Materials Science and Engineering (BS): Biomaterials Concentration
The Biomaterials concentration within the Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) degree offers students a focused and interdisciplinary education at the intersection of materials science, biology, and engineering. This concentration is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address challenges in the development and application of materials for medical, biological, and healthcare-related fields.
Admission
Students complete the standard set of engineering first-year courses, which include courses in the humanities, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and computing. Students may apply to join the Department of Materials Science and Engineering as degree-seeking students via the CODA process. Students can declare a biomaterials concentration during the CODA process or any subsequent semester once they join the MSE program.
Curriculum
At NC State, Materials Science and Engineering students are trained to understand the complexities of all classes of material. Our curriculum begins with core courses in thermodynamics, kinetics, and structure, building a strong foundation before advancing to mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties.
Hands-on learning is a cornerstone of the program, with two laboratory courses that immerse students in analytical techniques to characterize materials at all scales and measure their properties. Our program covers cutting-edge technologies like nanomaterials, biomaterials, advanced functional materials, materials forensics, computational modeling, and AI-driven materials optimization.
As part of this concentration, students begin with foundational coursework in biology by taking either BIO 181 or BIO 183. The core of the concentration is MSE 485: Biomaterials, a specialized course that delves into the design, development, and application of materials used in medical devices, tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, and other biological applications. Students explore the properties of biocompatible materials, the principles of material selection for medical uses, and the methods for fabricating and testing biomaterials in clinical and laboratory settings. To further customize their education, students select three electives from a wide range of courses in materials processing, engineering, biology, and other related disciplines. This flexibility allows students to tailor their studies to align with their specific interests and career goals. For example, students interested in medical device development may choose courses in biomechanics or polymer science, while those focused on tissue engineering or biotechnology might select courses in cell biology or bioinformatics.
In our two-semester capstone senior design project, students apply their knowledge to solve practical materials challenges with industry partners. Working in teams, you'll tackle hands-on problems and bridge classroom learning with real-world impact.
The Materials Science and Engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.
Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Program
The Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's (ABM) program allows students to earn a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in five years. Four graduate courses (12 credit hours) can be taken while still an undergraduate student and can be double-counted towards both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Contact Information
3002 Engineering Building 1 (EB1)
911 Partners Way, Raleigh NC 27695-7907
919.515.2377
Website
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Math | ||
| MA 141 | Calculus I 1,2 | 4 |
| MA 241 | Calculus II 1,2 | 4 |
| MA 242 | Calculus III 3 | 4 |
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 |
| ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| Sciences | ||
| CH 101 & CH 102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory 1,2 | 4 |
| CH 201 & CH 202 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| CH 220 | Introductory Organic Chemistry | 3 |
| or CH 221 | Organic Chemistry I | |
| CH 222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| PY 205 & PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1,2 | 4 |
| PY 208 & PY 209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 4 |
| Economics | ||
| EC 205 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 |
| or EC 201 | Principles of Microeconomics | |
| or ARE 201 | Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | |
| Ethics Elective (verify requirement) | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| MSE 201 | Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials 2 | 3 |
| MSE 255 | Experimental Methods for Structural Analysis of Materials | 2 |
| MSE 260 | Mathematical Methods for Materials Engineers | 3 |
| MSE 270 | Materials Science and Engineering Seminar | 1 |
| MSE 300 | Structure of Materials at the Nanoscale | 3 |
| MSE 301 | Introduction to Thermodynamics of Materials | 3 |
| MSE 320 | Introduction to Defects in Solids | 3 |
| MSE 335 | Experimental Methods for Analysis of Material Properties | 2 |
| MSE 355 | Electrical, Magnetic and Optical Properties of Materials | 3 |
| MSE 360 | Kinetic Processes in Materials | 3 |
| MSE 370 | Microstructure of Inorganic Materials | 3 |
| MSE 380 | Microstructure of Organic Materials | 3 |
| MSE 420 | Mechanical Properties of Materials | 3 |
| MSE 423 | Introduction to Materials Engineering Design | 1 |
| MSE 470 | Materials Science and Engineering Senior Design Project | 3 |
| MSE 480 | Materials Forensics and Degradation | 3 |
| Biomaterials Concentration Courses | ||
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| MSE 485 | Biomaterials | 3 |
| Biomaterials Electives (5 credit hour minimum) | 5 | |
| MSE Processing Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Writing | ||
| ENG 331 | Communication for Engineering and Technology | 3 |
| or ENG 333 | Communication for Science and Research | |
| Orientation Courses | ||
| E 101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 1,3 | 1 |
| E 102 | Engineering in the 21st Century 3 | 2 |
| E 115 | Introduction to Computing Environments 1 | 1 |
| GEP Courses | ||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1,3 | 4 |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | ||
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement) | ||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | ||
| Total Hours | 126 | |
- 1
College of Engineering CODA class
- 2
Grade of C or higher required
- 3
Grade of C- or higher required
Biomaterials Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BCH 351 | General Biochemistry | 3 |
| BCH 451 | Principles of Biochemistry | 4 |
| BEC 462/562/CHE 462/562 | Fundamentals of Bio-Nanotechnology | 3 |
| BEC 488/588/CHE 488/588 | Animal Cell Culture Engineering | 2 |
| BIO 414 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIT 410 | Manipulation of Recombinant DNA | 4 |
| BIT 466/566/PO 466/566 | Animal Cell Culture Techniques | 2 |
| BME 466/566/TE 466/566 | Polymeric Biomaterials Engineering | 3 |
| BME/TE 467 | Mechanics of Tissues & Implants Requirements | 3 |
| BME 483/583/BEC 483/583 | Tissue Engineering Technologies | 2 |
| CH 223 & CH 224 | Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry II Lab | 4 |
| MSE 490 | Special Topics in Materials Science and Engineering (must be biomaterials related) | 1-4 |
| MSE 495 | Materials Engineering Projects (department approval required) | 3 |
| MT 323 | Introduction to Theory and Practice of Medical Fiber and Yarn Formation | 3 |
| MT 366 | Biotextile Product Development | 3 |
| MT 432 | Evaluation of Biotextiles | 3 |
| MT/PCC 471 | Chemistry of Biopolymers | 3 |
| PSE 332 | Wood and Pulping Chemistry | 3 |
| PSE/CH 335 | Principles of Green Chemistry | 4 |
| PSE 425 | Bioenergy & Biomaterials Engineering | 3 |
| Other biomaterials electives (with departmental approval). Contact your MSE academic advisor for options. | ||
| 500-level courses (with departmental approval). Available to students who are admitted to an engineering ABM program OR have a minimum 3.5 overall GPA. | ||
MSE Processing Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MSE 440/540 | Processing of Metallic Materials | 3 |
| MSE 445/545 | Ceramic Processing | 3 |
| MSE 455/555 | Polymer Technology and Engineering | 3 |
| MSE 456/556 | Composite Materials | 3 |
| MSE 460/560 | Microelectronic Materials | 3 |
Ethics Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EED 414/514 | Ethics for Engineering Education | 3 |
| IDS 201 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 214 | Issues in Business Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 221 | Contemporary Moral Issues | 3 |
| PHI 227 | Data Ethics | 3 |
| PHI/STS 325 | Bio-Medical Ethics | 3 |
| PHI 375 | Ethics | 3 |
| STS 302 | Contemporary Science, Technology and Human Values | 3 |
| STS 304 | Ethical Dimensions of Progress | 3 |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| CH 101 & CH 102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory 1,2 | 4 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1, 3 | 4 |
| E 102 | Engineering in the 21st Century 3 | 2 |
| MA 141 | Calculus I 1,2 | 4 |
| EC 205 | Fundamentals of Economics or Principles of Microeconomics or Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | 3 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CH 201 & CH 202 | Chemistry - A Quantitative Science and Quantitative Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| E 101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 1,3 | 1 |
| E 115 | Introduction to Computing Environments 1 | 1 |
| MA 241 | Calculus II 1,2 | 4 |
| PY 205 & PY 206 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory 1,2 | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MSE 201 | Structure and Properties of Engineering Materials 2 | 3 |
| BIO 183 | Introductory Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology | 4 |
| MA 242 | Calculus III 3 | 4 |
| PY 208 & PY 209 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II and Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory | 4 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MSE 255 | Experimental Methods for Structural Analysis of Materials | 2 |
| MSE 260 | Mathematical Methods for Materials Engineers | 3 |
| MSE 270 | Materials Science and Engineering Seminar | 1 |
| CH 220 or CH 221 | Introductory Organic Chemistry or Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CH 222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 1 |
| MA 341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MSE 300 | Structure of Materials at the Nanoscale | 3 |
| MSE 301 | Introduction to Thermodynamics of Materials | 3 |
| MSE 320 | Introduction to Defects in Solids | 3 |
| MSE 335 | Experimental Methods for Analysis of Material Properties | 2 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MSE 355 | Electrical, Magnetic and Optical Properties of Materials | 3 |
| MSE 360 | Kinetic Processes in Materials | 3 |
| MSE 370 | Microstructure of Inorganic Materials | 3 |
| MSE 380 | Microstructure of Organic Materials | 3 |
| MSE 485 | Biomaterials | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MSE 420 | Mechanical Properties of Materials | 3 |
| MSE 423 | Introduction to Materials Engineering Design | 1 |
| ENG 331 or ENG 333 | Communication for Engineering and Technology or Communication for Science and Research | 3 |
| MSE Processing Elective | 3 | |
| Biomaterials Concentration Elective | 2-4 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MSE 470 | Materials Science and Engineering Senior Design Project | 3 |
| MSE 480 | Materials Forensics and Degradation | 3 |
| ST 370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| Biomaterials Concentration Elective | 2-4 | |
| Ethics Elective (GEP Requirement) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 126 | |
- 1
College of Engineering CODA class
- 2
Grade of C or higher required
- 3
Grade of C- or higher required
Career Opportunities
Earning a Bachelor of Science in MSE: Biomaterials Concentration offers graduates a wealth of exciting career opportunities across diverse industries. The interdisciplinary nature of an MSE education prepares individuals to work in roles that involve designing, developing, and optimizing materials that drive innovation and address societal needs. Here’s what you can expect:
Starting Salary: Graduates in MSE typically earn an average starting salary of $70,000 to $90,000 per year.
What can I do with a Biomaterials Concentration?
The Biomaterials concentration is structured to provide a strong foundation for a variety of career paths. Graduates are prepared to enter industries such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals, or biotechnology, where they can contribute to the development of innovative materials and technologies that improve patient care and quality of life. Alternatively, students may choose to pursue advanced studies in graduate or professional programs, including materials science, bioengineering, or medicine, further expanding their expertise in this dynamic and impactful field.
Common Industries
- Biomedical & Healthcare: Design biomaterials for prosthetics, medical devices, tissue engineering, and drug delivery systems.
- Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology: Develop biocompatible materials for targeted drug delivery, diagnostics, and therapeutics.
- Aerospace & Defense: Engineer lightweight, high-performance materials for implants, protective gear, and space medicine applications.
- Energy & Sustainability: Create biopolymers and environmentally friendly materials for energy storage and renewable technologies.
- Regenerative Medicine: Innovate biomaterials for wound healing, stem cell therapy, and tissue scaffolding.
- Diagnostics & Biosensors: Develop materials for medical imaging, diagnostic devices, and lab-on-a-chip technologies.
- Consumer & Wearable Tech: Improve smart textiles, antimicrobial coatings, and biocompatible wearables.
- Environmental Engineering: Engineer biodegradable materials for sustainable packaging, water purification, and pollution control.
Career Titles
- Biomaterials Scientist: Conducting research to develop advanced biomaterials for medical applications.
- Biomaterial Engineer: Developing and designing materials for medical devices, implants, and drug delivery systems.
- R&D Engineer/Scientist: Innovating biomaterials for drug delivery, diagnostics, and biotechnology.
- Regulatory Affairs Specialist: Ensuring biomaterials and devices meet regulatory standards and compliance.
- Clinical Research Scientist: Evaluating the performance and safety of biomaterial-based products.
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