Undergraduate Course Listing
Coursework in Applied Sciences and Engineering
From big problems like global warming to focused needs in your home or community, engineering is all about solving problems. The Department of Applied Physical Sciences offers courses that make engineering and making concepts accessible to all UNC students. Check out our Minor in Applied Sciences and Engineering and our major in Applied Sciences to see how you can learn to use technology to make a difference in the world.
Spring 2026 Course Listings
APPL 101– Exploring Engineering
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None
T/TH 11:00am – 12:15am- Dr. Richard Goldberg
T/TH 12:30 – 1:45pm- Dr. Alexis Gillmore
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None
T/TH 11:00am – 12:15am- Dr. Richard Goldberg
T/TH 12:30 – 1:45pm- Dr. Alexis Gillmore
APPL 110– Intro to Design & Making: Developing Your Personal Design Potential
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None, but orientation training at one of the BeAM makerspaces is required
T/TH 9:30am – 10:45pm – Dr. Alexis Gillmore (First Year Launch)
T/TH 2:00pm – 3:15pm – Dr. Richard Superfine
T/TH 3:30pm – 4:45pm- Dr. Lin Ma
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None, but orientation training at one of the BeAM makerspaces is required
T/TH 9:30am – 10:45pm – Dr. Alexis Gillmore (First Year Launch)
T/TH 2:00pm – 3:15pm – Dr. Richard Superfine
T/TH 3:30pm – 4:45pm- Dr. Lin Ma
APPL 240– Electronics from Sensors to Indicators: Circuits that Interact with the Physical World
4 Credits
Prerequisites: PHYS 115 or 119; or instructor approval.
M/W- 2:30pm – 3:45pm- Dr. Richard Goldberg
4 Credits
Prerequisites: PHYS 115 or 119; or instructor approval.
M/W- 2:30pm – 3:45pm- Dr. Richard Goldberg
APPL 260– Materials Science and Engineering: Living in a Material World
4 Credits
Prerequisites: CHEM 102, and PHYS 116 or PHYS 118; permission of the instructor for students lacking the prerequisites.
T/TH 2:00pm-3:15pm- Dr. Theo Dingemans
4 Credits
Prerequisites: CHEM 102, and PHYS 116 or PHYS 118; permission of the instructor for students lacking the prerequisites.
T/TH 2:00pm-3:15pm- Dr. Theo Dingemans
APPL 430– Optoelectronics from Materials to Devices
3 Credits
Prerequisites: MATH 383
T/TH 9:30am – 10:45am – Dr. Nicolas Pegard
3 Credits
Prerequisites: MATH 383
T/TH 9:30am – 10:45am – Dr. Nicolas Pegard
APPL 467– Materials Design for Biomedicine
3 Credits
Prerequisites: CHEM 102
T/TH 12:30pm – 1:45pm – Dr. Ronit Freeman
Note: this will count as an engineering topics class in the APSE minor
3 Credits
Prerequisites: CHEM 102
T/TH 12:30pm – 1:45pm – Dr. Ronit Freeman
Note: this will count as an engineering topics class in the APSE minor
Course Listing
APPL 60 – First- Year Seminar: Tree. Timber. Totems.
3 Credits. (Fall)
3 Credits. (Fall)
APPL 89 – Convergent Research: Solving the Grand Engineering Challenges of the Future
3 Credits. (Fall)
3 Credits. (Fall)
APPL 101 – Exploring Engineering
3 Credits. (Fall and Spring)
3 Credits. (Fall and Spring)
APPL 110 – Design and Making for Engineers: Developing Your Person Design Potential
3 Credits. (Fall and Spring)
3 Credits. (Fall and Spring)
APPL 240 – Electronics from Sensors to Indicators: Circuits that Interact with the Physical World
4 Credits. (Spring)Prerequisite: PHYS 105, 115, 117, or 119
4 Credits. (Spring)Prerequisite: PHYS 105, 115, 117, or 119
APPL 260 – Materials Science and Engineering: Living in a Material World
3 Credits. (Spring)Prerequisites: CHEM 102, and PHYS 116 or PHYS 118; permission of the instructor for students lacking the prerequisites.
3 Credits. (Spring)Prerequisites: CHEM 102, and PHYS 116 or PHYS 118; permission of the instructor for students lacking the prerequisites.
APPL 285 – Engineering Fundamentals of Force, Motion, and Energy
4 Credits. (Fall)Prerequisites: APPL 101, APPL 110, and PHYS 114 or 118; permission of the instructor for students lacking the prerequisites
4 Credits. (Fall)Prerequisites: APPL 101, APPL 110, and PHYS 114 or 118; permission of the instructor for students lacking the prerequisites
APPL 295 – Research in Applied Physical Sciences and Engineering
1-3 Credits. (Fall, Spring and Summer)
1-3 Credits. (Fall, Spring and Summer)
APPL 296 – Independent Study in Applied Physical Sciences and Engineering
1-3 Credits. (Fall, Spring and Summer)
1-3 Credits. (Fall, Spring and Summer)
APPL 385 – Thermodynamics for Engineers
4 Credits. (Fall)Prerequisites: APPL 101, APPL 285, MATH 233, PHYS 118
4 Credits. (Fall)Prerequisites: APPL 101, APPL 285, MATH 233, PHYS 118
APPL 430 – Optoelectronics from Materials to Devices
3 Credits. (Spring)Prerequisite: MATH 383
3 Credits. (Spring)Prerequisite: MATH 383
APPL 462 – Engineering Materials: Properties, Selection and Design
3 Credits. (Fall)Prerequisite: CHEM 102; or PHYS 116 or PHYS 118
3 Credits. (Fall)Prerequisite: CHEM 102; or PHYS 116 or PHYS 118
APPL 463 – Bioelectronic Materials
3 Credits. (Spring)Prerequisite: BMME 209 or APPL 260 or CHEM 102 and PHYS 115 or PHYS 119 and permission of the instructor.
3 Credits. (Spring)Prerequisite: BMME 209 or APPL 260 or CHEM 102 and PHYS 115 or PHYS 119 and permission of the instructor.
APPL 465 – Engineering of Soft Materials: SpongeBob SquarePants and Other Squishy Things
3 Credits. (Fall)
3 Credits. (Fall)
APPL 467 – Materials Design for Biomedicine
3 credits. (Spring)Prerequisite: CHEM 102
3 credits. (Spring)Prerequisite: CHEM 102
APPL 490– Special Topics – Life in Plastic, it’s Fantastic: Life Cycle Plastic Design
3 Credits. (Fall)
Prerequisites: CHEM 102 or Instructor Approval
3 Credits. (Fall)
Prerequisites: CHEM 102 or Instructor Approval
APPL 493 – Internship in Applied Physical Sciences
3 credits. (Fall, Spring and Summer)
3 credits. (Fall, Spring and Summer)
APPL 495 – Mentored Research in Applied Sciences and Engineering
3 Credits. (Fall, Spring and Summer)
3 Credits. (Fall, Spring and Summer)
APPL 496 – Independent Study in Applied Sciences and Engineering
1-3 Credits. (Fall, Spring and Summer)
1-3 Credits. (Fall, Spring and Summer)
