uc davis materials science engineering change major

Changing Majors

Materials Science and Engineering 

Materials science and engineering (MSE) focuses on understanding the structure, properties and behavior of materials. Society demands new and improved materials with capabilities far superior to common metals, polymers and ceramics used in products such as high-speed transportation systems, surgical and dental implants, new generations of power plants and solid-state electronic devices in computer and communication technology. Both the development of new materials and the understanding of present-day materials demand a thorough knowledge of basic engineering and scientific principles, including crystal structure, elastic and plastic behavior, thermodynamics, phase equilibria, and reaction rates and physical and chemical behavior of engineering materials.

Materials scientists and engineers study phenomena that are found in many different engineering operations, from fracture behavior in automobiles to fatigue behavior in aircraft frames; from corrosion behavior in petro-chemical refineries to radiation-induced damage in nuclear power plants; and from the fabrication of steel to the design of semiconductors. Materials scientists and engineers are increasingly involved in developing the new materials needed to attain higher efficiencies in existing and proposed energy conversion systems. They will also play a central role in developing new technologies based on composites and high-temperature superconductivity.

The small size of the department allows students to get to know world-class researchers in an intimate setting and form tight-knit relationships with their peers while having all the resources of a large research university. Since materials science and engineering has such broad applications, undergraduate students in the department have the opportunity to study and collaborate with faculty and students in other engineering disciplines as well. 

  •  Materials Science and Engineering Change of Major

  • In order to be eligible to change to the Materials Science and Engineering major, all students must meet the following requirements*:

    1. Complete the following courses with a C- or higher and a 2.0 cumulative GPA:
        - MAT 21A
        - MAT 21B
        - MAT 21C
        - PHY 9A
        - CHE 2A
    2. Have an overall UC GPA of 2.0
    3. Have a GPA of 2.0 or better in all other completed MAT, PHY, BIS, and CHE courses required for your intended major, and have received a C- or better in each of these courses
    4. Be a registered student and have completed at least one quarter (minimum of 12 units) at UC Davis
    5. Have completed no more than 135 cumulative units (excluding AP/IB/A-Level units)
          - students who have completed more than 135 units will be considered on a petition basis only
    6. Be in good academic standing and meet minimum progress requirements
    7. Have received a letter grade for all courses that satisfy Engineering degree requirements (no P/NP allowed)
    8. Have no grade lower than a C- in any completed engineering course required for your intended major(s) taken at UC Davis
    9. Have at least a 2.0 UC GPA in all completed engineering courses.
         - Engineering courses are any courses taught by ENG, ECS, MAE, EEC, EAE, EBS, BIM, ECH, ECM, ECI, EMS, EME

    Transfers: must meet transfer admissions requirements in addition to the requirements listed above.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I change to the Materials Science and Engineering major as a transfer student without a 3.2 GPA?
  • No. All transfer students must meet the minimum GPA requirements in order to change to Chemical or Biochemical Engineering. No exceptions.
  • Can I take the requirements to change my major or add a double major as P/NP?
  •  No, College of Engineering does not allow P/NP grading for any major courses. 
  • Can I take prerequisite requirements at another institution?
  • Yes, you can take prerequisite requirements at California Community Colleges. Please use assist.org to make sure your courses are transferrable back to UC Davis. You must obtain approval from your college dean's office if you want to take courses simultaneously at a community college while you are taking courses at UCD during the fall, winter, and/or spring quarters. Keep in mind, a simultaneous enrollment petition may be denied by the college for students trying to take courses towards another major. You do not need permission for summer quarter.

    We do not recommend taking lower division courses at Community College as you will not be as well prepared for the upper division courses. 
  • How long does it take to change majors or add a double major?
  • Starting from a blank slate, 3-4 quarters on average. 
  • If a course has pass one restrictions for Materials Science and Engineering majors only, can I enroll during pass two?
  • Yes. If a course has pass one restrictions for Materials Science and Engineering majors only, then you will have to wait until pass two to register for the course. The department will not issue PTAs during pass one even if there are open seats.
  • What do I do if I took MAT 16/17/19 courses instead of MAT 21AB?
  • Refer to the MAT department Transfer Flow Chart for information on how to change into the MAT 21 series.
    -If you completed MAT 16ABC with a C- or better, we will substitute those three courses for MAT 21AB

    -If you completed MAT 17AB with a B or better, we will substitute those two courses for MAT 21AB
    -If you earned a C in MAT 17A and 17B, you will also have to take 17C to substitute for MAT 21AB

    -If you completed MAT 19AB with a B or better, we will substitute those two courses for MAT 21AB
    -If you earned a C in MAT 19A and 19B, you will also have to take 19C to substitute for MAT 21AB
  • What is the recommended order for my major courses?
  • When planning out what order to take your courses in, you need to be mindful of the prerequisites for each course. Some courses have multiple quarters of prerequisites that you have to follow. The best way to identify course prerequisites is to use the major checklists or UCD Catalog. The order you take your classes in can look different than other students in the same major. 

    Tips for creating an academic plan:
    1. Start with courses that are prerequisites to other major courses (for example, MAT 21 series to be eligible for PHY 9 series)
    2. If you aren't eligible to take a course that is a prerequisite to something you'll need later, then look for courses that don't have prerequisites
    3. Fill in your schedule with GE, minor, or other non-major electives to give yourself a balanced schedule

    You can also review our sample schedules for an idea on how to order your courses, but remember there are many variations of schedules that you can create.
  • May I enroll in an EMS course even though I have not completed the prerequisite?
  • No. It is essential that you’ve completed the stated prerequisite for a given EMS course before attempting the course. Departments have the authority to restrict enrollment to students who have completed the prerequisites. If you haven’t satisfied the prerequisite, you will be dropped from the class. Re-adding a class after you have been dropped may be reported to Student Judicial Affairs.