Minor and Certificate Programs
Minors
The transcript-recognized undergraduate academic minor must be completed in conjunction with an undergraduate degree at The University of Texas at Austin. For more information regarding the requirements for achieving a minor, including a comprehensive list of minors, please visit the Minor and Certificate Programs section of the Undergraduate Catalog.
Materials Science and Engineering Minor
The transcript-recognized undergraduate academic minor in materials science and engineering must be completed in conjunction with an undergraduate degree at The University of Texas at Austin in one of the following majors: chemistry, physics, aerospace engineering, electrical and computer engineering, or mechanical engineering; students pursuing an integrated undergraduate/graduate program must complete the requirements for the minor within one year after completing the undergraduate requirements of their program. For more information regarding the requirements for achieving a minor, including a comprehensive list of minors, please visit the Minors and Certificate Programs section of the Undergraduate Catalog. Details about the minor in Materials Science and Engineering are available at http://tmi.utexas.edu/academics/undergraduate-minor-materials-science-engineering/.
Admissions
To be considered for admission into the Minor Program for Materials Science and Engineering, students must meet the following requirements:
- The minor must be completed in conjunction with an undergraduate degree in one of the five supported majors of chemistry, physics, aerospace engineering, electrical and computer engineering, or mechanical engineering.
- Students must have completed Mathematics 408C, Mathematics 408D, Mathematics 427J, Chemistry 301, Physics 303K and Physics 303L, or equivalent and all with a grade of C- or higher.
- Students who have completed 30 hours or more and have not taken more than 60 hours will be encouraged to apply online at the earliest possible date. Applications will be reviewed continuously throughout the year.
Requirements
The requirements for the minor in Materials Science and Engineering will consist of 15 credit hours towards the minor. All students will be required to take a three-credit hour, laboratory-based bridge course (MSE 360M). The remainder of the required courses required for the minor will consist of a sequence of courses that are specific to the major degree and which are detailed below.
If students are interested in additional coursework, they can see http://tmi.utexas.edu/academics/undergraduate-minor-materials-science-engineering/ for a complete list of courses that would serve as optional electives. Courses beyond 15 hours are not required for the completion of the minor.
Chemistry Majors
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| MSE 360M | Experiments in Materials Science and Engineering | 3 |
| CH 353 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| PHY 355 | Modern Physics and Thermodynamics | 3 |
| CHE 355 | Introduction to Polymers | 3 |
| M E 349 | Corrosion Engineering | 3 |
| All classes must be taken on the letter-grade basis. The student must earn a combined grade point average of at least 2.00 in these courses. | ||
Physics Majors
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| MSE 360M | Experiments in Materials Science and Engineering | 3 |
| PHY 369 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
| CH 367C | Materials Chemistry | 3 |
| or CH 367L | Macromolecular Chemistry | |
| or M E 336 | Materials Processing | |
| CH 354S | Elements of Spectroscopy | 3 |
| ECE 334K | Quantum Theory of Electronic Materials | 3 |
| All classes must be taken on the letter-grade basis. The student must earn a combined grade point average of at least 2.00 in these courses. | ||
Aerospace Engineering Majors
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| MSE 360M | Experiments in Materials Science and Engineering | 3 |
| M E 310T | Applied Thermodynamics | 3 |
| ASE 357 | Mechanics of Composite Materials | 3 |
| ASE 324L | Aerospace Materials Laboratory | 3 |
| M E 349 | Corrosion Engineering | 3 |
| or M E 336 | Materials Processing | |
| All classes must be taken on the letter-grade basis. The student must earn a combined grade point average of at least 2.00 in these courses. | ||
Electrical and Computer Engineering Majors
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| MSE 360M | Experiments in Materials Science and Engineering | 3 |
| PHY 369 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
| ECE 325 | Electromagnetic Engineering | 3 |
| CH 354S | Elements of Spectroscopy | 3 |
| or CH 367C | Materials Chemistry | |
| ECE 334K | Quantum Theory of Electronic Materials | 3 |
| All classes must be taken on the letter-grade basis. The student must earn a combined grade point average of at least 2.00 in these courses. | ||
Mechanical Engineering Majors
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| MSE 360M | Experiments in Materials Science and Engineering | 3 |
| M E 316T | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| PHY 355 | Modern Physics and Thermodynamics | 3 |
| or PHY 375S | Introductory Solid-State Physics | |
| or PHY 369 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | |
| or CH 353 | Physical Chemistry I | |
| M E 378K | Mechanical Behavior of Materials | 3 |
| M E 349 | Corrosion Engineering | 3 |
| or ASE 357 | Mechanics of Composite Materials | |
| All classes must be taken on the letter-grade basis. The student must earn a combined grade point average of at least 2.00 in these courses. | ||
Sustainable Energy Minor
The Sustainable Energy minor is restricted to the following majors: chemistry, BS in environmental science, BS in geological sciences, architectural engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, environmental engineering, geosystems engineering and hydrogeology, mechanical engineering, or petroleum engineering.
Students pursuing an integrated undergraduate/graduate program must complete the requirements for the minor within one year after completing the undergraduate requirements of their program. For more information regarding the requirements for achieving a minor, including a comprehensive list of minors, please visit the Minors and Certificate Programs section of the Undergraduate Catalog. Details about the minor in Sustainable Energy are available at https://www.pge.utexas.edu/undergraduate/undergraduate- minor-sustainable-energy/.
Admissions
To be considered for admission into the Minor Program for Sustainable Energy, students must meet the following requirements:
• The minor is restricted to the following majors: chemistry, BS in environmental science, BS in geological sciences, architectural engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, environmental engineering, geosystems engineering and hydrogeology, mechanical engineering, or petroleum engineering.
• Students must have completed Mathematics 408C, 408D, 427J, Chemistry 301, Physics 303K, and 303L, or equivalent with a grade of C- or higher.
• Students who have completed 30 to 60 hours will be encouraged to apply online at the earliest possible date. Application deadlines are March 1 for summer or fall and October 1 for spring.
Requirements
The Sustainable Energy minor requires a total of 18 credit hours towards the minor. The following nine hours are required for all students: Engineering Studies 369N, Mechanical Engineering 363M, and Geological Sciences 302C. The remaining nine credit hours consist of six credit hours from students’ home departments and three credit hours from outside. These courses must be selected from the list of approved courses below.
If students are interested in additional coursework, they can select additional electives from this list. Courses beyond 18 credit hours are not required for the completion of the minor.
Required Courses for All Majors
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| E S 369N | Sustainability Issues in Energy | 3 |
| M E 363M | Energy Technology and Policy | 3 |
| GEO 302C | Climate: Past, Present, and Future | 3 |
| All classes must be taken on the letter-grade basis. The student must earn a combined grade points average of at least 2.00 in these courses. | ||
Approved Courses for Remaining Nine Credit Hours for All Majors
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| ARE 346N | Building Environmental Systems | 3 |
| ARE 371 | Energy Simulation in Building Design | 3 |
| CH 353 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH 367C | Materials Chemistry | 3 |
| C E 341 | Introduction to Environmental Engineering | 3 |
| C E 367R | Optimization Techniques for Transportation Engineers | 3 |
| C E 369L | Air Pollution Engineering | 3 |
| C E 370L | Climate Change Mitigation | 3 |
| CHE 341 | Design for Environment | 3 |
| CHE 346F | Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics | 3 |
| ECE 339S | Solar Energy Conversion Devices | 3 |
| ECE 362G | Smart Grids | 3 |
| ECE 369 | Power Systems Engineering | 3 |
| ECE 462L | Power Electronics Laboratory | 4 |
| EVE 310 | Sustainable Systems Engineering | 3 |
| EVE 312 | Environmental Engineering and Science | 3 |
| GEO 330K | Energy Exploration | 3 |
| GEO 341 | Mineral Resources, Society, and the Environment | 3 |
| GEO 347D | Global Warming | 3 |
| M E 374T | Renewable Energy Technology | 3 |
| M E 378E | Nanotechnology for Sustainable Energy | 3 |
| PGE 379 | Studies in Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering (Topic 3: Geothermal and Sustainable Energy Resources) | 3 |
| PGE 379 | Studies in Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering (Topic 4: Carbon Capture and Storage) | 3 |
| All classes must be taken on the letter-grade basis. The student must earn a combined grade points average of at least 2.00 in the courses selected for their program of study. | ||
Certificates
National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges Scholars Program Certificate
The National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges Scholars Program (GCSP) certificate is designed to be complementary, not additive, to a student’s traditional academic path. The GCSP certificate provides students with the scholarship network and formal recognition from the National Academy of Engineering, while typically requiring only one course beyond their standard degree program.
The GCSP certificate program is designed to offer students from all majors and all years an introduction to the program through Engineering Studies 377, an array of university-wide course connections, and mentorship. GC Scholars choose between 18 and 24 hours of approved coursework from a broad range of offerings that align with the five key program components. The five key curriculum components include facing the 21st Century Engineering Grand Challenges with (1) entrepreneurship and (2) service-learning by (3) understanding global dimensions through (4) research and (5) interdisciplinary curriculum. Each Scholar must choose at least one class that emphasizes each one of the components. Scholars will be advised on progress regularly by faculty affiliated with the program, and will present their work at an annual GCSP colloquium.
The certificate requirements are:
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| E S 377 | Topics in Engineering (Topic 2: 21st Century Grand Challenges) | 3 |
| At least 18 hours of approved courses from GC Scholar Coursework Program Plan | 18 | |
| Be a student of good standing | ||
| Complete courses, a research project, a community project, a comprehensive reflective report, and a final design, which are evaluated with aligned rubrics. | ||
Computational Science and Engineering Certificate
The Cockrell School sponsors the transcript-recognized Certificate in Computational Science and Engineering along with the Jackson School of Geosciences, the College of Liberal Arts, and the College of Natural Sciences.
The foundations of science and engineering are under rapid, dramatic, and irreversible change brought on by the advent of the computer. Steady growth in computer capabilities, and enormous expansion in the scope and sophistication of computational modeling and simulation, have added computation as the third pillar of scientific discovery and have revolutionized engineering practice. Computational science and engineering can affect virtually every aspect of human existence, including the health, security, productivity, and competitiveness of nations.
The Computational Science and Engineering Certificate program is sponsored by the Cockrell School of Engineering, the Jackson School of Geosciences, the College of Liberal Arts, and the College of Natural Sciences; it is administered by the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences. The program offers highly qualified upper-division students an opportunity for in-depth study and research in computational science and engineering, including computational and applied mathematics, numerical simulation, scientific computation, and visualization. A student who completes the general requirements listed on Transcript-Recognized Programs and the specific requirements below receives recognition on his or her University transcript and a letter from the director of the Oden Institute that describes the program and the work completed. Along with supporting letters from supervising faculty and graduate mentors, these are valuable assets for students applying to graduate school and pursuing competitive job opportunities.
To apply for admission, students must have completed 60 semester hours of coursework, must have a grade point average of at least 3.00, and must have taken coursework in calculus.
Students must complete 18 semester hours of approved coursework with a grade of at least C- in each course. A student’s overall GPA in certificate courses must be 3.00 or greater.
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Students must take at least one course in each of the following areas: | 18 | |
Upper Division Mathematics | ||
Basic Programming | ||
Numerical Applications | ||
Advanced Computing | ||
Electives | ||
Scientific Computing Project 1 | ||
| --- | ||
| 1. To be supervised by a member of the computational science, engineering, and mathematics (CSEM) graduate program faculty. The research project is completed in a three-semester-hour research methods or individual instruction course, which the student should take during the senior year. The research project may include mentoring by Oden Institute postdoctoral fellows and CSEM graduate students as part of a vertical instructional research team. | ||
With the approval of the certificate program’s faculty advisor, course substitutions may be made within the broad area of computational science and engineering.
Some courses on the approved course list may be restricted by the department offering the course. Please note that the CSE Certificate Program cannot ask the department to waive prerequisites or force the department to lift restrictions on their courses.
A list of approved courses is available at https://www.oden.utexas.edu/programs/cse-certificate/ and in the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, POB 4.110
Humanitarian Engineering Certificate
The undergraduate Humanitarian Engineering Certificate provides students with the opportunity to develop expertise in designing and/or implementing projects or products for traditionally underserved populations, e.g., the physically or mentally challenged, low-income or rural communities, or communities experiencing humanitarian crises. The participants will develop not only technical knowledge but also awareness of social, political, and/or economic circumstances that may be important to the development of engineering solutions for underserved populations.
The certificate consists of 18 hours. Students must receive a grade of at least a C- in each course applied toward the certificate and have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 in the courses presented to fulfill the certificate. The certificate program will be managed by the Committee for the Humanitarian Engineering Certificate in the J. Mike Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering. Students may apply for participation in the program at any time during their enrollment at The University of Texas at Austin, but it is recommended that they apply prior to starting the requirements. Students must contact the Committee for the Humanitarian Engineering Certificate in the J. Mike Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering to apply for the certificate in the semester in which they are completing the requirements and graduating.
The course requirements for the certificate are:
| Requirements | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Three hours from the following: | 3 | |
| First-Year Signature Course 1 | ||
| First-Year Signature Course 1 | ||
| Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Classics of Social and Political Thought | ||
| This Human World: An Introduction to Geography | ||
| PHY 303L & PHY 103N | Engineering Physics II and Laboratory for Physics 303L | 4 |
| Humanitarian engineering project chosen from the following: | 4 | |
| Project Development with Underserved Communities and Project Design with Underserved Communities | ||
| Humanitarian Product Design and Humanitarian Product Prototyping | ||
Approved project design course such as M E 466K 2 | ||
Approved independent study research project 2 | ||
| M E 120C | Humanitarian Engineering Seminar | 1 |
| Three hours from the following: | 3 | |
| Global Food, Farming, and Hunger | ||
| Population and Society | ||
| Contemporary Cultural Geography | ||
| Geographies of Globalization | ||
| Medical Geography | ||
| Global Health Issues and Health Systems | ||
| Might and Right among Nations | ||
| Environmental Ethics and Philosophy | ||
| Medicine, Ethics, and Society | ||
| Topics in Asian Studies (Topic 31: Global Markets and Local Cultures) | ||
| Topics in History (Topic 18: Global History of Disease) | ||
| Communicating Sustainability | ||
| Communication and Social Change | ||
| Three hours from the following: 3 | 3 | |
| Project Management and Economics | ||
| Building Environmental Systems | ||
| Biochemical Engineering | ||
| Biomechanics of Human Movement | ||
| Biomechanics | ||
| Engineering Biomaterials | ||
| Medical Decision Making | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Engineering | ||
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Engineering | ||
| Design of Wastewater and Water Treatment Facilities | ||
| Indoor Air Quality | ||
| Hydrology | ||
| Introduction to Biochemical Engineering | ||
| Cell and Tissue Engineering | ||
| Design for Environment | ||
| Chemical Engineering Economics and Business Analysis | ||
| Technology and Its Impact on the Environment | ||
| Solar Energy Conversion Devices | ||
| Renewable Energy and Power Systems | ||
| Development of a Solar-Powered Vehicle | ||
| Biomedical Electronic Instrument Design | ||
| Applications of Biomedical Engineering | ||
| Nuclear Environmental Protection | ||
| Design and Control of Robots for Rehabilitation | ||
| Biomechanics of Human Movement | ||
| Solar Energy Systems Design | ||
| Development of a Solar-Powered Vehicle | ||
| Energy Technology and Policy | ||
| Renewable Energy Technology | ||
| Medical Device Design and Manufacturing | ||
| Nanotechnology for Sustainable Energy | ||
| --- | ||
| 1. For an approved list of courses, please see your advisor. | ||
| 2. Approval for these options must be obtained in advance from the Committee for the Humanitarian Engineering Certificate. | ||
| 3. Additional courses may be substituted for those listed upon approval by the advisor for Humanitarian Engineering. | ||