Ceramic Engineering

A Highly Competitive, ABET Accredited Program

If you envision a professional career in applied science and engineering with a focus on ceramics and related materials, the ABET Accredited Ceramic Engineering BS program at Alfred University, one of only two of its kind in the nation, is definitely for you. Here you'll gain the expert knowledge and complex skills needed to thrive in a highly dynamic and competitive industry.

School/Division

Inamori School of Engineering
NYS College of Ceramics

Campus Locations

Main Campus - Alfred, NY

Major

Ceramic Engineering (BS)

Minor

none offered

Program Contact

Gabrielle Gaustad

gaustad@alfred.edu

607-871-2953

Why study Ceramic Engineering at Alfred University?

Exclusive Program

One of only two undergrad Ceramic Engineering programs in the nation.

Research Opportunities

Plenty of opportunities for undergraduate research and access to state-of-the-art research facilities.

Industry Networking

An extensive alumni network working in the glass and ceramic industry.

What Do Ceramic Engineers Do?

Ceramics were the first engineered materials. From the humble beginnings of clay-based pottery, ceramics are now at the heart of nearly every modern technology. Ceramics play pivotal roles in electronics (from computers to cell phones), in transportation (from roadways to vehicles), in defense systems (from armor to guidance systems), and in environmental technologies (from catalytic converters to diesel-engine filters). Ceramic engineers design, develop and manufacture improved ceramic materials.

What Will You Study?

In the first year, you will take Introduction to Engineering and the Ceramic Engineering Explorations Laboratory in addition to foundation courses in math, chemistry, and physics. In the following semesters, a blend of classroom and laboratory experiences will help you gain the skills and expertise needed for a career in the ceramics industry. In your senior year, you will work one-on-one with a faculty advisor to complete a senior-thesis project to develop new and improved ceramics.

What Will You Do After Graduation?

The Ceramic Engineering program prepares graduates for careers as engineers in the ceramic industry and related materials fields. As part of the New York State College of Ceramics, the Ceramic Engineering program is internationally recognized as a leader in ceramics education and research. As such, our graduates are highly sought after by companies that develop and manufacture ceramic materials. Many of our graduates are leaders in the field -- in industry, in academia and in government laboratories.

In addition to Alfred University’s physical education requirement and global perspective requirement and the School of Engineering general requirements, the requirements for the Bachelor of Science in Ceramic Engineering are:

CEMS 203 Introduction to Ceramic Powder Processing
CEMS 214 Structure and Properties of Materials
CEMS 215 Microscopy and Microstructural Characterization
CEMS 216 Bonding and Structure of Materials
CEMS 235 Thermodynamics of Materials
CEMS 237 Thermal Processes in Materials
CEMS 251 Mechanics of Materials 3
CEMS 314 Ceramic Processing Principles
CEMS 317 Sintering
CEMS 322 Introduction to Glass Science
CEMS 342 Thermal and Mechanical Properties
CEMS 344 Properties II: Electrical, Magnetic, and Optical
CEMS 347 Spectroscopy
CEMS 349 X-ray Characterization
CHEM 105 General Chemistry I
CHEM 106 General Chemistry II
ENGR 101 Introduction to Engineering
ENGR 102 Computer Aided Design
ENGR 104 Computer Aided Engineering
ENGR 110 Technical Communication
ENGR 11x Exploration Labs (select 2, 1 credit each)
ENGR 220 Circuit Theory I
ENGR 305 Engineering Statistics
ENGR 306 Engineering Economics
ENGR 395 Engineering Design
ENGR 480 Senior Capstone Project
MATH 151 Calculus I
MATH 152 Calculus II
MATH 253 Calculus III
MATH 271 Differential Equations
PHYS 125 Physics I
PHYS 126 Physics II
Ceramic Electives
Technical Electives
Humanities, Social Science and Arts electives

For more information, please review the School of Engineering Curriculum by Semester Worksheets by degree program.

The BS degree program in Ceramic Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

If you have varied interests in engineering but are unsure which you excel at or enjoy working with the most, consider exploring our Undecided Engineering pathway. The Inamori School of Engineering provides this option to students who are undecided as first-year students and allows them to discover the field of engineering that's the best fit for them.

Undergraduate Full-Time Enrollment (from Fall Census)
Major	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011
Biomat. Eng./Biomed Mat. Eng.	33	34	41	31	32	30	31
Ceramic Engineering	68	63	72	63	57	49	45
Electrical Engineering	N/A	N/A	0	4	10	12	24
Glass Engineering Science	15	15	13	9	15	15	15
Materials Science and Engineering	48	48	50	46	44	42	44
Mechanical Engineering	182	185	165	160	137	121	100
Renewable Energy Engineering	30	44	42	35	15	N/A	N/A
Undecided	26	37	35	44	39	48	32
Non-degree	4	4	12	9	6	4	3

BS Graduates (August through May)
Major	2016-17	2015-16	2014-15	2013-14	2012-13	2011-12	2010-11	2009-10
Biomat. Eng./Biomed Mat. Eng.	7	7	3	8	7	6	5	5
Ceramic Engineering	19	15	12	14	17	8	11	11
Electrical Engineering	0	1	6	5	4	8	9	11
Glass Engineering Science	4	2	0	6	2	4	7	5
Materials Science and Engineering	10	13	5	7	12	11	11	9
Mechanical Engineering	37	23	29	24	18	25	25	17
Renewable Energy Engineering	12	3	3	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A

What Will You Do?

Within the past few years, graduates have obtained jobs as:

Optical Materials Engineer - United States Research Laboratory
Leadership Development - Guardian Industries
Application Engineer - ASK Chemical L.P.
Product Engineer - Morgan Advanced Materials
Process Engineer - Saint-Gobain SEFPRO
Glass Engineer - Saxon Glass Technologies
Ceramic Engineer - Surmet Corp.
Materials Engineer - Lockheed Martin
Ceramic Quality Control Engineer - Boston Valley Terra Cotta

Program educational objectives (or PEOs) are broad statements that describe what we expect graduates of AU's Ceramic Engineering program to attain 3-5 years after graduation. PEOs are reviewed and revised regularly to ensure that the program educational objectives are relevant to the needs of today's employers.

Program Educational Objectives

During the first few years after graduation:

Function as engineers in the field of ceramics or material science, serving the ceramic and related industries and academia, with the tools necessary to sustain a long and productive career in the field. Some our graduates will be working collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams, and move into positions of increased technical skill requirements and managerial responsibilities.
Are innovators in the field of ceramic engineering, and related materials fields, and bring their background and hands-on experience to problem solving and the development of efficient and sustainable manufacturing practices.
Appropriately treat, evaluate, and interpret data generated in manufacturing processes (such as process control and loss data) or from experimental results, through statistical analysis, data presentation, etc., for the purposes of understanding trends, making predictions, and communicating effectively in the workplace.
Bring expertise and management skills to their careers in industry or academia and relate science and technology to a wide range of technical fields, for the improvement of the quality of life.

Program Outcomes (Student Learning Outcomes)

Graduates of the Ceramic Engineering program at Alfred University will have:

An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering.
An ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data.
An ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability.
An ability to function on multidisciplinary teams.
An ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems.
An understanding of professional and ethical responsibility.
An ability to communicate effectively.
The broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context.
A recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning.
A knowledge of contemporary issues.
An ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.

Holly Shulman

Professor Ceramic Engineering

Inamori School of Engineering

Yiquan Wu

Inamori Professor

Ceramic Engineering

wuy@alfred.edu
Binns-Merrill Room: 114

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Similar Programs

Students enrolling in the Ceramic Engineering major often bolster their education by double majoring or minoring in these other closely related fields: