Program code: 070304T

Study mode: Full-time

Duration: 4 Years

Degree conferred: Bachelor of Engineering

Teaching School: School of Emergent Soft Matter

Program Overview

First launched as Molecular Science and Engineering (2019-2023), the program was renamed as Soft Matter Science and Engineering in 2024.  

The Soft Matter Science and Engineering program is an emerging interdisciplinary discipline that responds to critical social needs for developing and optimize functional and intelligent advanced materials. Rooted in physics, chemistry, materials science, and biology, this program equips students with fundamental knowledge and problem-solving skills to address multidisciplinary scientific and engineering challenges.

The program features a “comprehensive mentor system”, English-taught courses, and diverse learning opportunities including a two-week international summer school, international symposiums and cutting-edge short talks by experts and scholars from top international institutes.

The program is part of our comprehensive educational system for training undergraduates, postgraduate students, PhD students, and postdoctoral fellows, ensuring continuous research and professional development opportunities.

The School of Emergent Soft Matter currently has 35 full-time teaching and research faculties (including 18 academicians, overseas high-level talents, national excellent youth and other talent projects, and 5 foreigner teachers). The average age of the team is 40 years old, and 100% of them have overseas study/work experience (coming from internationally renowned universities such as MIT, Harvard, Stanford, University of Tokyo, etc.). The faculty have published papers in 'Science' or 'Nature' 15 times.

Educational Objectives

Focusing on frontiers of soft matter science and the development of frontier basic theories and advanced manufacturing, and facing the country's major needs and the urgent needs of social and economic development, we are committed to develop top talents of innovation, invention, and entrepreneurship who will have solid theoretical foundation and engineering skills in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and materials science with core socialist values, patriotic devotion and an international vision. We attach importance to our students' all-around development in morality, intelligence, physique, aesthetics and labour skills. Students are cultivated to have excellent learning, thinking and action abilities, international competitiveness, literacy skills in humanities and social sciences, safety and environmental awareness, and the capabilities of organization, learning and self-development, and will be able to engage in basic research, education, technology development, engineering design, management and decision-making in the fields of materials, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering and other fields after graduation.

Through undergraduate training and 5 years of work experience or further study after graduation, students of this major are capable of growing into outstanding talents in the field of soft matter engineering, with the following abilities:

1. Have good literacy skills in humanities and sciences, social responsibility and environmental protection awareness, understand and be able to correctly evaluate the impact of research and production practices on the environment, safety, and sustainable social development, be familiar with the laws and regulations in relevant industries, and adhere to professional ethics.

2. Possess solid mathematics and natural science knowledge and hands-on ability, be able to integrate multiple disciplines, analyze and research complex engineering problems in related fields, and propose systematic solutions, have practical ability and innovative thinking, and be able to undertake materials design, technology research and development, production management and scientific research in the field.

3. Possess good interpersonal skills, organizational management and execution skills, have good professional ethics and teamwork spirit, be able to integrate or coordinate the organization and implementation of projects, play an effective role and be able to work independently and show organizational leadership skills in a team with professional practices and multidisciplinary backgrounds, and be able to effectively communicate with industry peers and the public on complex engineering issues.

4. Possess the habit and ability of international vision, self-development and lifelong learning, and be able to actively adapt to the changes and development of the professional environment.

Student Outcomes

• Morality cultivation: Understand and master the scientific worldview and methodology, have good ethics and moral character and social morality, have a sense of national identity and belonging and social responsibility, and be able to practice the socialist core values.

• Knowledge of engineering and science: Be able to integrate knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry, materials and other disciplines with engineering principles to solve complex engineering problems in the fields of soft matter science and engineering.

• Problem analysis: Be able to apply the principles and technical methods of mathematics, physics, chemistry, materials, and engineering science to identify and express complex engineering problems in the fields of soft matter science and engineering like the controllable preparation, large-scale production, and cost control of high-performance materials and others, consider the requirements of sustainable development comprehensively, and obtain effective conclusions through literature research and analysis.

• Design and develop solutions: Be able to design formulations, processes, production workflows for new material synthesis and processing, and develop tailored solutions. Demonstrate innovation in design and consider health, safety and environment, full lifecycle cost and net-zero carbon requirements, legal, ethical, social and cultural factors.№4.1 Master the basic design/development methods and technologies of the whole cycle and process of new material engineering design and product development, and understand various factors that affect design goals and technical solutions.

• Research: Be able to conduct research on complex engineering issues in soft matter science and engineering related fields based on scientific principles and using scientific methods, including designing experiments, analyzing and interpreting data, and obtaining reasonable and effective conclusions through information synthesis.

• Use modern tools: Be able to develop, select and use appropriate technologies, resources, modern engineering tools and information technology tools for complex engineering problems in the fields of soft matter science and engineering, predict and simulate complex engineering problems, and be able to understand their limitations.

• Engineering and society: Be able to conduct reasonable analysis based on professional-related background knowledge, evaluate the impact of engineering practices in soft matter science and engineering-related fields, and evaluate the solutions to complex engineering problems on society, health, safety, law and culture, while maintaining professional accountability.

• Environment and sustainable development: Be able to understand and evaluate the impact of engineering practice on complex problems in the fields of soft matter science and engineering on environmental and social sustainability.

• Engineering ethics and professional standards: Possess a sense of dedication to serving the nation and benefiting the people, equipped with literacy in humanities, social sciences, and a sense of social responsibility. Be able to understand and uphold engineering ethics, adhere to professional ethics, standards, and relevant laws in engineering practice, and fulfill responsibilities.

• Communication skills and project management: Be able to adapt to the trend of social development, take on the roles of individuals, team members and leaders in a diverse and multidisciplinary team, and communicate effectively with industry peers and the public on complex engineering issues related to soft matter science and engineering, including writing reports and designing documents, making presentations, and articulating or responding to instructions. Have international perspectives, and be able to communicate in a cross-cultural background, understand and respect language and cultural differences. Understand and master the engineering management principles and economic decision-making methods related to engineering projects in the fields of soft matter science and engineering, and be able to apply them in a multidisciplinary environment.

• Lifelong learning: Have the awareness and ability for independent learning, lifelong learning, and critical thinking, and be able to understand the impact of widespread technological changes on engineering and society, as well as adapt to new technological developments.

Program Features

1. Focus on strategic frontier fields such as new materials and new energy, cultivate high-end talent, and support national technological industry upgrades.

2. Establish a robust, interdisciplinary curriculum to develop students' ability to address complex frontier challenges.

3. Implemented a comprehensive faculty mentorship program, assigning professional mentors to each student and providing growth support throughout their academic journey.

Core Courses

Integrated Core Courses: Structure of Matter

• Including: General ChemistryⅡ, Structural Chemistry，Elementary Quantum Mechanics，Theoretical and Computational Chemistry  

Core Courses：

• General ChemistryⅠ

• Organic Chemistry  

• Physical Chemistry

• Polymer Chemistry  

• Polymer Physics

• Polymer Phase Transition and Thermodynamics

• Polymer Crystallization

• Morphology and Defects

Featured Courses

 Freshmen Seminars

• Frontier Materials and Intelligent Manufacturing of Soft Matter Ⅰ

 Project-based Courses

• Frontier Materials and Intelligent Manufacturing of Soft Matter Ⅱ

 Global Education Courses

• Research Frontiers in Soft Matter Sciences  

• Interdisciplinary Innovation Practical Courses

• Frontier Materials and Intelligent Manufacturing of Soft Matter Ⅱ

• Special Topics：Fundamentals of Materials Science and Engineering

 Subject Frontiers Courses

• Polymer Chemistry

• Polymer Physics

• Research Frontiers in Soft Matter Sciences

 Interdisciplinary Courses

• Introduction to Logic

• Organic Chemistry

• Physical Chemistry

• Polymer Chemistry

• Polymer Physics

 Baccalaureate-Master’s Integrated Courses

• Semiconductor Materials

 Cooperative Courses with Enterprises

• Frontier Materials and Intelligent Manufacturing of Soft Matter Ⅰ

• Molecular and Cell BiologyⅡ

• Nanomaterials and Preparation Technology

 Innovation Practice（Three “ones”）

• Advanced Organic Chemistry Experiments

 Entrepreneurship Courses（Three “ones”）

• Introduction to Logic（Three “ones”）

• Finance and Law in Innovation （Three “ones”）

 Special Designs

• Frontier Materials and Intelligent Manufacturing of Soft Matter Ⅱ

 Education on The Hard-Working Spirit

• Graduation Practice

Note: Explanation of the divergence in Soft Matter Science and Engineering

Undergraduate students from the School of Emergent Soft Matter will be enrolled in the 'Soft Matter Science and Engineering' major upon enrollment. After the third semester begins, some outstanding students will be selected to study in the major of 'Soft Matter Science and Engineering (International Demonstration Class)' .

The programs for 'Soft Matter Science and Engineering' and 'Soft Matter Science and Engineering (International Demonstration Class)' are identical during the first year of university.