2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Undergraduate major in Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering
Material and Molecular Engineering E
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Atsushi Ishikawa / Jeffrey Scott Cross / Shuo Cheng
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 1-2 Tue (S3-207(S322)) / 1-2 Fri (S3-207(S322))
- Class
- E
- Course Code
- TSE.A201
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Sep 17, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course aims to teach the basics of quantum mechanics and statistical thermodynamics of atomic interactions, and explain their relation to the material properties of metallic materials, semiconductors, insulators, polymers, ceramics, etc.
Course description and aims
After studying this subject, the students should be able to:
1. acquire the basic knowledge of atomic/molecular interactions in engineering materials which is very essential in determining the material properties.
2. apply their knowledge to select material properties, understand how they can be manipulated, and determine which processes best meet the requirements of an engineering design.
Student learning outcomes
実務経験と講義内容との関連 (又は実践的教育内容)
Prof. Cross has work experience in a Japanese corporation as a materials researcher for making semiconductor memories.
Keywords
Quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, crystal structures, and material properties
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
This lecture is focused on understanding of mechanisms of material properties based on the principle (natural law). For the logical understanding, exercises are held at the beginning of lecture, in order to confirm the contents of the previous lecture. Understanding in the class is significant for the further understanding.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Basics of Quantum Mechanics: What is Quantum? |
To understand the basic concept of quantum mechanics. |
| Class 2 | Bohr’s model of the atom and the spectrum |
To understand the Bohr model for atoms, which can reproduce the spectral lines. |
| Class 3 | Schroedinger equation; basics |
To understand the concept of the Schrodinger equation for atoms and molecules. |
| Class 4 | Schroedinger equation; hydrogen atom |
To understand the solution of the Schrodinger equation for the hydrogen atom. |
| Class 5 | Schroedinger equation; many-electron atoms |
To understand the solution of the Schrodinger equation for many-electron atoms. |
| Class 6 | Molecular orbitals and chemical bonds |
To understand the concept of molecular orbitals and how they explain chemical bonds. |
| Class 7 | Understanding characteristics of materials based on quantum chemistry |
To understand the material's property can be explained by the quantum chemistry. |
| Class 8 | Material Science Introduction and crystallinity of materials |
To understand the crystallinity of materials |
| Class 9 | Fundamentals of statistical mechanics-2: free energy and entropy |
To understand the physical meaning of entropy by the definition of the free energy. |
| Class 10 | Lecture on materials |
To understand the properties of materials. |
| Class 11 | Materials Physical Properties |
To understand the physical properties of materials. |
| Class 12 | Heat Transfer in Materials |
To understand heat transfer of materials. |
| Class 13 | Mechanical Properties of Materials |
To understand the mechanical properties of materials. |
| Class 14 | Diffusion in Materials |
To understand diffusion in materials. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Callister, W.D., "Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction", John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Smith, W. F., "Foundations of Materials Science and Engineering", 4th edition, McGraw-Hill. (2006)
Atkins, P., Paula, J. D., "Physical Chemistry", 9th edition, W. H. Freeman and Company. (2010)
Evaluation methods and criteria
Reports and final exam
Related courses
- TSE.A204 Engineering Thermodynamics
- TSE.A233 ： Engineering Measurement II
- TSE.A321 ： Introduction to metallurgy of engineering materials
- TSE.M201 ： Ordinary Differential Equations and Physical Phenomena
- TSE.M202 ： Partial Differential Equations for Science and Engineering
Prerequisites
Bases of Ordinary and Partial Differential Equations
Other
The lecture topics are subject to change, and the sequence above may change depending upon the instructor.