Materials Science: 10 Things Every Engineer Should Know from Coursera

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Syllabus

Course Overview / The Menu of Materials / Point Defects Explain Solid State Diffusion

Welcome to week 1! In lesson one, you will learn to recognize the six categories of engineering materials through examples from everyday life, and we’ll discuss how the structure of those materials leads to their properties. Lesson two explores how point defects explain solid state diffusion. We will illustrate crystallography – the atomic-scale arrangement of atoms that we can see with the electron microscope. We will also describe the Arrhenius Relationship, and apply it to the number of vacancies in a crystal. We’ll finish by discussing how point defects facilitate solid state diffusion, and applying the Arrhenius Relationship to solid state diffusion.

Dislocations Explain Plastic Deformation / Stress vs. Strain -The “Big Four” Mechanical Properties

Welcome to week 2! In lesson three we will discover how dislocations at the atomic-level structure of materials explain plastic (permanent) deformation. You will learn to define a linear defect and see how materials deform through dislocation motion. Lesson four compares stress versus strain, and introduces the “Big Four” mechanical properties of elasticity, yield strength, tensile strength, and ductility. You’ll assess what happens beyond the tensile strength of an object. And you’ll learn about a fifth important property – toughness.

Creep Deformation / The Ductile-to-Brittle Transition

Welcome to week 3! In lesson five we’ll explore creep deformation and learn to analyze a creep curve. We’ll apply the Arrhenius Relationship to creep deformation and identify the mechanisms of creep deformation. In lesson six we find that the phenomenon of ductile-to-brittle transition is related to a particular crystal structure (the body-centered cubic). We’ll also learn to plot the ductile-to-brittle transition for further analysis.

Fracture Toughness / Fatigue

Welcome to week 4! In lesson seven we will examine the concept of critical flaws. We’ll define fracture toughness and critical flaw size with the design plot. We’ll also distinguish how we break things in good and bad ways. Lesson eight explores the concept of fatigue in engineering materials. We’ll define fatigue and examine the fatigue curve and fatigue strength. We’ll also identify mechanisms of fatigue.

Making Things Fast and Slow / A Brief History of Semiconductors

Welcome to week 5! In lesson nine we’ll deal with how to make things fast and slow. We’ll examine the lead-tin phase diagram and look at its practical applications as an example of making something slowly. Then we’ll evaluate the TTT diagram for eutectoid steel, and compare diffusional to diffusionless transformations with the TTT diagram, monitoring how we make things rapidly. Lesson ten is a brief history of semiconductors. Here, we discuss the role of semiconductor materials in the modern electronics industry. Our friend Arrhenius is back again, and this time we’re applying the Arrhenius Relationship to both intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors. We’ll also look at combined intrinsic and extrinsic behavior.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Introduces topics that range from the types of materials engineers use to the properties of those materials, suitable for people with little to no background in materials science

Requires no external textbooks, which can save learners time and money

Covers the fundamentals of materials science, which can be useful for students in STEM fields and professionals in the materials industry

Provides an introduction to the Arrhenius relationship in materials science, which is a fundamental concept for understanding the behavior of materials at different temperatures

Offers a wide range of topics, from materials selection to manufacturing processes, providing a broad overview of materials science

Reviews summary

Engineering materials overview

According to students, this course provides a good overview of materials science. The 10 core topics are presented by a clear and engaging instructor. These bite-sized portions are perfect for learners who want to understand the fundamentals of materials engineering. Reviews mention that while this course is not a replacement for an in-depth education, it is a great place to start.

Instructor is clear and engaging.

"Interesting subject, clear explanations and a good professor."

Covers 10 core topics in materials science.

"The course covers 10 key topics of this discipline..."

Course is a good overview of materials science.

"This course provides a good overview of materials science."

Not an in-depth description.

"This is a nice course for those who look for a quick and basic overview on material science."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Materials Science: 10 Things Every Engineer Should Know with these activities:

Review crystallography

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This activity will help you strengthen your knowledge of crystallography before you start your studies in Introduction to Materials Science.

Browse courses on Crystallography

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Read the chapter on crystallography in your textbook.
Complete the practice problems at the end of the chapter.
Watch a video lecture on crystallography.

Compile and review course materials

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This activity will help you stay organized and keep track of the course materials.

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Download and print the course syllabus.
Create a folder on your computer for the course materials.
File notes and assignments in the appropriate folders.

Tutorials on the Arrhenius Relationship

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This activity will help you develop a deeper understanding of the Arrhenius Relationship and its applications in materials science.

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Find a series of tutorials on the Arrhenius Relationship.
Work through the tutorials, taking notes and completing any practice problems.
Apply what you have learned to solve problems related to materials science.

Five other activities

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Practice problems on mechanical properties

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This activity will help you develop your problem-solving skills and deepen your understanding of mechanical properties.

Browse courses on Mechanical Properties

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Find a set of practice problems on mechanical properties.
Work through the problems, checking your answers against the provided solutions.
Identify the concepts that you are struggling with and review those concepts.

Compile and review lecture notes

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This activity will help you stay organized and keep track of the lecture notes.

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Attend the lectures and take notes.
Review your notes after each lecture.
Organize your notes into a logical system.

Practice problems on fracture toughness

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This activity will help you develop your problem-solving skills and deepen your understanding of fracture toughness.

Browse courses on Fracture Toughness

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Find a set of practice problems on fracture toughness.
Work through the problems, checking your answers against the provided solutions.
Identify the concepts that you are struggling with and review those concepts.

Practice problems on fatigue

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This activity will help you develop your problem-solving skills and deepen your understanding of fatigue.

Browse courses on Fatigue

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Find a set of practice problems on fatigue.
Work through the problems, checking your answers against the provided solutions.
Identify the concepts that you are struggling with and review those concepts.

Create a summary of the course

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This activity will help you summarize the key concepts of the course and reinforce your learning.

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Review your notes and the course materials.
Identify the key concepts of the course.
Write a summary of the key concepts.

Career center

Learners who complete Materials Science: 10 Things Every Engineer Should Know will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Ceramic Engineer

Ceramic Engineers earn a yearly median salary of $105,410 and design and develop ceramic materials for use in a variety of applications. You will need a strong understanding of the principles of materials science and ceramics. This course will help you build a foundation in materials science and provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Ceramic Engineer

Metallurgical Engineer

Metallurgical Engineers, who earn a yearly median income of $99,990, work with the extraction and processing of metals. You will need a strong understanding of the principles of materials science and metallurgy. This course will help you build a foundation in materials science and provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to be successful in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Metallurgical Engineer

Nanotechnologist

Nanotechnologists earn a yearly median salary of $116,380 and work with the design and development of nanomaterials. You will need a strong understanding of the principles of materials science and nanotechnology. This course will help you build a foundation in materials science and provide you with the knowledge and skills needed in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nanotechnologist

Polymer Engineer

Polymer Engineers who make a yearly median salary of $109,690 research, design, and develop polymers for use in a variety of applications. You will need a strong understanding of the principles of materials science and polymers. This course will help you build a foundation in materials science and provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive.

See salaries and explore the career path for Polymer Engineer

Materials Scientist

Materials Scientists who take home a yearly median salary of $100,090 research the structure and properties of materials. You will need a strong understanding of the principles of materials science and chemistry. This course will help you build a foundation in materials science and provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to be successful in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Materials Scientist

Materials Engineer

Materials Engineers bring in an annual median salary of $100,020 and typically hold a Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Materials Science or a related field. As a Materials Engineer, you will apply the principles of materials science to the development of new materials. You will need a strong understanding of the structure, properties, and behavior of materials, as well as the ability to design and test new materials. This course will help you build a foundation in materials science and provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to be successful in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Materials Engineer

Civil Engineer

Civil Engineers earn a yearly median income of $88,240 and design and build infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, and buildings. You will need a strong understanding of the principles of structural engineering and materials science. This course will help you build a foundation in materials science and provide you with the knowledge and skills to understand the behavior of materials under different conditions.

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Chemical Engineer

Chemical Engineers who bring home a yearly median salary of $108,080 oversee the design, construction, and operation of chemical plants and processes. You will need a strong understanding of the principles of chemistry, materials science, and thermodynamics. This course will help you build a foundation in materials science and provide you with the knowledge and skills needed in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chemical Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineers who bring home a yearly median income of $88,740 work with the design, development, and manufacturing of mechanical systems. You will need a strong understanding of the principles of mechanics, materials science, and thermodynamics. This course will help you build a foundation in materials science and provide you with the knowledge and skills to understand the behavior of materials under different conditions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechanical Engineer

Quality Control Manager

Quality Control Managers who take in a yearly median salary of $101,820 ensure that products meet quality standards. You will need a strong understanding of the principles of quality control and materials science. This course will help you build a foundation in materials science and provide you with the knowledge and skills to understand the behavior of materials under different conditions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Control Manager

Product Designer

Product Designers, who make a yearly median salary of $115,170, design and develop products for use by consumers. You will need a strong understanding of the principles of design and materials science. This course will help you build a foundation in materials science and provide you with the knowledge and skills to understand the behavior of materials under different conditions.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers earn a yearly median income of $76,950 and write technical documentation, such as manuals and reports. You will need a strong understanding of the principles of technical writing and materials science. This course will help you build a foundation in materials science and provide you with the knowledge and skills to understand the behavior of materials under different conditions.

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Science Teacher

Science Teachers earn a yearly median income of $61,920 and teach science to students at the elementary, middle, or high school level. You will need a strong understanding of the principles of materials science and pedagogy. This course will help you build a foundation in materials science and provide you with the knowledge and skills to understand the behavior of materials under different conditions.

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Patent Attorney

Patent Attorneys make a yearly median salary of $126,930 and work with the preparation and filing of patents. You will need a strong understanding of the principles of patent law and materials science. This course may be useful in providing you with a basic understanding of materials science that can be helpful in your work.

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Investment Banker

Investment Bankers who earn a yearly median salary of $91,830 provide financial advice to companies and individuals. You will need a strong understanding of the principles of finance and materials science. This course may be useful in providing you with a basic understanding of materials science that can be helpful in your work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker