AbstractThe MSE Department at MIT has developed a new undergraduate curriculum, and has imple- mented it for Sophomores in the 2003-2004 academic year. The Junior and Senior year curricula will be implemented as the current Sophomores advance. In addition to major core topic addi- tions such as biomaterials and computational modeling, the new curriculum features a novel mixing of laboratory and lecture hours. This permits students to experience hands-on applications of materials in the laboratory immediately after covering the associated theory in lecture. The curriculum was developed in consultation with both students and our external community (Visiting Committee, ABET, alumni), and it required construction of substantial new laboratory facilities. It also required a novel approach to scheduling, in which some loss of flexibility was accepted to gain coherence and relevance of topics.