Undergraduate Engineering Chemistry Major

The interdisciplinary program in Engineering Chemistry (ECM), which leads to the Bachelor of Science Degree, is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of the chemical principles and materials technology underlying modern materials engineering. The program emphasizes a strong background in physical chemistry infused with an orientation toward the solid state sciences and materials technology. Its central theme is a chemistry core strengthened by materials science and laboratory courses, the latter with a "chemistry of materials" component. The choice of suitable electives will help the student to prepare for work or advanced study in areas such as electronic materials, interfacial phenomena, solid-state science and technology, polymers, ceramics, biomaterials, etc.

Jointly sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the program is a basic preparation for chemical and materials professionals who can enter a wide range of industries or proceed to graduate work in either solid-state chemistry or materials science.

Declaring the Major

The Engineering Chemistry Major is open to all Stony Brook undergraduates. Perhaps the ideal time to declare the major is at the beginning of a student's sophomore year. It is usually unwise to postpone the declaration past the beginning of the student's junior year. Students who wish to elect the Engineering Chemistry Major should speak to a member of the program committee.

Plan of Study

Freshman students usually begin their studies toward the ECM major by completing their introductory studies in chemistry and mathematics. Highly qualified freshmen may wish to begin their studies in physics and computer science as well. In the sophomore year advanced mathematics and physics are combined with solid state chemistry and physical chemistry courses. In the junior and senior years, organic and inorganic chemistry courses are completed as well as a series of materials science and engineering courses.

Research

Engineering Chemistry is based upon research. This is why students in the major have so many laboratory courses required for their degree. However structured instructional laboratories can not truly introduce students to independent study and research. Students who wish to acquire this experience must seek out independent study and research opportunities. The faculty of both the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering welcome qualified undergraduate students into their research laboratories. These opportunities are especially suitable for students in their junior and senior years of study. Interested students should review the research interests of the various faculty members and then discuss the possibilities for independent study or research with the individual faculty members who have the research programs of greatest interest. Each summer there are numerous special research programs available at Stony Brook, at nearby Brookhaven Laboratory and at universities across the country, open to qualified students. Interested students should talk to the Program Directors several months in advance.

Careers

Students graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering Chemistry are well prepared for entry level positions in many different industries. Such students are particularly attractive to the chemical industry, the petroleum industry, the materials manufacturing and processing industry and the electronics industry. The best jobs go to students with good records and with lots of laboratory experience, including research. Students who earn a degree certified by the American Chemical Society may have an edge (see next section). Many students choose to pursue graduate study in such fields as Solid State Chemistry, Materials Science and Engineering, or Polymer Chemistry, at various universities around the nation. Masters degrees are usually obtainable after one and half to two years additional study. Ph.D. degrees usually require five years study beyond the Bachelor of Science Degree. Graduate students usually receive substantial stipends throughout their period of graduate study.

American Chemical Society Certification

The American Chemical Society is the national organization for chemists in the United States. The Society publishes the most pertigious journals, hosts the major national chemistry conferencesa, and influences chemical education in the country. The Society sets standards for the undergraduate chemistry programs at American universities. As part of this program, the American Chemical Society's Committee on Professional Training has defined a minimum set of courses that they consider necessary for a student to achieve the skills needed for entry into the chemistry profession. Students who complete these requirements have their degrees certified by the Society. Students receiving certified degrees are eligible for immediate entry into the Society upon graduation. Certification requires the completion of a small number of courses in addition to those required for the major.

Minor in Materials Science

Students who have a special interest in Materials Science are encouraged to combine their major in Engineering Chemistry with the minor offered by the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. The minor requires four courses in addition to those required for the ECM major (a listing is given on a following page). The Minor is especially recommended for those students planning graduate study in Materials Science.

Double Majors

Highly motivated students often choose to complete the requirements for two majors. Students choosing to major in chemistry may wish to consider a second major in such fields as chemistry, physics, mathematics or engineering. Students electing the Engineering Chemistry Major can easily complete a second major in chemistry. To complete a Chemistry major a student will need to complete the courses listed on the following pages for ACS certification. Students completing a double major will have an extra credential when looking for a job or when applying for graduate study. However a double major is certainly not a good idea for everyone. Often a better approach is to choose particular advanced courses as electives, matching one's own interests and abilities. And in all cases students should consider the importance of research and additional laboratory courses.

Internships

Special internships are available for qualified undergraduate students majoring in the chemical sciences. These programs allow students to combine work in an industrial setting with their academic studies. Students in the program work in an industrial laboratory one or two days a week. In return they receive a salary from the company and academic credit from Stony Brook. Interested students should talk to the Student Affairs Coordinator several months in advance.

Diversified Education Curriculum

The Engineering Chemistry Degree is jointly sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Since these two colleges have different D.E.C. requirements students in Engineering Chemistry have a special hybrid set of D.E.C requirements. Under these special requirements a student who completes an elementary foreign language course to meet the entry skills requirement may also count that course to fulfill the Category B, Interpreting Texts in the Humanities requirement. ECM students are only required to take one Category F, Social and Behavioral Science course.

Major Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering Chemistry

Candidates for the Bachelors of Science Degree in Engineering Chemistry must complete a series of mathematics and basic science requirements, the core program requirement which consists of a selection of chemistry, materials and engineering courses. In addition all students must fullfill the Upper-Division Writing Requirement.

All required courses must be taken for a letter grade; P/NC grades are not acceptable. All courses required for the major must be passed with a grade of C or higher, with the exception of three courses, for which the grade may be C-. No transferred course with a grade lower than C may be used to fulfill any major requirement.

Completion of the major requirements entails approximately 65 to 67 credits.

A. Mathematics and Basic Science Requirements

MAT 131, 132 Calculus I, II (Substitutions are possible, see note 1)
AMS 261, 361, Engineering Mathematics I and II or MAT 203, 303, Calculus III and IV with Applications (Substitutions are possible, see note 1)
ESG 111 Computer Science for Engineers or equivalent computer course
CHE 129/130 or 131, 132 or 141, 142 General or Honors Chemistry
CHE 133, 134 or 143, 144 General or Honors Chemistry Laboratory
PHY 131/133, 132/134 or PHY 125, 126,127, or PHY 141,142
PHY 251/252 Modern Physics or ESG 281 An Engineering Introduction to the SolidState.

B. Core Program Requirements

CHE 301, 302 Physical Chemistry I, II
CHE 303 Solution Chemistry Laboratory
CHE 304 Chemical Instrumentation Laboratory
CHE 321 Organic Chemistry I
CHE 378 Materials Chemistry
ESM 325 Diffraction Techniques and Structure of Solids
ESG 332 Materials Science I; Structure and Properties of Materials
ESG 333 Materials Science II; Electronic Properties

C. Upper-Division Writing Requirement

Each student majoring in chemistry must submit a portfolio of three to five papers from previous chemistry coursework, at least two of which should be full laboratory reports from chemistry or materials science courses. This portfolio is to be submitted to the a member of the Program Committee by the end of the junior year. It must be found acceptable in its clarity and precision of communication before the student can be cleared for graduation;

OR:CHE 385

Notes:

The following alternate calculus sequences may be substituted for MAT 131, MAT 132: MAT 141, MAT 142 or MAT 171 or MAT 125, MAT 126, MAT 127 or AMS 151, AMS 161. MAT 307 and MAT 308 may be substituted for MAT 203 and MAT 303, but only after consultation with the Mathematics Department.
Transfer Credit
At least six credits each of upper-division work in chemistry and in materials science and engineering must be taken at Stony Brook..
American Chemical Society Certification
The American Chemical Society's Committee on Professional Training has set nationally recognized standards for professional preparation in chemistry. The Chemistry faculty recommends that students intending to pursue careers in the Chemical Sciences secure ACS certification along with their Bachelor of Science in Engineering Chemistry degree.

For ACS certification, students in the Engineering Chemistry Program need to complete
the following courses:
- CHE 326 Organic Chemistry IIB
- CHE 346 Biomolecular Structure and Reactivity
- CHE 357 Molecular Structure and Spectroscopy Laboratory
- CHE 375 Inorganic Chemistry
- CHE 383 Introductory Synthetic and Spectroscopic Lab. Techniques
- CHE 384 Intermediate Synthetic and Spectroscopic Lab. Techniques
Minor in Materials Science
The Materials Science and Engineering Department offers a minor in Materials Science. An ECM student who elects the minor needs to complete the following courses.
- ESG100 Introduction to Engineering Science
- Two courses from the following four:
  ESM 334 Materials Engineering
  ESM 335 Mechanical Properties of Materials
  ESM 353 Biomaterials: Manufacture, Properties and Applications
  ESM 355* Materials and Processes in Manufacturing Design
- ESM 488 Cooperative Industrial Practice
  
  *Recommended for ECM Majors