Sustainable Materials and Technology (BS)
The Sustainable Materials & Technology degree prepares students for 21st century jobs helping businesses and communities reduce their ecological footprint through efficient use of renewable natural materials, such as wood, bamboo and cork, in the manufacture and use of value-added products. You'll gain a strong foundation in environmental science, economics, social sciences, and materials science which prepares you to design, manufacture and sell sustainable bio-based products. This degree is for students interested in a career in a growing field with job flexibility, high placement rates, great starting salaries, a tradition of success and an unlimited future.
Summer Internship
Graduates of the Sustainable Materials and Technology program enter the real world with hands-on experience gained through internships, lab experiments, and practical coursework. More than one half of students participate in paid undergraduate research and work study opportunities. In addition, students are required to complete a paid summer internship or a semester co-op with a company in the industry. There are many other summer employment opportunities that are available to you beyond the required internship.
Contact
Dr. Ilona Peszlen
Director of Undergraduate Programs
919.513.1265
Ilona_Preszlen@ncsu.edu
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Departmental Requirements | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Student Success in Environmental First Year and Exploring the Environment | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Sciences | ||
| SMT 200 | Introduction to Sustainable Materials and Technology | 3 |
| SMT 203 | Physical Properties of Sustainable Materials | 4 |
| SMT 207 | Principles of Sustainable Product Development Lecture | 2 |
| SMT 210 | Sustainable Materials Internship | 1 |
| SMT 217 | Principles of Sustainable Product Development Laboratory | 1 |
| SMT 301 | Chemistry of Sustainable Materials | 3 |
| SMT 302 | Processing of Biomaterials | 4 |
| SMT 307 | Product Visualization | 3 |
| SMT 320 | Industrial Chemical Pollutants | 2 |
| SMT 441 | Mechanical Properties of Sustainable Materials | 4 |
| SMT 444 | Sustainable Composites and Biopolymers | 3 |
| SMT 483 | Capstone in Sustainable Materials and Technology | 3 |
| PSE 476 | Environmental Life Cycle Analysis | 3 |
| MIE 201 | Introduction to Business | 3 |
| EC 205 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 |
| ISE 311 | Engineering Economic Analysis | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| U.S. Environmental Law and Politics | ||
| Global Environmental Politics | ||
| Environmental Law & Economic Policy | ||
| IDS 201 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| Mathematics & Natural Sciences | ||
| Select one of the following Calculus courses: | 3 | |
| Elements of Calculus | ||
| Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| ST 311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| CH 101 & CH 102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory | 4 |
| CH 220 & CH 222 | Introductory Organic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry I Lab | 4 |
| Select one of the following Physics courses: | 4 | |
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | ||
| College Physics I | ||
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 |
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| Technical Electives 1 | 15 | |
| Advised Electives 2 | 14 | |
| General Education Program (GEP) Courses | ||
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 3 | 4 |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Global Knowledge (Verify Requirement) | ||
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement) | ||
| World Language Proficiency (Verify Requirement) | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
Student is encouraged to select courses that will fulfill an academic minor. Courses should enhance student’s career objectives and must be approved by a faculty advisor.
- 2
Courses should expand student’s sustainability portfolio and must be approved by a faculty advisor.
- 3
A grade of C- or better is required.
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| SMT 200 | Introduction to Sustainable Materials and Technology | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Student Success in Environmental First Year and Exploring the Environment | ||
| Introduction to Environmental Sciences | ||
| Select one of the following Calculus courses | 3 | |
| Elements of Calculus | ||
| Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| BIO 181 | Introductory Biology: Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity | 4 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SMT 207 | Principles of Sustainable Product Development Lecture | 2 |
| SMT 217 | Principles of Sustainable Product Development Laboratory | 1 |
| ENG 101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| CH 101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science (CP) | 3 |
| CH 102 | General Chemistry Laboratory (CP) | 1 |
| Select one of the following Physics electives: | 4 | |
| Physics for Engineers and Scientists I and Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory | ||
| College Physics I | ||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SMT 203 | Physical Properties of Sustainable Materials (CP) | 4 |
| CH 220 | Introductory Organic Chemistry (CP) | 3 |
| CH 222 | Organic Chemistry I Lab (CP) | 1 |
| MIE 201 | Introduction to Business | 3 |
| Technical Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SMT 301 | Chemistry of Sustainable Materials (CP) | 3 |
| EC 205 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 |
| IDS 201 | Environmental Ethics | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Technical Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 3 | 2 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| SMT 210 | Sustainable Materials Internship | 1 |
| Hours | 1 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SMT 307 | Product Visualization | 3 |
| ISE 311 | Engineering Economic Analysis | 3 |
| ST 311 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| Technical Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SMT 302 | Processing of Biomaterials | 4 |
| SMT 320 | Industrial Chemical Pollutants | 2 |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| Technical Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SMT 441 | Mechanical Properties of Sustainable Materials | 4 |
| SMT 444 | Sustainable Composites and Biopolymers | 3 |
| PSE 476 | Environmental Life Cycle Analysis | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Advised Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SMT 483 | Capstone in Sustainable Materials and Technology | 3 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| Select one of the following | 3 | |
| U.S. Environmental Law and Politics | ||
| Global Environmental Politics | ||
| Environmental Law & Economic Policy | ||
| Technical Elective 2 | 3 | |
| Advised Elective 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
A grade of C- or better is required
- 2
Student is encouraged to select courses that will fulfill an academic minor. Courses should enhance student’s career objectives and must be approved by a faculty advisor.
- 3
Courses should expand student’s sustainability portfolio and must be approved by a faculty advisor.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Sustainable Materials and Technology curriculum have many and varied job opportunities upon graduation with most receiving more than one job offer. Graduates enter the industry as management trainees, sales trainees, process engineers, quality assurance specialist, research & development associates and many others.
Career Titles
- Director of New Products
- Certification Specialist
- Sustainability Manager
- Plant Manager
- Quality Control Manager
- Project Engineer
- Material Scientist
- Market Analyst
Learn More About Careers
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Sustainable Materials and Technology Careers