About the Program
Bachelor of Science (BS)
The joint major programs are designed for students who wish to undertake study in two areas of engineering in order to qualify for employment in either field or for positions in which competence in two fields is required. These curricula include the core courses in each of the major fields. While they require slightly increased course loads, they can be completed in four years. Both majors are shown on the student's transcript of record.
The interface between materials science and engineering and nuclear engineering is an especially challenging and rewarding one giving students in this joint major an exciting range of career options. With a sound curriculum steeped in the fundamentals, the joint major program prepares students to fully understand the behavior of materials in a reactor or related extreme environments, including their design and optimization. Students completing this joint major will successfully compete for positions in the energy sector.
Admission to the Joint Major
Admission directly to a joint major is closed to freshmen and junior transfer applicants. Students interested in a joint program may apply to change majors during specific times in their academic progress. Please see the College of Engineering joint majors website for complete details.
Major Requirements
In addition to the University, campus, and college requirements, students must fulfill the below requirements specific to their major program.
General Guidelines
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All technical courses taken in satisfaction of major requirements must be taken for a letter grade.
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No more than one upper division course may be used to simultaneously fulfill requirements for a student’s major and minor programs.
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A minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 is required for all work undertaken at UC Berkeley.
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A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for all technical courses taken in satisfaction of major requirements.
For information regarding residence requirements and unit requirements, please see the College Requirements tab.
For a detailed plan of study by year and semester, please see the Plan of Study tab.
Lower division Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 1A | Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 1B | Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 53 | Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 54 | Linear Algebra and Differential Equations | 4 |
| CHEM 1A & 1AL | General Chemistry and General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| or CHEM 4A | General Chemistry and Quantitative Analysis | |
| PHYSICS 7A | Physics for Scientists and Engineers | 4 |
| PHYSICS 7B | Physics for Scientists and Engineers | 4 |
| PHYSICS 7C | Physics for Scientists and Engineers | 4 |
| ENGIN 7 | Introduction to Computer Programming for Scientists and Engineers | 4 |
| ENGIN 40 | Engineering Thermodynamics | 4 |
| MAT SCI 45 | Properties of Materials | 3 |
| MAT SCI 45L | Properties of Materials Laboratory | 1 |
| MEC ENG C85 | Introduction to Solid Mechanics | 3 |
| 1 | CHEM 4A is intended for students majoring in chemistry or a closely-related field. |
Upper division Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MAT SCI 102 | Bonding, Crystallography, and Crystal Defects | 3 |
| MAT SCI 103 | Phase Transformations and Kinetics | 3 |
| MAT SCI 104 | Materials Characterization | 4 |
| MAT SCI 111 | Properties of Electronic Materials | 4 |
| MAT SCI 112 | Corrosion (Chemical Properties) | 3 |
| MAT SCI 113 | Mechanical Behavior of Engineering Materials | 3 |
| MAT SCI 130 | Experimental Materials Science and Design | 3 |
| NUC ENG 100 | Introduction to Nuclear Energy and Technology | 3 |
| NUC ENG 101 | Nuclear Reactions and Radiation | 4 |
| NUC ENG 104 | Radiation Detection and Nuclear Instrumentation Laboratory | 4 |
| NUC ENG 120 | Nuclear Materials | 4 |
| NUC ENG 150 | Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory | 4 |
| NUC ENG 170A | Nuclear Design: Design in Nuclear Power Technology and Instrumentation | 3 |
| Ethics Requirement 1 | 3-4 | |
| Upper division Technical Electives: Minimum 16 units 2,3 | 16 | |
Must include at least 9 units of upper division NUC ENG courses, in consultation with faculty adviser | ||
Must include at least 3 units of MAT SCI 12x (120 series course) | ||
The additional 4 units of technical electives must be chosen in consultation with faculty adviser | ||
| 1 | Students must take one course with ethics content. This may be fulfilled within the Humanities/Social Sciences requirement by taking one of the following courses: ANTHRO 156B, BIO ENG 100, ENGIN 125, ENGIN 157AC, ESPM 161, ESPM 162A (ESPM 162 if taken Spring 2018 or earlier), GEOG 31, IAS 157AC, ISF 100E, L & S 160B, PHILOS 2, PHILOS 104, PHILOS 107, SOCIOL 116. ENGIN 185 can be used to fulfill the ethics requirement. |
| 2 | Students may receive up to three units of technical elective credit for graded research in MAT SCI H194 or NUC ENG H194. |
| 3 | Technical Electives cannot include:
|
College Requirements
Students in the College of Engineering must complete no fewer than 120 semester units with the following provisions:
- Completion of the requirements of one engineering major program study.
- A minimum overall grade point average of 2.00 (C average) and a minimum 2.00 grade point average in upper division technical coursework required of the major.
- The final 30 units and two semesters must be completed in residence in the College of Engineering on the Berkeley campus.
- All technical courses (math, science and engineering) that can fulfill requirements for the student's major must be taken on a letter graded basis (unless they are only offered P/NP).
- Entering freshmen are allowed a maximum of eight semesters to complete their degree requirements. Entering junior transfers are allowed a maximum of four semesters to complete their degree requirements. (Note: junior transfers admitted missing three or more courses from the lower division curriculum are allowed five semesters.) Summer terms are optional and do not count toward the maximum. Students are responsible for planning and satisfactorily completing all graduation requirements within the maximum allowable semesters.
- Adhere to all college policies and procedures as they complete degree requirements.
- Complete the lower division program before enrolling in upper division engineering courses.
Humanities and Social Sciences (H/SS) Requirement
To promote a rich and varied educational experience outside of the technical requirements for each major, the College of Engineering has a six-course Humanities and Social Sciences breadth requirement, which must be completed to graduate. This requirement, built into all the engineering programs of study, includes two reading and composition courses (R&C), and four additional courses within which a number of specific conditions must be satisfied. Follow these guidelines to fulfill this requirement:
- Complete a minimum of six courses from the approved Humanities/Social Sciences (H/SS) lists.
- Courses must be a minimum of 3 semester units (or 4 quarter units).
- Two of the six courses must fulfill the college's Reading and Composition (R&C) requirement. These courses must be taken for a letter grade (C- or better required) and must be completed by no later than the end of the sophomore year (fourth semester of enrollment). The first half of R&C, the “A” course, must be completed by the end of the freshman year; the second half of R&C, the “B" course, must be completed by no later than the end of the sophomore year. Use the Class Schedule to view R&C courses offered in a given semester. View the list of exams that can be applied toward the first half of the R&C requirement. Note: Only the first half of R&C can be fulfilled with an AP or IB exam score. Test scores do not fulfill the second half of the R&C requirement for College of Engineering students.
- The four additional courses must be chosen within College of Engineering guidelines from the H/SS lists (see below). These courses may be taken on a Pass/Not Passed basis (P/NP).
- Two of the six courses must be upper division (courses numbered 100-196).
- One of the six courses must satisfy the campus American Cultures requirement. For detailed lists of courses that fulfill American Cultures requirements, visit the American Cultures site.
- A maximum of two exams (Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or A-Level) may be used toward completion of the H/SS requirement. View the list of exams that can be applied toward H/SS requirements.
- Courses may fulfill multiple categories. For example, CY PLAN 118AC satisfies both the American Cultures requirement and one upper division H/SS requirement.
- No courses offered by any engineering department other than BIO ENG 100, COMPSCI C79, ENGIN 125, ENGIN 157AC, and MEC ENG 191K may be used to complete H/SS requirements.
- Foreign language courses may be used to complete H/SS requirements. View the list of language options.
- Courses numbered 97, 98, 99, or above 196 may not be used to complete any H/SS requirement.
- The College of Engineering uses modified versions of five of the College of Letters and Science (L&S) breadth requirements lists to provide options to our students for completing the H/SS requirement. The five areas are:
- Arts and Literature
- Historical Studies
- International Studies
- Philosophy and Values
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
Within the guidelines above, choose courses from any of the Breadth areas listed above. (Please note that you cannot use courses on the Biological Science or Physical Science Breadth list to complete the H/SS requirement.) To find course options, go to the Class Schedule, select the term of interest, and use the Breadth Requirements filter.
Class Schedule Requirements
- Minimum units per semester: 12.0
- Maximum units per semester: 20.5
- Minimum technical courses: College of Engineering undergraduates must enroll each semester in no fewer than two technical courses (of a minimum of 3 units each) required of the major program of study in which the student is officially declared. (Note: For most majors, normal progress will require enrolling in 3-4 technical courses each semester).
- All technical courses (math, science, engineering) that satisfy requirements for the major must be taken on a letter-graded basis (unless only offered as P/NP).
Minimum Academic (Grade) Requirements
- A minimum overall and semester grade point average of 2.00 (C average) is required of engineering undergraduates. Students will be subject to dismissal from the University if during any fall or spring semester their overall UC GPA falls below a 2.00, or their semester GPA is less than 2.00.
- Students must achieve a minimum grade point average of 2.00 (C average) in upper division technical courses required for the major curriculum each semester.
- A minimum overall grade point average of 2.00, and a minimum 2.00 grade point average in upper division technical course work required for the major is needed to earn a Bachelor of Science in Engineering.
Unit Requirements
To earn a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, students must complete at least 120 semester units of courses subject to certain guidelines:
- Completion of the requirements of one engineering major program of study.
- A maximum of 16 units of special studies coursework (courses numbered 97, 98, 99, 197, 198, or 199) is allowed towards the 120 units.
- A maximum of 4 units of physical education from any school attended will count towards the 120 units.
- Students may receive unit credit for courses graded P (including P/NP units taken through EAP) up to a limit of one-third of the total units taken and passed on the Berkeley campus at the time of graduation.
Normal Progress
Students in the College of Engineering must enroll in a full-time program and make normal progress each semester toward the bachelor's degree. The continued enrollment of students who fail to achieve minimum academic progress shall be subject to the approval of the dean. (Note: Students with official accommodations established by the Disabled Students' Program, with health or family issues, or with other reasons deemed appropriate by the dean may petition for an exception to normal progress rules.)
UC and Campus Requirements
University of California Requirements
All students who will enter the University of California as freshmen must demonstrate their command of the English language by fulfilling the Entry Level Writing Requirement. Satisfaction of this requirement is also a prerequisite to enrollment in all reading and composition courses at UC Berkeley.
American History and American Institutions
The American History and Institutions requirements are based on the principle that a U.S. resident graduated from an American university should have an understanding of the history and governmental institutions of the United States.
Campus Requirement
American Cultures (AC) is the one requirement that all undergraduate students at UC Berkeley need to take and pass in order to graduate. The requirement offers an exciting intellectual environment centered on the study of race, ethnicity, and culture in the United States. AC courses offer students opportunities to be part of research-led, highly accomplished teaching environments, grappling with the complexity of American Culture.
Plan of Study
For more detailed information regarding the courses listed below (e.g., elective information, GPA requirements, etc.), please see the College Requirements and Major Requirements tab.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| CHEM 1A & 1AL, or CHEM 4A1 | 4 | MATH 1B | 4 |
| MATH 1A | 4 | PHYSICS 7A | 4 |
| Reading & Composition course from List A | 4 | ENGIN 7 | 4 |
| Humanities/Social Sciences course | 3-4 | Reading & Composition course from List B | 4 |
| 15-16 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| MATH 53 | 4 | MATH 54 | 4 |
| PHYSICS 7B | 4 | PHYSICS 7C | 4 |
| Humanities/Social Sciences Course | 3-4 | MEC ENG C85 | 3 |
| MAT SCI 45 | 3 | Humanities/Social Sciences course | 3-4 |
| MAT SCI 45L | 1 | ||
| 15-16 | 14-15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| ENGIN 40 | 4 | MAT SCI 103 | 3 |
| MAT SCI 102 | 3 | MAT SCI 104 | 4 |
| NUC ENG 100 | 3 | NUC ENG 101 | 4 |
| Technical Electives2,3 | 7 | NUC ENG 150 | 4 |
| Humanities/Social Sciences course with Ethics content4 | 3-4 | ||
| 17 | 18-19 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Units | Spring | Units |
| MAT SCI 130 | 3 | MAT SCI 111 | 4 |
| NUC ENG 104 | 4 | MAT SCI 112 | 3 |
| NUC ENG 120 | 4 | MAT SCI 113 | 3 |
| Technical Electives2,3 | 6 | NUC ENG 170A | 3 |
| Technical Elective | 3 | ||
| 17 | 16 | ||
| Total Units: 128-132 | |||
| 1 | CHEM 4A is intended for students majoring in chemistry or a closely-related field. |
| 2 | Technical electives must include at least 9 units of upper-division NUC ENG courses and at least 3 units from the MAT SCI 120 series courses. The additional 4 units of upper-division technical electives must be chosen in consultation with the faculty adviser. Students may receive up to 3 units of technical elective credit for graded research in MAT SCI H194 Honors Undergraduate Research or NUC ENG H194 Honors Undergraduate Research. |
| 3 | Technical Electives cannot include:
|
| 4 | Students must take one course with ethics content. This may be fulfilled within the Humanities/Social Sciences requirement by taking one of the following courses: ANTHRO 156B, BIO ENG 100, ENGIN 125, ENGIN 157AC, ESPM 161, ESPM 162A (ESPM 162 if taken Spring 2018 or earlier), GEOG 31, IAS 157AC, ISF 100E, L & S 160B, PHILOS 2, PHILOS 104, PHILOS 107, SOCIOL 116. ENGIN 185 can be used to fulfill the ethics requirement. |
Faculty and Instructors
+ Indicates this faculty member is the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching Award.
Faculty
Joel W. Ager, Adjunct Professor.
Paul Alivisatos, Professor. Physical chemistry, semiconductor nanocrystals, nanoscience, nanotechnology, artificial photosynthesis, solar energy, renewable energy, sustainable energy.
Research Profile
Elke Arenholz, Associate Adjunct Professor.
Mark D. Asta, Professor.
Jillian Banfield, Professor. Nanoscience, Bioremediation, genomics, biogeochemistry, carbon cycling, geomicrobiology, MARS, minerology.
Research Profile
Robert Birgeneau, Professor. Physics, phase transition behavior of novel states of matter.
Research Profile
Gerbrand Ceder, Professor.
Daryl Chrzan, Professor. Materials science and engineering, computational materials science, metals and metallic compounds, defects in solids, growth of nanostructures.
Research Profile
Thomas M. Devine, Professor. Synthesis of nanomaterials, nuclear power, oil production, secondary batteries for electric vehicles, computer disk drives, and synthesis and characterization of metal oxide nanowires, corrosion resistance of materials.
Research Profile
Fiona Doyle, Professor. Electrochemistry, mineral processing, solution processing of materials, interfacial chemistry, extractive metallurgy, remediation of abandoned mines.
Research Profile
Oscar D. Dubon, Professor. Magnetic, optical materials, processing, properties in electronic.
Research Profile
Kevin Healy, Professor. Bioengineering, biomaterials engineering, tissue engineering, bioinspired materials, tissue and organ regeneration, stem cell engineering, microphysiological systems, organs on a chip, drug screening and discovery, multivalent bioconjugate therapeutics.
Research Profile
Frances Hellman, Professor. Condensed matter physics and materials science.
Research Profile
Digby D. Macdonald, Professor in Residence.
Lane W. Martin, Associate Professor. Complex Oxides, novel electronic materials, thin films, materials processing, materials characterization, memory, logic, information technologies, energy conversion, thermal properties, dielectrics, ferroelectrics, pyroelectrics, piezoelectrics, magnetics, multiferroics, transducers, devices.
Research Profile
Phillip B. Messersmith, Professor.
Andrew M. Minor, Professor. Metallurgy, nanomechanics, in situ TEM, electron microscopy of soft materials.
Research Profile
Kristin A. Persson, Assistant Professor. Lithium-ion Batteries.
Research Profile
R. Ramesh, Professor. Processing of complex oxide heterostructures, nanoscale characterization/device structures, thin film growth and materials physics of complex oxides, materials processing for devices, information technologies.
Research Profile
Robert O. Ritchie, Professor. Structural materials, mechanical behavior in biomaterials, creep, fatigue and fracture of advanced metals, intermetallics, ceramics.
Research Profile
Miquel B. Salmeron, Adjunct Professor. Molecules, lasers, atoms, materials science and engineering, matter, scanning, tunneling, atomic force microscopies, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
Research Profile
Junqiao Wu, Associate Professor. Semiconductors, nanotechnology, energy materials.
Research Profile
Ting Xu, Associate Professor. Polymer, nanocomposite, biomaterial, membrane, directed self-assembly, drug delivery, protein therapeutics, block copolymers, nanoparticles.
Research Profile
Peidong Yang, Professor. Materials chemistry, sensors, nanostructures, energy conversion, nanowires, miniaturizing optoelectronic devices, photovoltaics, thermoelectrics, solid state lighting.
Research Profile
Jie Yao, Assistant Professor. Optical materials, Nanophotonics, optoelectronics.
Research Profile
Haimei Zheng, Assistant Adjunct Professor.
Lecturers
Matthew Sherburne, Lecturer.
Emeritus Faculty
Robert H. Bragg, Professor Emeritus.
Didier De Fontaine, Professor Emeritus. Phase transformations in alloys, crystallography, thermodynamics of phase changes, particularly ordering reactions, phase separation, calculations of phase equilibria by combined quantum, statistical mechanical methods.
Research Profile
Lutgard De Jonghe, Professor Emeritus. Ceramic properties, advanced ceramics, silicon carbide, densification studies, microstructure development.
Research Profile
James W. Evans, Professor Emeritus. Production of materials, particularly fluid flow, reaction kinetics, mass transport, electrochemical, electromagnetic phenomena governing processes for producing materials, metals, storing energy.
Research Profile
+ Douglas W. Fuerstenau, Professor Emeritus. Mineral processing, extractive metallurgy, application of surface, colloid chemistry to mineral/water systems, fine particle science, technology, principles of comminution, flotation, pelletizing, hydrometallurg, extraction of metals.
Research Profile
Andreas M. Glaeser, Professor Emeritus. Ceramic joining, TLP bonding, brazing, reduced-temperature joining, ceramic-metal joining, ceramic processing, surface and interface properties of ceramics, thermal barrier coatings.
Research Profile
+ Ronald Gronsky, Professor Emeritus. Internal structure of materials, engineering applications.
Research Profile
Eugene E. Haller, Professor Emeritus. Semiconductor crystal growth, characterization of impurities and defects in semiconductors: infrared and microwave detectors, isotopically controlled semiconductors.
Research Profile
Marshal F. Merriam, Professor Emeritus.
+ J. W. Morris, Professor Emeritus. Structural materials, computational materials, the limits of strength, deformation mechanisms, non-destructive testing with SQUID microscopy, mechanisms of grain refinement in high strength steels, lead-free solders for microelectronics.
Research Profile
Eicke R. Weber, Professor Emeritus. Optical materials, magnetic materials, semiconductor thin film growth, device processing in electronic materials.
Research Profile
Faculty
Lee A. Bernstein, Adjunct Professor.
Massimiliano Fratoni, Assistant Professor. Nuclear reactor design, fuel cycle analysis, fusion reactors.
Research Profile
Ehud Greenspan, Professor. Professor of the Graduate School.
Peter Hosemann, Associate Professor. Microscopy, nanomaterials, Nuclear materials, material science, radiation damage, corrosion in liquid metals, materials development, materials under extremes, nuclear applications, ion beam microscopy, nanoscale mechanical testing.
Research Profile
Daniel M. Kammen, Professor. Public policy, nuclear engineering, energy, resources, risk analysis as applied to global warming, methodological studies of forecasting, hazard assessment, renewable energy technologies, environmental resource management.
Research Profile
Ka-Ngo Leung, Professor. Professor of the Graduate School, Plasma and Ion Beam technology in microfabrication processes.
Edward C. Morse, Professor. Applied plasma physics: fusion technology: microwaves, experimental investigation of RF plasma heating, experimental studies of compact toroids spectral method for magnetohydrodynamic stability.
Research Profile
Eric B. Norman, Professor. Professor of the Graduate School, nuclear astrophysics, experimental nuclear physics, homeland security, neutrinos.
Research Profile
Per F. Peterson, Professor. Nuclear engineering, heat and mass transfer, reactor thermal hydraulics, nuclear reactor design, radioactive waste, nuclear materials management.
Research Profile
Rachel Slaybaugh, Assistant Professor. Computational methods, high performance computing, neutron transport.
Research Profile
Karl A. Van Bibber, Professor. Experimental nuclear physics, Particle Astrophysics, Accelerator Technology and Neutron Sources.
Research Profile
Kai Vetter, Professor.
Jasmina L. Vujic, Professor. Nuclear engineering, numerical methods in reactor physics, neutron and photon transport, reactor core design and analysis, shielding, radiation protection, biomedical application of radiation, optimization techniques for vector, parallel computers.
Research Profile
Lecturers
Ralph E. Berger, Lecturer.
Alan Michael Bolind, Lecturer.
Emeritus Faculty
T. Kenneth Fowler, Professor Emeritus. Plasma physics, nuclear engineering, magnetic fusion, confinement and stability of plasmas for thermonuclear fusion, fusion reactor design, spehromak compact toroid plasma confinement configuration.
Research Profile
Lawrence M. Grossman, Professor Emeritus. Nuclear engineering, reactor physics, numerical approximation methods in neutron diffusion, transport theory, control and optimization theory in nuclear reactor engineering.
Research Profile
Selig N. Kaplan, Professor Emeritus. Radiation reactions, interaction of radiation of matter, detection and measurement of ionizing radiation.
Research Profile
William E. Kastenberg, Professor Emeritus. Risk management, risk assessment, nuclear reactor safety, ethical issues in emerging technologies.
Research Profile
Donald R. Olander, Professor Emeritus. Nuclear engineering, nuclear materials: reactor fuel behavior, hydriding of zirconium and uranium, high-temperature kinetic and thermodynamic behavior of nuclear reactor fuels, performance of degraded nuclear fuels.
Research Profile
Contact Information
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
210 Hearst Memorial Mining Building
Phone: 510-642-3801
Fax: 510-643-5792
Department of Nuclear Engineering
Student Services
4149 Etcheverry Hall
Phone: 510-642-5760
Fax: 510-643-9685
Engineering Student Services Adviser
Kathy Barrett
Phone: 510-642-7594
Department Chair, Materials Science and Engineering
Daryl Chrzan, PhD
216 Hearst Memorial Mining Building
Department Chair, Nuclear Engineering
Peter Hosemann, PhD
4151 Etcheverry Hall
Phone: 510-642-3477
Faculty Adviser
Massimiliano Fratoni, PhD (Department of Nuclear Engineering)
4111 Etcheverry Hall
Phone: 510-664-9079