Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, BS
Bachelor of Science in Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering (987001BS)
Polymer Science and Engineering is a versatile field of study. Polymers are used in industries ranging from aerospace to medicine, plastics, and rubber. Polymer scientists and engineers work at the intersection of chemistry, physics, biology and engineering to develop material solutions to some of the world’s most challenging problems. They invent new materials, optimize processes, and model the physical behavior of macromolecules.
The undergraduate program in Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering teaches students fundamental problem-solving skills, analytical techniques and design, and provides hands-on laboratory experience. The curriculum builds a strong foundation in polymer science, polymer physics, and polymer engineering with opportunities to specialize in sustainability, processing, or biomaterials.
Akron is the “Rubber Capital of the World” and has a more than a 100-year history in the development of rubber, tires, and other polymeric materials. Students in Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering benefit from industrial collaborations with local polymer-focused companies, state-of-the-art processing facilities, and a wealth of research opportunities. Students interested in technical solutions to sustainability, materials science, processing, soft-matter physics, and biomaterials will find this an exciting program.
Requirements for Admission
All students who meet the minimum requirements for admittance into The University of Akron and intend to major in engineering or engineering technology are accepted into the College of Engineering and Polymer Science and welcome to begin study towards their intended major. Students must show success in key classes early in the program curriculum before they gain full admission to the program and approval to take classes in the third year of the curriculum and beyond.
The following information has official approval of The School of Polymer Science & Polymer Engineering and The College of Engineering and Polymer Science, but is intended only as a supplemental guide. Official degree requirements are established at the time of transfer and admission to the degree-granting college. Students should refer to the Degree Progress Report (Stellic) which is definitive for graduation requirements. Completion of this degree within the identified time frame below is contingent upon many factors, including but not limited to: class availability, total number of required credits, work schedule, finances, family, course drops/withdrawals, successfully passing courses, prerequisites, among others. The transfer process is completed through an appointment with your academic advisor.
Requirements
Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements * | 24 | |
| Math and Science Requirements | 33 | |
| Required Courses in Major | 60 | |
| Electives | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 126 | |
- *
Several courses required for the major also satisfy General Education requirements. The University minimum of 36 credits are required for General Education and credit for these courses will apply to multiple requirements.
General Education Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete the following General Education coursework. Diversity courses may also fulfill major or Breadth of Knowledge requirements. Integrated and Applied Learning courses may also fulfill requirements in the major. | ||
| Academic Foundations | 12 | |
Mathematics, Statistics and Logic: 3 credit hours | ||
Speaking: 3 credit hours | ||
Writing: 6 credit hours | ||
| Breadth of Knowledge | 22 | |
Arts/Humanities: 9 credit hours | ||
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours | ||
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours | ||
| Diversity | ||
Domestic Diversity | ||
Global Diversity | ||
| Integrated and Applied Learning | 2 | |
Select one class from one of the following subcategories: | ||
Complex Issues Facing Society | ||
Capstone | ||
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings. | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Math and Science Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 221 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 222 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus II | 4 |
| MATH 223 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus III | 4 |
| MATH 335 | Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations | 3 |
| PHYS 291 | Elementary Classical Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 292 | Elementary Classical Physics II | 4 |
| CHEM 151 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 152 | Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 153 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 263 | Organic Chemistry Lecture I | 3 |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Required Courses in Major
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSPE 100 | Introduction to Polymers | 3 |
| PSPE 201 | Introduction to Polymer Science | 3 |
| PSPE 202 | Introduction to Polymer Engineering | 3 |
| PLYS 265 | Organic Polymer Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| PLYS 340 | Polymer Characterization Fundamentals | 3 |
| PLYS 403 | Polymer Chemistry | 3 |
| PLYS 404 | Polymer Physics | 3 |
| PLYS 405 | Polymer Science Laboratory | 3 |
| PLYE 101 | Tools for Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering | 2 |
| PLYE 321 | Polymer Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| PLYE 324 | Quantitative Polymer Analysis | 3 |
| PLYE 330 | Polymer Thermodynamics | 3 |
| PLYE 333 | Polymer Thermodynamics Laboratory | 2 |
| PLYE 451 | Polymer Engineering Laboratory | 3 |
| PLYE 422 | Polymer Processing | 3 |
| PLYE 496 | Senior Design Project I | 3 |
| PLYE 499 | Senior Design Project II | 3 |
| or PLYE 497 | Honors Project | |
| CIVE 201 | Statics | 3 |
| CHEE 121 | Chemical Engineering Computations | 2 |
| or CORE 105 | Corrosion Engineering Computations | |
| CHEE 200 | Material & Energy Balances | 4 |
| CHEE 321 | Transport Phenomena | 3 |
| Total Hours | 60 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 9 credits of polymer and technical electives are required. At least 3 of these 9 credits must be from polymer electives. | 9 | |
| Polymer Electives | ||
| PSPE 411 | Special Topics in Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering | |
| PLYE 423 | Injection Molding and Mold Design | |
| PLYE 424 | Additive Manufacturing with Polymers | |
| PLYE 425 | Introduction to Blending & Compounding Polymers | |
| PLYE 450 | Engineering Properties of Polymers | |
| PLYE 497 | Honors Project | |
| PLYE 498 | Research Problems in Polymer Engineering | |
| PLYS 350 | Sustainable Polymers | |
| PLYS 460 | Polymeric Biomaterials | |
| PLYS 497 | Honors Project in Polymer Science | |
| PLYS 499 | Research Problems in Polymer Science | |
| Allowed Technical Electives | ||
| CHEM 264 | Organic Chemistry Lecture II | |
| CHEM 154 | Qualitative Analysis | |
| ECON 244 | Introduction to Economic Analysis | |
| MATH 312 | Linear Algebra | |
| STAT 401 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | |
| CPSC 200 | Programming for Data Science | |
| CPSC 209 | Computer Science I | |
| CIVE 202 | Introduction to Mechanics of Solids | |
| CIVE 321 | Introduction to Environmental Engineering | |
| ELEN 231 & ELEN 230 | Circuits I and Circuits I Laboratory | |
| ELEN 307 | Basic Electrical Engineering | |
| BMEN 300 | Biomaterials | |
| BMEN 440 | Advanced Biomaterials | |
| While students may select electives of their choice, three specializations have been defined with specific groupings of electives | ||
| For a specialization in Sustainability the electives taken should include the following: | ||
| PLYS 350 | Sustainable Polymers | |
| PSPE 411 | Special Topics in Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering | |
| CIVE 321 | Introduction to Environmental Engineering | |
| For a specialization in Processing the electives taken should include the following: | ||
| PLYE 423 | Injection Molding and Mold Design | |
| PLYE 424 | Additive Manufacturing with Polymers | |
| PLYE 425 | Introduction to Blending & Compounding Polymers | |
| For a specialization in Biomaterials the electives taken should include the following: | ||
| CIVE 202 | Introduction to Mechanics of Solids | |
| BMEN 300 | Biomaterials | |
| PLYS 460 | Polymeric Biomaterials | |
| Total Hours | 9 | |
Recommended Sequence
| 1st Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| MATH 221 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus I | 4 |
| CHEM 151 | Principles of Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 152 | Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| PSPE 100 | Introduction to Polymers | 3 |
| Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MATH 222 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus II | 4 |
| CHEM 153 | Principles of Chemistry II | 3 |
| PLYE 101 | Tools for Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering | 2 |
| Writing Requirement | 3 | |
| Social Sciences Requirement | 3 | |
| Speaking Requirement | 3 | |
| Hours | 18 | |
| 2nd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PHYS 291 | Elementary Classical Physics I | 4 |
| CHEM 263 | Organic Chemistry Lecture I | 3 |
| CIVE 201 | Statics | 3 |
| PSPE 201 | Introduction to Polymer Science | 3 |
| MATH 223 | Analytic Geometry-Calculus III | 4 |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PHYS 292 | Elementary Classical Physics II | 4 |
| PLYS 265 | Organic Polymer Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| PSPE 202 | Introduction to Polymer Engineering | 3 |
| MATH 335 | Introduction to Ordinary Differential Equations | 3 |
| CHEE 121 | Chemical Engineering Computations | 2 |
| Select one of the following: | 0-3 | |
| Social Science Requirement (For Sustainability Specialization) | ||
| CIVE 202 | Introduction to Mechanics of Solids (For Biomaterials Specialization) | |
| No Course (For Processing Specialization or No Specialization) | ||
| Hours | 14-17 | |
| 3rd Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PLYE 330 | Polymer Thermodynamics | 3 |
| CHEE 200 | Material & Energy Balances | 4 |
| PLYS 403 | Polymer Chemistry | 3 |
| PLYE 333 | Polymer Thermodynamics Laboratory | 2 |
| PLYE 324 | Quantitative Polymer Analysis | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| CHEE 321 | Transport Phenomena | 3 |
| PLYS 404 | Polymer Physics | 3 |
| PLYS 340 | Polymer Characterization Fundamentals | 3 |
| Arts/Humanities Requirement | 3 | |
| Select one of following: | 3 | |
| PSPE 411 | Special Topics in Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering (For Sustainability Specialization) | |
| Art/Humanities Requirement (For Processing Specialization) | ||
| BMEN 300 | Biomaterials (For Biomaterials Specialization) | |
| Social Science Requirement (For No Specialization) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| PLYS 350 | Sustainable Polymers (For Sustainability Specialization) | |
| PLYS 460 | Polymeric Biomaterials (For Biomaterials Specialization) | |
| Social Science Requirement (For Processing Specialization) | ||
| Technical Elective (For No Specialization) | ||
| Hours | 18 | |
| 4th Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| PLYE 496 | Senior Design Project I | 3 |
| PLYE 321 | Polymer Fluid Mechanics | 3 |
| PLYE 422 | Polymer Processing | 3 |
| PLYS 405 | Polymer Science Laboratory | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Arts/Humanities Requirement (For Sustainability Specialization or No Specialization) | ||
| PLYE 425 | Introduction to Blending & Compounding Polymers (For Processing Specialization) | |
| Social Science Requirement (For Biomaterials Specialization) | ||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| PLYE 499 | Senior Design Project II Students following the Honors Track will complete PLYE 497 Honors Project instead of PLYE 499. | 3 |
| PLYE 451 | Polymer Engineering Laboratory | 3 |
| Art/Humanities Requirement | 3 | |
| Select one of the following three choices: | 3-0 | |
| No Course (For Sustainability or Biomaterials Specialization) | ||
| PLYE 423 | Injection Molding and Mold Design (For Processing Specialization) | |
| Technical Elective (For No Specialization) | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| CIVE 321 | Introduction to Environmental Engineering (For Sustainability Specialization) | |
| PLYE 424 | Additive Manufacturing with Polymers (For Processing Specialization) | |
| Arts/Humanities Requirement (For Biomaterials Specialization) | ||
| Polymer Elective (For No Specialization) | ||
| Hours | 15-12 | |
| Total Hours | 126 | |