broad foundation for understanding the paradig...
MATSCI142 Quantum Mechanics of Nanoscale Materials Introduction to quantum mechanics and its application to the properties of materials. No prior background beyond a working knowledge of calculus and high school physics is presumed. Topics include: The Schrodinger equation and applications to underst...
MATSCI143 Materials Structure and Characterization This course introduces the theory and application of characterization techniques used to examine the atomic structure of materials. Students will learn to classify the structure of materials such as semiconductors, ceramics, and metals according to t...
MATSCI144 Thermodynamic Evaluation of Green Energy Technologies Understand the thermodynamics and efficiency limits of modern green technologies such as carbon dioxide capture from air, fuel cells, batteries, and geothermal power. Recommended: ENGR 50 or equivalent introductory materials science course. (Formerly...
MATSCI145 Kinetics of Materials Synthesis The science of synthesis of nanometer scale materials. Examples including solution phase synthesis of nanoparticles, the vapor-liquid-solid approach to growing nanowires, formation of mesoporous materials from block-copolymer solutions, and formation...
MATSCI150 Undergraduate Research Participation in a research project.
MATSCI151 Microstructure and Mechanical Properties Primarily for students without a materials background. Mechanical properties and their dependence on microstructure in a range of engineering materials. Elementary deformation and fracture concepts, strengthening and toughening strategies in metals a...
MATSCI152 Electronic Materials Engineering Materials science and engineering for electronic device applications. Kinetic molecular theory and thermally activated processes; band structure; electrical conductivity of metals and semiconductors; intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors; elementary...
MATSCI156 Solar Cells, Fuel Cells, and Batteries: Materials for the Energy Solution Operating principles and applications of emerging technological solutions to the energy demands of the world. The scale of global energy usage and requirements for possible solutions. Basic physics and chemistry of solar cells, fuel cells, and batter...
MATSCI158 Soft Matter in Biomedical Devices, Microelectronics, and Everyday Life The relationships between molecular structure, morphology, and the unique physical, chemical, and mechanical behavior of polymers and other types of soft matter are discussed. Topics include methods for preparing synthetic polymers and examination of...
MATSCI159Q Japanese Companies and Japanese Society Preference to sophomores. The structure of a Japanese company from the point of view of Japanese society. Visiting researchers from Japanese companies give presentations on their research enterprise. The Japanese research ethic. The home campus equiv...
MATSCI160 Nanomaterials Design This course is designed for students interested in exploring the cutting edge of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Students will learn several fundamental concepts related to nanomaterials synthesis and characterization that are commonly used in resear...
MATSCI161 Energy Materials Laboratory From early church architectures through modern housing, windows are passages of energy and matter in the forms of light, sound, and air. By letting in heat during the summer and releasing it in the winter, windows can place huge demands on air condit...
MATSCI162 X-Ray Diffraction Laboratory Experimental x-ray diffraction techniques for microstructural analysis of materials, emphasizing powder and single-crystal techniques. Diffraction from epitaxial and polycrystalline thin films, multilayers, and amorphorous materials using medium and...
MATSCI163 Mechanical Behavior Laboratory This course introduces students to experimental techniques widely used in both industry and academia to characterize the mechanical properties of engineering materials. Students will learn how to perform tensile testing and nanoindentation experiment...
MATSCI164 Electronic and Photonic Materials and Devices Laboratory Lab course. Current electronic and photonic materials and devices. Device physics and micro-fabrication techniques. Students design, fabricate, and perform physical characterization on the devices they have fabricated. Established techniques and mate...
MATSCI165 Nanoscale Materials Physics Computation Laboratory Computational exploration of fundamental topics in materials science using Java-based computation and visualization tools. Emphasis is on the atomic-scale origins of macroscopic materials phenomena. Simulation methods include molecular dynamics and...
MATSCI166 Data Science and Machine Learning Approaches in Chemical and Materials Engineering Application of Data Science, Statistical Learning, and Machine Learning approaches to modern problems in Chemical and Materials Engineering. This course develops data science approaches, including their foundational mathematical and statistical basis...
MATSCI170 Nanomaterials Design This course is designed for students interested in exploring the cutting edge of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Students will learn several fundamental concepts related to nanomaterials synthesis and characterization that are commonly used in resear...
MATSCI171 Energy Materials Laboratory From early church architectures through modern housing, windows are passages of energy and matter in the forms of light, sound, and air. By letting in heat during the summer and releasing it in the winter, windows can place huge demands on air condit...
MATSCI172 X-Ray Diffraction Laboratory Experimental x-ray diffraction techniques for microstructural analysis of materials, emphasizing powder and single-crystal techniques. Diffraction from epitaxial and polycrystalline thin films, multilayers, and amorphorous materials using medium and...
MATSCI173 Mechanical Behavior Laboratory This course introduces students to experimental techniques widely used in both industry and academia to characterize the mechanical properties of engineering materials. Students will learn how to perform tensile testing and nanoindentation experiment...
MATSCI174 Electronic and Photonic Materials and Devices Laboratory Lab course. Current electronic and photonic materials and devices. Device physics and micro-fabrication techniques. Students design, fabricate, and perform physical characterization on the devices they have fabricated. Established techniques and mate...
MATSCI175 Nanoscale Materials Physics Computation Laboratory Computational exploration of fundamental topics in materials science using Java-based computation and visualization tools. Emphasis is on the atomic-scale origins of macroscopic materials phenomena. Simulation methods include molecular dynamics and...
MATSCI176 Data Science and Machine Learning Approaches in Chemical and Materials Engineering Application of Data Science, Statistical Learning, and Machine Learning approaches to modern problems in Chemical and Materials Engineering. This course develops data science approaches, including their foundational mathematical and statistical basis...
MATSCI181 Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria Phase Equlibria in Materials. Fundamental thermodynamics: spontaneus processes and equilibrium conditions. 3 Laws of Thermodynamics. Thermodynamic potentials and how to build them from materials properties. Phase Equilibria: phase equilibria and phas...
MATSCI182 Rate Processes in Materials Diffusion and phase transformations in materials. Diffusion topics: Fick's laws, atomic theory of diffusion, the generalized flux equations, diffusion in a chemical potential and mass advection. Phase transformation topics: nucleation, growth, spinod...
MATSCI183 Defects and Disorder in Materials Overview of defects and disorder across crystalline, amorphous, and glassy phases that are central to function and application, spanning metals, ceramics, and soft/biological matter. Structure and properties of simple 0D/1D/2D defects in crystalline...
MATSCI184 Structure and Symmetry Structure and bonding in materials; crystallography; point and space groups; reciprocal space and diffraction; amorphous, molecular, and polymeric structures; implications of structure and symmetry in determining material properties. Prerequisites: U...
MATSCI185 Quantum Mechanics for Materials Science Quantum mechanics occupies a very unusual place among theories: it contains classical mechanics as a limiting case, yet at the same time it requires its own formulation. This course serves as an entry to the foundations of quantum mechanics that are...
MATSCI190 Organic and Biological Materials Unique physical and chemical properties of organic materials and their uses. The relationship between structure and physical properties, and techniques to determine chemical structure and molecular ordering. Examples include liquid crystals, dendrime...
MATSCI195 Waves and Diffraction in Solids The elementary principals of x-ray, vibrational, and electron waves in solids. Basic wave behavior including Fourier analysis, interference, diffraction, and polarization. Examples of wave systems, including electromagnetic waves from Maxwell's equat...
MATSCI198 Mechanical Properties of Materials Introduction to the mechanical behavior of solids, emphasizing the relationships between microstructure and mechanical properties. Elastic, anelastic, and plastic properties of materials. The relations between stress, strain, strain rate, and tempera...
MATSCI199 Electronic and Optical Properties of Solids The concepts of electronic energy bands and transports applied to metals, semiconductors, and insulators. The behavior of electronic and optical devices including p-n junctions, MOS-capacitors, MOSFETs, optical waveguides, quantum-well lasers, light...
MATSCI200 Master's Research Participation in a research project.
MATSCI201 Applied Quantum Mechanics I Emphasis is on applications in modern devices and systems. Topics include: Schrödinger's equation, eigenfunctions and eigenvalues, solutions of simple problems including quantum wells and tunneling, quantum harmonic oscillator, coherent states, opera...
MATSCI205 Waves and Diffraction in Solids The elementary principals of x-ray, vibrational, and electron waves in solids. Basic wave behavior including Fourier analysis, interference, diffraction, and polarization. Examples of wave systems, including electromagnetic waves from Maxwell's equat...
MATSCI208 Mechanical Properties of Materials Introduction to the mechanical behavior of solids, emphasizing the relationships between microstructure and mechanical properties. Elastic, anelastic, and plastic properties of materials. The relations between stress, strain, strain rate, and tempera...
MATSCI209 Electronic and Optical Properties of Solids The concepts of electronic energy bands and transports applied to metals, semiconductors, and insulators. The behavior of electronic and optical devices including p-n junctions, MOS-capacitors, MOSFETs, optical waveguides, quantum-well lasers, light...
MATSCI210 Organic and Biological Materials Unique physical and chemical properties of organic materials and their uses. The relationship between structure and physical properties, and techniques to determine chemical structure and molecular ordering. Examples include liquid crystals, dendrime...
MATSCI211 Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria Phase Equlibria in Materials. Fundamental thermodynamics: spontaneus processes and equilibrium conditions. 3 Laws of Thermodynamics. Thermodynamic potentials and how to build them from materials properties.Phase Equilibria: phase equilibria and phase...
MATSCI212 Rate Processes in Materials Diffusion and phase transformations in materials. Diffusion topics: Fick's laws, atomic theory of diffusion, the generalized flux equations, diffusion in a chemical potential and mass advection. Phase transformation topics: nucleation, growth, spinod...
MATSCI213 Defects and Disorder in Materials Overview of defects and disorder across crystalline, amorphous, and glassy phases that are central to function and application, spanning metals, ceramics, and soft/biological matter. Structure and properties of simple 0D/1D/2D defects in crystalline...
MATSCI214 Structure and Symmetry Structure and bonding in materials; crystallography; point and space groups; reciprocal space and diffraction; amorphous, molecular, and polymeric structures; implications of structure and symmetry in determining material properties.Prerequisites: Un...
MATSCI215 Quantum Mechanics for Materials Science Quantum mechanics occupies a very unusual place among theories: it contains classical mechanics as a limiting case, yet at the same time it requires its own formulation. This course serves as an entry to the foundations of quantum mechanics that are...
MATSCI225 Biochips and Medical Imaging The course covers state-of-the-art and emerging bio-sensors, bio-chips, imaging modalities, and nano-therapies which will be studied in the context of human physiology including the nervous system, circulatory system and immune system. Medical diagno...
MATSCI226 Invention to Innovation: The Process of Translation Ideas need to be translated before the world recognizes and benefits by innovation. In other words, not all inventions end up being useful to humanity or the environment. The bridge between conceptualization and practicality is in translation of ide...
MATSCI227 Investigating Ancient Materials This course examines how concepts and methods from materials science are applied to the analysis of archaeological artifacts, with a focus on artifacts made from inorganic materials (ceramics and metals). Coverage includes chemical analysis, microsco...
MATSCI229 Nanomaterials in Medicine The purpose of this course is to provide the students detailed knowledge of functional nanostructured materials, such as self-assembled nanoparticles and their applications in Medicine. This will lay the broad foundation for understanding the paradig...
MATSCI230 Materials Science Colloquium May be repeated for credit.
MATSCI231 Materials Science Research Advising General advising for first-year PhD students on topics including graduate curriculum, research topics, and advisor selection
MATSCI232 Ethics and Broader Impacts in Materials Science This course will convey the unique role that materials play in every facet of society, and the profound impact that materials production, refining, processing, utilization, and disposal have on communities. We will also discuss best practices for emp...
MATSCI241 Mechanical Behavior of Nanomaterials Mechanical behavior of the following nanoscale solids: 2D materials (metal thin films, graphene), 1D materials (nanowires, carbon nanotubes), and 0D materials (metallic nanoparticles, quantum dots). This course will cover elasticity, plasticity and f...
MATSCI250 Introduction to Materials Science, Biomaterials Emphasis (ONLINE ONLY) Topics include: the relationship between atomic structure and macroscopic properties of man-made and natural materials; mechanical and thermodynamic behavior of surgical implants including alloys, ceramics, and polymers; and materials selection for b...
MATSCI251 Microstructure and Mechanical Properties Primarily for students without a materials background. Mechanical properties and their dependence on microstructure in a range of engineering materials. Elementary deformation and fracture concepts, strengthening and toughening strategies in metals a...
MATSCI256 Solar Cells, Fuel Cells, and Batteries: Materials for the Energy Solution Operating principles and applications of emerging technological solutions to the energy demands of the world. The scale of global energy usage and requirements for possible solutions. Basic physics and chemistry of solar cells, fuel cells, and batter...
MATSCI299 Practical Training Educational opportunities in high-technology research and development labs in industry. Qualified graduate students engage in internship work and integrate that work into their academic program. Following the internship, students complete a research...
MATSCI300 Ph.D. Research Participation in a research project.
MATSCI301 Engineering Energy Policy Change Public policy and economic decisions profoundly affect all aspects of the energy ecosystem, including its supply, distribution, storage and utilization. These decisions can also influence the pace and focus of innovation of new technologies, includin...
MATSCI302 Solar Cells In the last 15 years, the solar power market has grown in size by 100 times while solar modules prices have fallen by 20 times. Unsubsidized, solar power projects now compete favorably against fossil fuels in many countries and is on track to be the...
MATSCI303 Principles, Materials and Devices of Batteries Thermodynamics and electrochemistry for batteries. Emphasis on lithium ion batteries, but also different types including lead acid, nickel metal hydride, metal air, sodium sulfur and redox flow. Battery electrode materials, electrolytes, separators,...
MATSCI310 Statistical Mechanics for Materials & Materials Chemistry This course will cover how thermodynamics evolves from statistical mechanics, with a specific emphasis placed on quantum materials. It will cover distributions for quantum particles, diffusion and aggregation, and a basic discussion of characterizing...
MATSCI312 New Methods in Thin Film Synthesis Materials base for engineering new classes of coatings and devices. Techniques to grow thin films at atomic scale and to fabricate multilayers/superlattices at nanoscale. Vacuum growth techniques including evaporation, molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), s...
MATSCI316 Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology This course covers important aspects of nanotechnology in nanomaterials synthesis and fabrication, novel property at the nanoscale, tools and applications: a variety of nanostructures including nanocrystal, nanowire, carbon nanotube, graphene, nanopo...
MATSCI317 Defects in semiconductors Introduction to dopants and crystal defects in semiconductors and landmark research papers in this area. Course covers point defects, dislocations, grain boundaries, interfaces etc. and how and why they impact a range of semiconductor devices such as...
MATSCI320 Nanocharacterization of Materials Current methods of directly examining the microstructure of materials. Topics: optical microscopy, scanning electron and focused ion beam microscopy, field ion microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning probe microscopy, and microanalytic...
MATSCI321 Transmission Electron Microscopy Image formation and interpretation. The contrast phenomena associated with perfect and imperfect crystals from a physical point of view and from a formal treatment of electron diffraction theory. The importance of electron diffraction to systematic a...
MATSCI322 Transmission Electron Microscopy Laboratory Practical techniques in transmission electron microscopy (TEM): topics include microscope operation and alignment, diffraction modes and analysis, bright-field/dark-field imaging, high resolution and aberration corrected imaging, scanning TEM (STEM)...
MATSCI326 X-Ray Science and Techniques This course provides an introduction to how x-rays interact with matter and how x-ray techniques can be used towards developing new understanding of the atomistic properties of materials. Topics include: Diffraction from ordered and disordered materi...
MATSCI331 Computational Materials Science at the Atomic Scale Introduction to computational materials science methods at the atomistic level, with an emphasis on quantum methods. A brief history of computational approaches is presented, with deep dives into the most impactful methods: density functional theory,...
MATSCI333 Soft Composites and Soft Robotics Fundamentals of soft materials and soft composites in the aspects of mechanical characterization, polymer physics, mechanics, finite-element-analysis of large deformation, and advanced material fabrication including different 3D printing technologies...
MATSCI341 Quantum Theory of Electronic and Optical Excitations in Materials Introduction to the fundamentals of solid-state physics and materials science, with emphasis in electronic and optical excitation processes. We will develop quantum formalisms to understand concepts including: elementary excitations in materials, cry...
MATSCI343 Organic Semiconductors for Electronics and Photonics The science of organic semiconductors and their use in electronic and photonic devices. Topics: methods for fabricating thin films and devices; relationship between chemical structure and molecular packing on properties such as band gap, charge carri...
MATSCI346 Nanophotonics Recent developments in micro- and nanophotonic materials and devices. Basic concepts of photonic crystals. Integrated photonic circuits. Photonic crystal fibers. Superprism effects. Optical properties of metallic nanostructures. Sub-wavelength phenom...
MATSCI347 Magnetic materials in nanotechnology, sensing, and energy This course will teach the fundamentals of magnetism, magnetic mateirals, and magnetic nanostructures and their myriad of applications in nanotechnology, sensing, energy and related areas. The scope of the course include: atomic origins of magnetic m...
MATSCI358 Fracture and Fatigue of Materials and Thin Film Structures Linear-elastic and elastic-plastic fracture mechanics from a materials science perspective, emphasizing microstructure and the micromechanisms of fracture. Plane strain fracture toughness and resistance curve behavior. Mechanisms of failure associate...
MATSCI380 Nano-Biotechnology Literature based. Principles that make nanoscale materials unique, applications to biology, and how biological systems can create nanomaterials. Molecular sensing, drug delivery, bio-inspired synthesis, self-assembling systems, and nanomaterial based...
MATSCI381 Biomaterials in Regenerative Medicine Materials design and engineering for regenerative medicine. How materials interact with cells through their micro- and nanostructure, mechanical properties, degradation characteristics, surface chemistry, and biochemistry. Examples include novel mate...
MATSCI384 Materials Advances in Neurotechnology The dichotomy between materials and the mind has inspired scientists to explore the wonders of the brain with novel materials-enabled neurotechnologies. The development of neurotechnologies can be dated back to the late 18th century when Galvani used...
MATSCI385 Biomaterials for Drug Delivery Fundamental concepts in engineering materials for drug delivery. The human body is a highly interconnected network of different tissues and there are all sorts of barriers to getting pharmaceutical drugs to the right place at the right time. Topics i...
MATSCI399 Graduate Independent Study Under supervision of a faculty member.
MATSCI400 Participation in Materials Science Teaching May be repeated for credit.
MATSCI405 Quantum Field Theory (QFT) for Engineering Applications QFT principles for engineering applications in nano and microelectronics. Examples include quantum computing, topological quantum computing, and superconductivity. Focus on solids and quasiparticles. Relation between energy, momentum, and mass. Quant...
MATSCI801 TGR Project for MS Students No Description Set
MATSCI802 TGR Dissertation for Ph.D Students No Description Set
MATSCI81N Bioengineering Materials to Heal the Body Preference to freshmen. Real-world examples of materials developed for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine therapies. How scientists and engineers design new materials for surgeons to use in replacing body parts such as damaged heart or spin...
MATSCI82N Science of the Impossible Imagine a world where cancer is cured with light, objects can be made invisible, and teleportation is allowed through space and time. The future once envisioned by science fiction writers is now becoming a reality, thanks to advances in materials sci...
MATSCI83N Great Inventions That Matter This introductory seminar starts by illuminating on the general aspects of creativity, invention, and patenting in engineering and medicine, and how Stanford University is one of the world's foremost engines of innovation. We then take a deep dive in...
MATSCI86N Metalheads of Modern Science This seminar will explore where we find metals in science and technology today. Starting with the blacksmiths and metallurgists of ancient history, we will introduce the scientific innovations that have enabled today's technology. We will then explor...
MATSCI90Q Resilience, Transformation, and Equilibrium: the Science of Materials In this course, we will explore the fundamentals of the kinetics of materials while relating them to different phenomena that we observe in our everyday lives. We will study the mechanisms and processes by which materials obtain the mechanical, elect...