Intro to Materials Science & Engineering | IIT Delhi Course | Prof. Rajesh Prasad
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 565 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Core |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Metallurgy and Material science & Mining Engineering, Minor in Metallurgy, Minor in Materials Science |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 24 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Master the Fundamentals of Materials: A Comprehensive 12-Week Journey
Have you ever wondered why steel is strong, glass is brittle, or some plastics can bend while others shatter? The answers lie in the fascinating world of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE). This field is the backbone of modern innovation, from developing lighter alloys for aircraft to creating advanced semiconductors for your smartphone.
We are excited to introduce a definitive introductory course designed to unravel these mysteries. Taught by a distinguished academic with decades of experience, this program offers a rigorous yet accessible entry point into understanding the materials that shape our world.
Your Expert Guide: Prof. Rajesh Prasad
Learning from the best makes all the difference. This course is led by Prof. Rajesh Prasad of IIT Delhi, a revered educator and researcher with a stellar academic pedigree.
- Education: B.Tech. (IIT-BHU, Varanasi), M.E. (IISc Bangalore, awarded the A.A. Krishnan Gold Medal), Ph.D. (University of Cambridge).
- Teaching Legacy: Began his teaching journey at the University of Cambridge. Boasts nearly three decades of experience teaching materials science at premier IITs (Varanasi, Kanpur, and Delhi).
- Accolades: Recipient of the Teaching Excellence Award (IIT Delhi, 2012) and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from IIT-BHU's Department of Metallurgical Engineering (2013).
Prof. Prasad's unique ability to distill complex concepts into clear, fundamental principles ensures an enriching learning experience for students at all levels.
Course Overview: What You Will Learn
This 12-week undergraduate course is meticulously structured to build your knowledge from the ground up. It focuses on the microstructure and mechanical properties of engineering materials, blending theoretical foundations with practical demonstrations.
- Level: Undergraduate
- Duration: 12 Weeks
- Prerequisites: Basic science knowledge at the 10+2 level (CBSE equivalent).
- Intended Audience: Undergraduate engineering students from all disciplines. Also highly beneficial for professionals in industry, research labs, and academic institutions seeking a strong foundation.
- Industry Support: Recognized and utilized by major industries including automotive (e.g., Maruti Udyog Limited) and defense research (e.g., DRDO's Terminal Ballistic Research Lab).
Detailed 12-Week Curriculum
The course layout is designed for progressive learning, starting with atomic structures and culminating in advanced material behaviors.
| Week | Core Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1-3 | Foundations: Crystal systems, Bravais lattices, Miller indices, Bragg's Law, close-packed structures, solid solutions, and Hume-Rothery rules. |
| Weeks 4-6 | Material Classes & Defects: Ionic solids, polymers, amorphous materials, and a deep dive into zero-, one-, and two-dimensional defects (vacancies, dislocations, grain boundaries). |
| Weeks 7-8 | Phase Equilibria & Diffusion: Phase diagrams, lever rule, invariant reactions, the crucial Fe-C diagram, and Fick's laws of diffusion. |
| Weeks 9-10 | Transformations & Heat Treatment: Phase transformations, TTT diagrams, heat treatment of steels (quenching, tempering, martensite, bainite), and introduction to mechanical behavior. |
| Weeks 11-12 | Strengthening & Failure: Strengthening mechanisms, annealing, fracture (ductile/brittle), fatigue, creep, and composites. |
Who Should Enroll?
This course is exceptionally versatile and valuable for a wide audience:
- Engineering Undergraduates: An essential core subject for disciplines like Mechanical, Civil, Aerospace, and Production Engineering.
- Metallurgy & Materials Science Students: The perfect foundational course for majors and minors in these fields.
- Industry Professionals: Engineers, scientists, and technicians in manufacturing, R&D, and quality control will find the fundamentals invaluable for problem-solving.
- Researchers & Academics: A concise refresher or cross-disciplinary knowledge base for those in physics, chemistry, and related sciences.
Essential Learning Resources
To complement the lectures, the course recommends two classic textbooks that have guided generations of materials scientists:
- V. Raghavan, Materials Science and Engineering: A First Course (6th Ed.).
- W.D. Callister, Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction (6th Ed.).
Embark on this journey to understand the "why" behind material behavior. Whether you aim to excel in academics, innovate in industry, or simply satisfy a scientific curiosity, this course by Prof. Rajesh Prasad provides the critical toolkit in materials science and engineering.
Enroll Now →