Composite Materials Engineering

203 Stark Hall
507.457.5685
Composite Materials Engineering website
Fariborz Parsi, Chairperson

Faculty

Beckry Abdel-Magid, Professor; BS, University of Khartoum; MS, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison; 1990 -
Keith Dennehy, Professor; BS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; MS, Youngstown State University; MBA, University of Utah; PhD, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; 1990 -
Eric Kerr-Anderson, Assistant Professor; BS, North Dakota State University; MS, PhD, University of Alabama-Birmingham; 2019 -
Fariborz Parsi, Professor; BS, MS, PhD, University of South Carolina-Columbia; 1991 -

Purpose

The Department of Composite Materials Engineering offers the Bachelor of Science degree in composite materials engineering. Composites represent a new group of manufactured materials. These lightweight materials, which have high strength and stiffness, are formed by combining reinforcing fibers in a polymer, ceramic, or metal matrix. Over the past four decades, the use of composites has grown significantly in the following industries: aerospace, automotive, biotechnology, construction, electronics, marine, and sporting goods. The future for people educated in the engineering of composite materials is very promising.

The Composite Materials Engineering (CME) Program has been developed to meet the engineering needs of the composites industry and is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Graduates from this program will be prepared to practice engineering at a professional level and to enter the composites industry in positions that provide opportunities for professional growth. Graduates also will be prepared to enter graduate-level programs in composite materials and other related engineering disciplines.

The CME Program is the only accredited undergraduate program in the United States that offers a Bachelor of Science degree in composite materials engineering. Majors in the program may choose to focus on the design, analysis, and manufacture of composite structures (mechanical focus); or on the development, processing, and chemistry of the materials used in composites including fibers, matrices and fiber/matrix systems (chemical focus).

Mission/Objectives/Outcomes

The mission of the CME Program is to develop creative minds and innovation in the field of composite materials through education, applied research, and scholarly pursuits in collaboration with the composites community and industry.

The Educational Objectives of the CME Program are to prepare graduates to become engineers who:
- Apply their knowledge and expertise to develop innovative and effective solutions for the composites industry
- Communicate and work effectively in diverse environments
- Grow and develop professionally
The Student Outcomes of the CME Program are demonstrated by students who have attained:

An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

High School Preparation

The Department of Composite Materials Engineering recommends that high school preparation for the CME major include two years of algebra, one year of geometry, one-half year of trigonometry, one-half year of college algebra, as well as one year each of physics and chemistry. Without this background, it is unlikely that a student will be prepared to complete the degree requirements in four years. In addition, courses in industrial technology will be helpful.

Admission to the Program

Admission to the Composite Materials Engineering (CME) major is selective and is determined by the CME Admissions Committee. Before students can be considered for admission to the CME major, they:

Must complete 4 credits of English composition, 3 credits of speech communication, and a minimum of 38 credits of required lower-division engineering, physics, mathematics, and chemistry courses. These courses can be taken at WSU or transferred from other institutions. However, courses with grades below “C” will not be accepted in transfer.
Must have obtained a grade of “C” or higher in the courses required for admission into the CME major and have a minimum GPA of 2.5 in these required courses.
Must not have more than a total of five repeats in the courses required for admission to the CME major, regardless of whether these courses were taken at WSU or transferred from other institutions.

Students will not be allowed to enroll in upper-division 300-level engineering courses until either they are admitted into the major or they are granted special permission from their Department of Composite Materials Engineering major advisor.

Probation Policy

CME majors will be placed on probation if their previous semester’s GPA in courses required for the major falls below 2.0 or if they do not complete at least one course in the major each semester. Students will be disqualified from the major if they have been on probation for two consecutive semesters or for three non-consecutive semesters after admission to the major. Petition for reinstatement will be considered by the Department of Composite Materials Engineering.

General Education Requirements

The General Education requirements for CME majors consist of 46 credits distributed across the ten General Education Goal Areas. These include the courses listed below under goal areas 1-4 (total of 31 credits) and one 3 or 4 credits in each of goal areas 5-10 (a minimum of 15 credits). At least one course should be dually listed in goal areas 5-10. In addition, 12 credits of intensive courses are required; these courses are shown under intensives section. Note: Students who receive a waiver from certain General Education courses must take an equal number of credit hours of elective courses to meet the 128-credit requirement. View the General Education Program for Engineering Majors for more information.

FE Exam Requirement

In addition to the successful completion of the required courses, the student must also take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam prior to graduation.

Grade Requirements

Except for foreign language and Project Lead The Way (PLTW) courses, all courses taken for credit toward the Bachelor of Science degree in Composite Materials Engineering must be taken for a letter grade. In foreign language courses, students may obtain a grade of “P” (pass) either by passing an exam or by successfully completing upper-level foreign language courses.

Programs

Bachelor of Science

Composite Materials Engineering (CME) - BS Major

Other Programs

General Education Program for Engineering Majors