MSE 491: Project Research, Planning, and Ethics

Materials Science&Engineering · 3 credits · Engineering and Design

First in the series of three capstone project courses. Explores profession and ethical responsibilities, discussion concerning contemporary issues, and the impact of engineering solutions in a global context. Project planning and research skills are also discussed and practiced.

Offered in 1 of the 26 listed terms (Fall 2026).

Catalog entry Browse Classes Textbooks (WWU Bookstore)

Prerequisites

(ENG 101 or WWU English Clearance) and (MSE 342 or Polymer Material Engr OBSOLETE 342 or MFGE 342) and (MSE 471 or Polymer Material Engr OBSOLETE 471)

Prerequisite tree

Each course's own prerequisites, down to the first courses in the chain.

ENG 101 Writing Your Way Through WWU
MSE 342 Data Analysis and DOE
requires MFGE 341
- MFGE 341 Quality and Continuous Improvement
  requires MATH 345 or MATH 341
  - MATH 345 Statistics for Engineering
    requires (MATH 125 or MATH 135 or MATH 138)
    - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II
      requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 4 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 4
      - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
        requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 153 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 80
        MATH 115 Precalculus II
        requires MATH 114 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65 (continues on its page)
        MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus
        requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 70
      - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors
        requires MATH 115 (minimum grade A) or MATH 118 (minimum grade A) or Math Placement - Advanced 2, score 20 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5
        MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
        MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
    - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors
    - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus
      requires Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 4 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 4 or (Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 2 and Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3)
  - MATH 341 Probability and Statistical Inference
    requires MATH 125 or MATH 135 or MATH 138
    - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
    - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
    - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
MFGE 342 Data Analysis and Design of Experiments
requires (MFGE 341 or Engineering Tech OBSOLETE 344)
- MFGE 341 Quality and Continuous Improvement (shown above)
MSE 471 Advanced Materials and Characterization
requires CHEM 308 and PHYS 163 and (MSE 331 or Polymer Material Engr OBSOLETE 331)
- CHEM 308 Introduction to Polymer Chemistry
  requires (CHEM 121 or CHEM 161 or CHEM 125 or CHEM 175) and CHEM 251 and (Polymer Material Engr OBSOLETE 371 or MSE 371)
  - CHEM 161 General Chemistry I
    requires MATH 114 or MATH 156 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 115 or MATH 157 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
    - MATH 114 Precalculus I
      requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 153 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 55 or MATH 112 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 3 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70
      - MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods
        requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or MATH 099 (minimum grade YP) or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Intermediate Algebra (IA), score 1.70 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 148 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 35 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 2 or MATH 197C (minimum grade S) or MATH 109 (minimum grade S)
        MATH 099 Introductory Algebra
        requires ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 1
        MATH 197C Support Topics for Functions and Algebraic Methods
        requires ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 30
        MATH 109 Support for Functions and Algebraic Methods
        requires ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 30
    - MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics
      requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 152 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 143 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 55 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 3 or College Algebra (CA), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or MATH 112
      - MATH 112 Functions and Algebraic Methods (shown above)
    - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus
      requires MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 70
    - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
      requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 153 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 80
      - MATH 115 Precalculus II
        requires MATH 114 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
        MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
      - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
    - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
    - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors
      requires MATH 115 (minimum grade A) or MATH 118 (minimum grade A) or Math Placement - Advanced 2, score 20 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5
      - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
      - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
    - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
    - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
    - MATH 115 Precalculus II
      requires MATH 114 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
      - MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
    - MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics
      requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 148 or MATH 156 or MATH 114 or MATH 118 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 2.3 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 2.3 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2
      - MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
      - MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
      - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
  - CHEM 175 General Chemistry I, Honors
    requires MATH 114 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 156 or MATH 157 or Pre-Calculus 1 (PC1), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Pre-Calculus (PC), score 1.70 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 4 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or MPT General - Scaled Score, score 158 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 149 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 65
    - MATH 114 Precalculus I (shown above)
    - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
    - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
    - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
    - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
    - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
    - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
    - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
    - MATH 156 Algebra With Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
    - MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
  - CHEM 251 Elementary Organic Chemistry
    requires CHEM 121 or CHEM 161 or CHEM 125 or CHEM 175
    - CHEM 161 General Chemistry I (shown above)
    - CHEM 175 General Chemistry I, Honors (shown above)
  - MSE 371 Introduction to Plastics Materials and Processes
    requires ENGR 115 and ENGR 170
    - ENGR 115 Innovation in Design
      requires ENGR 101
      - ENGR 101 Engineering, Design, & Society
    - ENGR 170 Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering
      requires ((CHEM 121 or CHEM 161 or CHEM 125 or CHEM 175) and ((MATH 124 or MATH 125 or MATH 134 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or MATH 224 or MATH 225 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 3 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3) and (PHYS 161) or HNRS 211) or (MATH 157 and PHYS 114))
      - CHEM 161 General Chemistry I (shown above)
      - CHEM 175 General Chemistry I, Honors (shown above)
      - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
      - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
      - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
      - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
      - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
      - MATH 224 Multivariable Calculus and Geometry I
        requires MATH 125 or MATH 135 or MATH 138 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 5 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 4 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 5
        MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
        MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
        MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
      - MATH 225 Multivariable Calculus and Geometry II
        requires MATH 224
        MATH 224 Multivariable Calculus and Geometry I (shown above)
      - PHYS 161 Physics with Calculus I
        requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or MATH 138 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 3 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3
        MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
        MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
        MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
      - HNRS 211 Colloquium in Physics
        requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or MATH 138 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 3 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3
        MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
        MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
        MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
      - MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
      - PHYS 114 Principles of Physics I
        requires MATH 115 or MATH 118 or MATH 124 or MATH 134 or MATH 138 or MATH 157 or MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 153 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 1.70 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 80
        MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
        MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
        MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
        MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
        MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
        MATH 157 Calculus with Applications to Business and Economics (shown above)
- PHYS 163 Physics with Calculus III
  requires PHYS 162 and ((MATH 124 and MATH 125) or (MATH 134 and MATH 135) or MATH 138)
  - PHYS 162 Physics with Calculus II
    requires (PHYS 161 or HNRS 211) and ((MATH 124 and MATH 125) or (MATH 134 and MATH 135) or MATH 138)
    - PHYS 161 Physics with Calculus I
      requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or MATH 138 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 3 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3
      - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
      - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
      - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
    - HNRS 211 Colloquium in Physics
      requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or MATH 138 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 3 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3
      - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
      - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
      - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
    - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
    - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II (shown above)
    - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
    - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors (shown above)
    - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus (shown above)
  - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
    requires MPT - Advanced - Scaled Score, score 153 or MATH 115 or MATH 118 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 2 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 2 or Pre-Calculus 2 (PC2), score 2.30 or ALEKS Math Placement Assessmnt, score 80
    - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
    - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
  - MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry II
    requires MATH 124 or MATH 134 or Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 4 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 4
    - MATH 124 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I (shown above)
    - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors (shown above)
  - MATH 134 Calculus I Honors
    requires MATH 115 (minimum grade A) or MATH 118 (minimum grade A) or Math Placement - Advanced 2, score 20 or Precalculus AP Exam (AP65), score 5
    - MATH 115 Precalculus II (shown above)
    - MATH 118 Accelerated Precalculus (shown above)
  - MATH 135 Calculus II Honors
  - MATH 138 Accelerated Calculus
    requires Calculus AB AP Exam (AP66), score 4 or Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 3 or Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 4 or (Calculus BC AP Exam (AP68), score 2 and Calc AB Subscore AP Exm (AP69), score 3)
- MSE 331 Injection Molding
  requires (MSE 371 or Polymer Material Engr OBSOLETE 371) and CHEM 162 and MFGE 261
  - MSE 371 Introduction to Plastics Materials and Processes (shown above)
  - CHEM 162 General Chemistry II
    requires CHEM 121 or CHEM 161
    - CHEM 161 General Chemistry I (shown above)
  - MFGE 261 Introduction to Computer-Aided Design
    requires ENGR 104 or Engineering Tech OBSOLETE 112 or ENGR 115
    - ENGR 104 Introduction to Engineering and Design
    - ENGR 115 Innovation in Design (shown above)

From Banner's catalog for Spring 2027. Banner lists only the requisites it enforces, so check the catalog entry too.

Required by (1)

MSE 492

What it leads to

Courses that list it as a prerequisite, then the courses that list those, 2 levels deep.

MSE 492 Polymer Materials Capstone Project Proposal
- MSE 493 Polymer Materials Capstone Project Implementation

Syllabi and course websites

None listed yet.

Suggest a syllabus link

Instructors

Instructor	Sections	Terms
McDevitt Larson, Nicole	1	Fall 2026

Every offering in the listed terms (1 section)

Term	Sec	CRN	Type	Meets	Instructor	Enrolled	Delivery
Fall 2026	0	43725	Lecture	TR 12:00pm-1:50pm · ET 107	McDevitt Larson, Nicole	17/24	Face to Face Instruction