Will the Integration of Materials Science into Engineering Core Undergraduate Curricula Ever Be Complete? Is the “Chemistry” Right?

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Those in charge of creating and endorsing curricula for engineering colleges appear to generally agree that materials science should be included. More than jus an acceptance of ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) certification requirements, the consensus view is that engineers really need to know about the materials they will someday use Unfortunately, there appears to be some disagreement about where this exposure to materials science fits into the overal scheme of things (scheduling or course sequence, so to speak). There is also dis agreement as to what engineering students should know about materials and by inference, as to who is most knowledge able and best qualified to teach this information. As a result of these disagreements students at some engineering departments have had to take, during the final semester, an introductory materials course taugh by instructors whose professional experience lies outside materials science and engineering.