A. Background Information

1. Degree Titles
   The Materials Science and Engineering department offers a degree in Materials Engineering. Although this degree does not have official options, a student is required to select two specializations by taking four courses in each specialization. The areas of specialization are:
   
   Ceramic Materials
   Electronic Materials
   Metallic Materials
   Polymeric Materials
   
   Specialization courses are distributed in third and fourth year, one each semester per specialization. Additional specialization courses, including courses primarily for graduates are offered as technical electives for students who desire additional experience.
   Because this degree varies slightly from previously offered degrees of Ceramic Engineering and Metallurgical Engineering, it is useful to consider the motivation and history of the changes. After careful study of the changing needs of our constituents, including students, industrial partners, and alumni, the faculty determined that it was best to combine the two individual degree programs in Ceramic Engineering and Metallurgical Engineering into a single program (Materials Engineering). This program provides an integrated background in materials and requires the student to select two areas of specialization from four: ceramic, electronic, metallic and polymeric materials. We are confident that this evolutionary change will build on our current strengths and provide students with the breadth and depth required of today's materials engineers.
   This type of programmatic change has been common in the materials disciplines, and other universities before us have followed a similar direction. The accreditation groups at TMS and NICE inform us that this change has been considered within the field as an evolutionary change and treated as a name change. These changes were first reflected in the 1999-2001 catalog, although any student admitted prior to Fall 1999 can elect to graduate with a Ceramic or Metallurgical Engineering degree.
   
2. Program Modes
   Materials Engineering is a day program. For the most part, all courses and laboratories are offered during working hours. Occasionally, some courses are offered over the Iowa Cable Network in late afternoon, but this occurrence is the exception rather than the rule.
   The MSE department at Iowa State University encourages its students to engage in experiential education (co-ops, internships, summer professional experiences.) The number of students who were on co-op programs and internship programs in 1999-2000 were 7 and 11 respectively, representing a significant fraction of the sophomore and junior classes. The students who participate in co-op or internship programs meet the same graduation requirement as those who do not. Those who earn a co-op degree must work 3 non-consecutive terms for the same company in accordance with the cooperative education guidelines listed in Appendix II.
   
3. Actions to Correct Previous Deficiencies
   No previous deficiencies.