MENA3100 – Characterization of Materials
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The course will give you an introduction to central material characterization methods used to determine the structure, composition and the phase stability.
The methods you will get familiar with includes among others thermal analysis (TA), light microscopy (LM), scanning- and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), x-ray- and electron diffraction (XRD and SAD) as well as x-ray- and electron spectroscopy (EDS, EELS) in TEM, XPS).
There will be a special focus on the interaction between probes and materials and the signals generated and detected.
Learning outcome
After the course, you should be able to:
- understand and describe the fundamental principles behind the methods of characterization which are included in the curriculum.
- analyze, interpret and present observations from the different methods.
- evaluate the uncertainty of observations and results from the different methods.
- assess which methods of characterization are appropriate for different material problems.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
Special admission requirements
In addition to fulfilling the Higher Education Entrance Qualification, applicants have to meet the following special admission requirements:
- Mathematics R1 (or Mathematics S1 and S2) + R2
And in addition one of these:
- Physics (1+2)
- Chemistry (1+2)
- Biology (1+2)
- Information technology (1+2)
- Geosciences (1+2)
- Technology and theories of research (1+2)
The special admission requirements may also be covered by equivalent studies from Norwegian upper secondary school or by other equivalent studies (in Norwegian).
Formal prerequisite knowledge
The following HSE course must also be taken earlier than MENA3100 or the current semester at the latest:
Recommended previous knowledge
Teaching
The first lecture is obligatory to attend. If you are unable to attend, the Department of Physics has to be informed no later than the same day (studieinfo@fys.uio.no), or else you will lose your place in the course.
The course extends over a full semester with 6 hours teaching per week:
- 2 hours lectures
- 2+2 hours exercises, demonstrations and discussion seminars. Four obligatory lab exercises (4 hours pr. exercise) will take place during the semester (~ one per month). During the laboratory weeks, regular group teaching activities will not take place and are substituted by the laboratory groups.
The four mandatory laboratory assignments that must be approved before you can sit the final exam.
Regulations for mandatory assignments can be found here.
As the teaching involves laboratory and/or fieldwork, you should consider taking out separate travel and personal risk insurance. Read about your insurance cover as a student.
Examination
Final oral exam which counts 100 % towards the final grade.
This course has mandatory exercises that must be approved before you can sit the final exam.
Examination support material
Language of examination
The examination text is given in Norwegian. If the course is taught in English, the examination text will only be given in English. You may answer in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed exam at the beginning of the next semester.
New examinations are offered at the beginning of the next semester for students who do not successfully complete the exam during the previous semester.
We do not offer a re-scheduled exam for students who withdraw during the exam.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.