Undergraduate
Research Option in Materials Science and Engineering
Georgia Tech’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program was created as part of Tech’s “Quality Enhancement Plan” (QEP), a component of SACS accreditation. The purpose is to support both the quality and quantity of undergraduate research participation on campus.
The Materials Science and Engineering Undergraduate Program offers the Research Option that allows students to participate in undergraduate research in faculty laboratories. The words “Research Option”
will appear on the transcript of each student completing the requirements to indicate that the student has had a substantial, in-depth, research experience.
The requirements for the “Research Option” in Materials Science and Engineering are:
Selection of a faculty advisor and research topic in conjunction with the faculty advisor. The topic and expected scope of the project must be approved in advance by the MSE
Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. A key criterion will be whether the research may lead to a publishable paper.
Fill out and submit the Research Option Participate Intent Form (click here)
Completion of nine units (see 3 below) of supervised research, over a period of at least two, but preferably three, terms. Research may be either for pay or credit. At least six credit hours
must involve work on a single research project.
Registration in 9 hours of undergraduate research courses MSE 2698 and 4698 (for pay), or MSE 2699 and 4699 (for credit). Up to 10 hours of MSE 2699 or 4699 can be used to satisfy
the technical, MSE, and free elective requirements of the BS degree in MSE. Courses taken for credit must be passed with a grade of “C” or higher.
Completion of LCC 4700 “Writing an Undergraduate Thesis,” with a grade of “C” or
higher. This 2-hour course may be used to partially satisfy the 3 hour free elective requirement of the BS MSE degree. (4) must be completed before registering for LCC 4700. Click here for directions to obtain a permit to register for LCC 4700.
Preparation of a research thesis, which may be in the form of a co-authored research paper or a substantial report, and approval by the faculty advisor and one other faculty member,
appointed by the MSE Undergraduate Curriculum Committee. The thesis will be evaluated on the basis of publishability, originality, creativity, and clarity. The MSE Undergraduate
Curriculum Committee must approve each “Research Option” awarded under the BS MSE program.
Dr. Brent Carter Associate Chair for Undergraduate Programs School of Materials Science and Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology J. Erskine Love, Jr. Manufacturing Bldg., Room 351 404.894.6762 brent.carter@mse.gatech.edu
Undergraduate
Research Option in Materials Science and Engineering