MatS 3801 Course Syllabus

Version: 10/10/2018

MatS 3801 – Structural Characterization Laboratory

Course Syllabus
1. Course Description
MatS 3801: Structural Characterization Lab is a 4 credit lab course designed to introduce
you to a variety of methods for structural characterization of engineering materials, including x-
ray diffraction, electron microscopy, metallography & optical microscopy, atomic force
microscopy, forms of spectroscopy, and small angle scattering. Emphasis is placed on specimen
preparation, data collection and analysis, laboratory notebook skills, uncertainty analysis and
technical writing.
Lectures: Monday and Wednesday, 12:20 pm – 1:10 pm in Rapson Hall room 43.
Labs: Tuesday 9:05 am – 12:05 pm, Tuesday 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm, Thursday 9:05 am – 12:05 pm,
and Thursday 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm. You should only be in one session. All labs are located in
Amundson Hall room 47 except for the XRD2 lab which is held in the CSE Characterization
Facility located in Shepherd Labs.
Prerequisites: Upper Division acceptance and completion of MatS 3011.

2. Course Objectives
1. Learn structure characterization methods with hands-on experiments, including specimen
preparation, data collection, and analysis.
2. Understand the capabilities and limitations of structure characterization methods.
3. Begin to appreciate processing-structure relationships.
4. Develop skills in laboratory notebook keeping, working in teams, and technical writing.

3. Instructors & Teaching Assistants (TA)

Instructor / Teaching Office Hours Room Location
Email
Assistant (50 minute period) (Amundson Hall)
Tuesday, 10:10 am,
Prof. Mike Manno [email protected] 108
Friday, 12:20 pm
Prof. Renee Christensen [email protected] Monday, 10:10 am 161
Prof. Yolanda Aranda [email protected] Friday, 10:10 am 161
Nicholas Hampu (TA) [email protected] Wednesday, 3:35 pm 161
Athena Metaxas (TA) [email protected] Monday, 3:35 pm 161
Bryan Voigt (TA) [email protected] Wednesday, 3:35 pm 161
Yueke(Kevin) Yang (TA) [email protected] Thursday, 1:25 pm 161

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MatS 3801 Course Syllabus
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4. Textbooks
 Required: Microstructural Characterization of Materials (2nd Edition) by D. Brandon &
W. D. Kaplan, Wiley, 2008 (ISBN: 978-0-470-02785-1).
o Note: A free digital copy of this book is available via the UMN library site. Visit
https:\\reserves.lib.umn.edu to access the digital copy.
 Supplemental documents will be provided on an “as needed” basis.

5. Important Websites & Software

Course Canvas Site

The course will utilize a UMN sponsored Canvas page to relay course information, post
important documents, store lecture preparation material and lab handouts, submit digital copies of
assignments, and track grades. To access Canvas go to https://www.canvas.umn.edu and click on
the field for MATS 3801 (001).

MatS Teaching Lab Website

The materials science undergraduate teaching lab also has a website. You can access it two
different ways:
1. Click on the “Teaching Lab Wiki” in the CEMS undergraduate intranet:
https://it.cems.umn.edu/ugapps/postings/#/
2. Go directly to the teaching lab website at:
https://sites.google.com/a/umn.edu/cems_mats_teaching_lab/
You may need to log into the university network first. The website itself has supplementary
information that you might find useful including:
 Information and documentation on most pieces of equipment available in the lab including
standard operating procedures and quick reference guides.
 Additional example problems regarding uncertainty analysis.
 Writing tips and example sections of technical reports.
 A growing video library that includes videos on how to use Origin, ImageJ,
SOLIDWORKS, and Gwyddion.

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Software
The university offers the ability to access numerous pieces of software (e.g., Origin,
SOLIDWORKS, Mathematica, MATLAB, etc.) via remote virtual computers through the
“AppsToGo” program. This allows a student to use software packages that are either unavailable
for their personal computer’s operating system or financially prohibitive. All CSE students (which
includes MatS undergraduates) have access to this remote software package. The only thing you
need to install onto your computer is a small application called “Citrix Receiver” and you will then
be able to link your work on the remote virtual computers to your Google Drive account. For
information on how to access AppsToGo see the following links:
https://it.umn.edu/technology/appstogo
https://it.umn.edu/appstogo-log-in-access-apps
Additional software at times will be needed including ImageJ, JADE, Gwyddion, and the
Office software suite. These software packages are either free or provided to you via the lab
computers or undergraduate lounge computers.

6. Student Conduct and Acting Ethically

Source: University of Minnesota Recommended Policy Statements for Syllabi

“The University seeks an environment that promotes academic achievement and integrity,
that is protective of free inquiry, and that serves the educational mission of the University.
Similarly, the University seeks a community that is free from violence, threats, and intimidation;
that is respectful of the rights, opportunities, and welfare of students, faculty, staff, and guests of
the University; and that does not threaten the physical or mental health or safety of members of
the University community. As a student at the University you are expected adhere to Board of
Regents Policy: Student Conduct Code. To review the Student Conduct Code, please see:
http://regents.umn.edu/sites/regents.umn.edu/files/policies/Student_Conduct_Code.pdf.”

The following practices are NOT allowed in MatS 3801:

 Copying word for word (direct plagiarism) or paraphrasing (mosaic plagiarism) from:
o Textbooks, articles, websites, previously published information without proper
referencing.
o Reports, exams, and homework from current students.
o Reports, exams, and homework from previous students.
 Providing your work to other current students or future students.
 Authenticity software is used in this course.

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MatS 3801 Course Syllabus
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While you are allowed (and encouraged) to work in a group, your submitted documents
must reflect your own work and voice. In this course we will discuss about plagiarism and acting
ethically. If you have any questions regarding acting ethically, please ask!!! We are happy to
offer you advice.

Incidents of scholastic dishonesty and disruptive conduct will be reported to the

Office for Community Standards. There are severe consequences for these infractions including
a zero on an assignment, failure of the course, suspension, and expulsion.

7. Course Accommodations, Equity and Diversity, Sexual Harassment, Mental

Health and Stress Management

MatS 3801 follows the University of Minnesota’s policies on course accommodations for
disabilities (mental and physical), equal opportunity and access for all people, sexual harassment,
mental health and stress management and academic freedom. Please review the following
university policy pages for more details:
https://regents.umn.edu/sites/regents.umn.edu/files/policies/Sexual_Harassment_Sexual_Assault
_Stalking_Relationship_Violence.pdf
http://regents.umn.edu/sites/regents.umn.edu/files/policies/Equity_Diversity_EO_AA.pdf
https://diversity.umn.edu/disability/
http://www.mentalhealth.umn.edu
https://regents.umn.edu/sites/regents.umn.edu/files/policies/Academic_Freedom.pdf

8. Grade Allocation
The total grade allocation for this course has been divided into the follow categories:
 Lab notebooks & Question and Answer reports: 30 %
 Standard lab report: 30 %
 In-class participation (i.e., lecture quizzes): 5%
 Midterm exams (two exams): 15 %
 Final exam: 20 %
Details regarding each category has been provided below. Your final grade will be based on these
allocations, evaluated with respect to the rest of the student body’s score, and converted to the

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MatS 3801 Course Syllabus
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normal four point scale that the university uses. See the following university policy in regards to
letter grades and their relationship to your GPA:
https://policy.umn.edu/education/gradingtranscripts

Lab notebooks & Question and Answer reports

You are required to maintain a laboratory notebook throughout the semester. This notebook
will be provided for you. Your notebook will contain notes from the experiment, how you have
acquired your data, and goals for each experiment. Furthermore, each experiment you complete
(except for one experiment that is tied to the standard lab report, see below) will have a pre-lab
and post-lab assignment that will also be included this category grade. Specific instructions on
pre-lab assignments, maintaining your notebook, and completing the post-lab assignments
are on a separate document.

Standard lab report

You will be assigned one experiment that must be individually written up as a standard lab
report. This assignment has been designed help you learn how to write a technical document
and is broken up into three stages that will occur throughout the semester. Your total grade
for this assignment will be based on the following allocation:
 Stage 1 – 30 % of category grade
 Stage 2 – 35 % of category grade
 Stage 3 – 35 % of category grade
Detailed information on the expected format for each stage will be provided in additional
documents, and we will be dedicating a lecture on technical writing. Due dates for each stage are
provided in your group schedule. After each stage you will be given detailed feedback on how
to improve your report for the next stage. Furthermore you have the opportunity to meet with the
instructor who graded your report for additional feedback and advice.

In class participation
As it will be discussed below, at the start of most lectures there will be a short quiz to
confirm that you have reviewed the online assignments for the lecture. The quizzes are designed
to test that you have reviewed the online assignments only and will only be approximately 3
minutes long. These quizzes will utilize Canvas so please bring a laptop, tablet, or smartphone to
class. We will also provide hard copies of the quizzes as well.

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Midterm and Final Exams
There are two “midterm” exams and a final exam. They will be closed book, no cheat sheet,
no formula list. Calculators are allowed. They will be cumulative, but will likely stress more recent
material. All exams will be held in the normal lecture room. The exam schedule is shown below.
 Midterm exam 1 (50 mins) 10/31/2018 (class time)
 Midterm exam 2 (50 mins) 11/26/2018 (class time)
 Final exam (120 mins) 12/15/2018 (10:30 am – 12:30 pm)

8. Course Philosophy and Expectations

As with all upper division MatS courses, MatS 3801 is a time-intensive course. With a
lecture component and a lab component, there are many “things” happening throughout the
semester. Our instructors and TAs are deeply committed in providing you a worthwhile and
relevant learning environment. You should expect the following from us to maximize your
learning potential:
 Passionate and involved instructors and teaching assistants.
 Fully developed and understandable lecture content (both online and in-class).
 Relevant and engaging lab experiences.
 Fair, justified, and respectful critiques of your work (i.e., grading). Our goal is not to fail
you, we want you to succeed. We will provide you constructive criticism of your work so
you can become a better engineering and scientist.

What we expect from you to maximize your learning potential:

 Show up to lecture and lab on time and ready to learn and work.
 Review relevant online content prior to the lecture sessions.
 Turn in course material on time.
 Be respectful to you peers, instructors, and TAs.
 Do not act unethically in your work.
 Limit personal electronic devices to MatS 3801 course work only during lecture and lab
sessions (i.e., try to limit external distractions).

Course layout
As of the Fall 2018 semester (yup, this semester!) we have completely restructured
MatS 3801 to synchronize lab and lecture content in the hopes of normalizing the learning
experience for ALL students and deliver relevant lecture content for your lab work. As such we
are employing a “flipped classroom” of content delivery. What does this mean to you:
 Formal lecture content is packaged as videos and notes that can be found on the Canvas
page. You are required to review the relevant online content prior to coming to a

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lecture session. This will prepare you for the lecture session. We will instruct you on the
order you should review the content.
o Lecture videos and notes have been provided. Follow at the pace and speed you
feel comfortable with.
 Our actual lecture time will focus on the following:
o Short quiz about the online content
o A “writing tip of the day” to help you improve writing and data presentation skills.
o One of three exercises:
1. In class exercises (the majority of time) – Group based, un-graded problems
that will prepare you for your post-lab work. Solutions to in class problems
will be provided in lecture. They will not be posted to Canvas. We will
discuss and present solutions as a class.
2. Formal lecture (will occur once and a while) to prepare you for an
experiment or report.
3. Exam (two lecture periods)
o “Lead in” for the next lecture session.

It is important to realize that the online content and lecture sessions are specifically
tailored to prepare you for lab. Understanding the online and lecture content will help you
succeed in lab!

Excused absences
Notify Prof. Manno as soon as possible for any legitimate excused absences. We can make
accommodations for your works’ due dates for excused absences only. See the following site for
a definition of excused absences:
https://policy.umn.edu/education/makeupwork

Late assignment policy

All assignments are due at a specific date and time. If a report or assignment is turned in
late without a justifiable excused (and pre-confirmed with Prof. Manno), there will be a 30 % grade
point deduction per each day it is late (e.g., a one day late report that would have normally gotten
a 90 point score would receive only 63 points). This will continue until the penalty reaches above
100 % and you will receive a zero score.

Regarding policy
All regrade requests must be made within one week of you receiving a report or exam.
You must complete the Regrade Request form found on Canvas and provide the original document
and the request form to Prof. Manno.

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9. Proposed Course Outline

The following is a proposed weekly schedule of the course. Please see your group’s
semester schedule for actual due dates for assignments. The synchronization of lecture and lab
content is new, so schedule changes may occur and will be announced in lecture.

Week Topic Lab Exam

1 Introduction
Safety,
2
uncertainty analysis
Meas. Fund.
3 Uncertainty analysis
Lab 1
4 X-ray diffraction

5 X-ray diffraction XRD 1

6 X-ray diffraction XRD 1

7 X-ray diffraction XRD 2

X-ray diffraction,
8 XRD 2
optical microscopy
Exam 1 –
9 Optical microscopy Metallography
10/31/2018
Metallography,
10 Electron microscopy
SEM 1
Electron microscopy,
11 SEM 1
atomic force microscopy
NO LAB –
12 Atomic force microscopy
Thanksgiving Week
X-ray photoelectron SEM2, Exam 2 –
13
spectroscopy AFM 11/26/2018
Infrared spectroscopy, SEM2,
14
small angle x-ray scattering AFM
Small angle x-ray scattering,
15
ethics
Final Exam –
Finals Week
12/15/2018

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