This article is out-dated as I graduated many years ago. You should consult more recent graduates for up-to-date information.

Disclaimer: please notice that all the words in this article are based on my own experience and are only references. It should not be used as your sole determinant for judging the quality of a course.

MTRL 201, 392/398, 489: Technical Communication

No comment.

MTRL 250: Principles and Calculations of Materials Engineering

(I have no idea who came up with this weird new name for the course.)

An introductory level course on thermodynamics. Covers most basic thermodynamics such as 0th, 1st and 2nd Laws, enthalpy, entropy and Free Energy. The course was redesigned along with MTRL 252 so that more focus was put on materials (mass) and heat balance in 250.

Some derivations in the second part of the course when thermodynamics comes into play (derivations are an integral part of thermodynamics) that can make you asleep. Be sure to understand at least the thermodynamics part, which is one of the foundations of the materials program. Some assignments require a lot of work (not necessarily hard). Pay attention to the structure and train of thoughts when you solve the problem.

Exams are open book as of 2019W. The suggested textbook can be useful. Rumours are that this class will be redesigned in fall 2020, but thermodynamics should remain there.

MTRL 252:

This class used to be “pyrometallurgy”, which means extracting metals from ores using high temperature methods. The class was focused on unit operations and mass/heat balance and I am not sure about the new materials yet. Maybe that was not so attractive after all.

It was renamed “thermodynamics of materials”. It seems some contents on solution thermodynamics such as activity have been added. The class is somewhat calculation intensive and thermodynamics from 250 is frequently used.

Unfortunately, if you want to know things about the practical side of pyrometallurgy (i.e. how metals are made from ores), you will have to read books or watch videos. It could be useful for co-op based on some feedbacks. Principles of Extractive Metallurgy by Terkel Rosenqvist is a good reference. I believe a hard copy is available at UBC Library because I borrowed it in 2016.

MTRL 263: Fluid Mechanics

This might not be the fluid mechanics (e.g. aerodynamics) you imagined. This is a chemical engineering version of fluid mechanics but the very basic concepts should be the same. Again, this is (or at least, should be) a math-intensive class. Be sure to pick up your calculus and differential equation knowledge before or during this class. Also, use the Gaskell textbook.

This class is seldom used in later stages of the MTRL program, but combining with heat transfer, it can be quite useful in many applications.

MTRL 264: Heat Transport

Very important topic for engineering in general.

Unfortunately, this class does not teach PDE and I guess only touches some superficial stuff on finite difference methods. I believe there are better ways to teach the class (than the prof did in 2016) but one way to exercise is to dip yourself into problems (lots of textbooks around) and familiarize yourself with the scenarios and the equations.

This is also the easiest way to study for courses without trying to understand the course materials. (not recommended if you aim for grad school)

APSC 278: Engineering Materials

A very important course for MTRL students, yet many found it confusing, including me. The course has too many materials which are scattered, and there is usually only one instructor who will definitely encounter unfamiliar topics. Imagine a guy whose research is pouring liquid in a cavity try to explain energy band theory – the lectures will inevitably lean towards some powerpoint-reading. The new instructor, based on feedbacks I received, has been an significant improvement.

Some topics are rather convoluted and I don’t think I fully understood the class materials until I finished my 3rd year courses. This is what usually happens when lots of topics are covered but not to depth.

I believe the department is trying to reduce the difficulty of this class and add some real life experience, but I don’t fully support the idea. There has to be some theoretical stuff.

For MTRL students, be sure to get a copy of the textbook (Callister). It is a fabulous reference for many future classes.

APSC 279: Engineering Materials Lab

A fun class and a good opportunity to see some primitive materials testing in action. Easy marking (online quizzes) and no lab report required but pre-reading is vital.

MTRL 280: Materials in Design

A flip-classroom course. The instructor is very effective but he is also a very harsh marker. Report writing is needed. Be sure to read the exam questions very carefully so that you won’t easily fall into a potential well. Good practice on conceptual thinking.

MTRL 340: Manufacturing of Materials

Fancy name but terrible materials. If there is a learderboard for waste of money MTRL course, 340 has to be on top.

An unfortunate combination of a few courses in the MTRL program. This course focuses on metal casting, but does not teach heat transfer or fluid mechanics, or how to apply them. Lots of things being taught are experience based. Also many repeats of solution thermodynamics. My most recent experience suggested that this is a memory-intensive class with little to do with casting practice.

I guess the purpose for having this course is that every research group gets to teach a course. This course has to be changed.

MTRL 350: Metallurgical Thermodynamics II

To quote Arnold Sommerfeld, “The first time you go through [thermodynamics], you don’t understand it at all. The second time you go through it, you think you understand it, except for one or two small points. The third time you go through it, you know you don’t understand it.” This course will review what you learn in 250 and 252, and go towards electrochemistry, solution chemistry and some phase equilibria.

It is concept intensive as any other thermodynamics course. But remember that thermodynamics is phenomenological and the theories are not very hard to understand. It is work-intensive as well but very much managable. 250 and 350 used to be one single class and I believe in science (e.g. chemistry), these materials are taught in a single course too.

MTRL 358: Hydrometallurgy I

Hydrometallurgy means extracting metals from ores using water-based techniques.

As I said, our department has a rich tradition of extractive metallurgy, especially hydrometallurgy. You may find this class boring but the instructor is very effective, helpful and can explain everything clearly. Course outline is well structured. Some chemistry knowledge is required. Many claimed that they passed AP chemistry (I didn’t take AP) still struggled through this class. These chemistry are taught in this class. The workload may be a little bit high and good time management will be your friend. Be patient and read the notes!

MTRL 359: Hydrometallurgy Lab

This is in fact some kind of inorganic chemistry lab and will be the most time-consuming 1-credit course you will take in MTRL. The lab reports will also take considerable efforts. Again, develop good time management for yourself and don’t be crybabies like the Class of 2019. Labs are well designed but the standards are quite high.

One challenging point is that the lab material might not be co-current as 358 (depend on your schedule). Ask question when you have one as the instructor is very helpful! Try to do everything (read lab manual, process data and write report) on time.

MTRL 361: Modelling of Materials Processes

I’m not sure if this is still the name of the course. The class includes some basic data processing techniques with some math involved. Programming is needed. Some numerical approximation methods will be discussed.

But the most apparent drawback is the programming language this course uses: VBA. Like what?

The course is greatly simplified with the new instructor in 2017. Harold Cohen’s book Numerical Approximation Methods can be quite useful. Try to understand the math behind the code and the formulas. If you want to be a decent engineer, write the codes by yourself!!!

MTRL 363: Mass Transport

It sounds like a chemical engineering course but it’s a bit tailored to materials students. More attention is paid on solid-solid diffusion which is vital in metallurgy and nanofabrication. Some math required. The instructor likes to give tricky questions. Tutorials are quite useful. Later you may find that mass transport problem is actually everywhere.

MTRL 365: Mechanical Behaviour of Materials

One of the best yet most difficult MTRL courses. Extensive materials and schedule, tricky exams. Focus on both conceptual and computational skills. Many practices are available. Try to follow the proposed course schedule and ask questions when you have one!

MTRL 378: Phase Transformation

Course materials might focus on metal processing but they are rather transferable. One of the best yet most difficult MTRL courses. Both 365 and 378 tend to fail 1/4 of the students in the class every year according to historic data. Well-designed lectures and notes. Extensive practice available from the instructor. Tutorials are also useful. Ask questions when you have one! Get the textbook too.

MTRL 381: Structural and Properties Labrotary

Focus on metals and metallography. Many connections to 365 and 378. Extensive report writing. Hopefully you will also get a touch on sample preparation, microscopy and data interpretation.

Adjust your mindset from “materials of one course should not be tested or used elsewhere”. Try to build a knowledge network and think out of the labs themselves.

MTRL 382: Ceramics

Many don’t like the FYI nature of this course while many like the repeated pattern of the exams of this class……

It’s not fair to test 3rd year students with little knowledge on solid state physics, crystallography or the likes. In my opinion the curriculum is reasonably designed. Otherwise many would fail this class too. Projects (“guided designs”) are fair and involve some data processing and report writing. Labs are not very fun.

(I was told that there was a MTRL course on crystallography decades ago. Apparently I was born perhaps 10 years too late)

MTRL 394: Polymers and Polymer-based Composites

One of the best MTRL courses. A good blend of concepts in characterization, engineering, chemistry and physics. First and probably the only MTRL class that touches statistical mechanics.

Assignments, quizzes and the tests can be tough, but the historical average of 394 is higher than 365 and 378.