Graduate
degrees (M.M.S.E. and Ph.D.) in Materials Science and Engineering are offered
by the interdisciplinary Department of Materials Science and Engineering of the
The requirements for the M.M.S.E. and Ph.D. are described in the following document “Academic Requirements for Advanced Degrees in Materials”.
A student entering the Materials Science and Engineering Graduate Program normally possesses a bachelor’s (or higher) degree in a physical science or engineering discipline. A successful candidate for admission would minimally have taken courses to the following levels: mathematics, through partial differential equations: physics, including mechanics, heat, electricity, magnetism and introductory modern physics: chemistry, through physical chemistry; and introduction to materials science. In addition, courses in thermodynamics, field concepts, phase transformations, and structure and mechanical properties of materials are considered very useful.
Admission requirements are normally (1) completion of a bachelor’s program with a GPA of at least 3.2, (2) excellent letters of recommendation from faculty or scholars, and (3) a GRE total score (verbal plus quantitative) of at least 1150. Admission decisions are made by the Materials Science and Engineering Faculty on the advice of its Chairperson and/or Graduate Admissions Committee.
Admission
to the graduate program is competitive. Those who meet stated requirements are
not guaranteed admission, nor are those who fail to meet all of those
requirements necessarily precluded from admission if they offer other
appropriate strengths.
The Master’s thesis must be accepted by both the research advisor and the Chairperson of the Materials Science and Engineering Faculty. A formal defense of the Master’s thesis before the committee may be required. The Ph.D. dissertation must be defended before the student’s advisory committee. That committee consists of the student’s research advisor and at least three other faculty, at least one of whom is not a member of the Materials Science and Engineering Faculty. The Ph.D. Committee will be set up at the time of the student’s Ph.D. Qualifier, within the student’s first five semesters, and will meet with the student annually. The thesis or dissertation must meet the criterion of scholarly excellence and there must be no barriers to its publication.
Stipend and tuition support is awarded to meritorious students. The authorization of such support resides with the Chairperson of the Department.
In
In order to receive an advanced degree, a student must satisfy both the University’s basic requirements and the programmatic requirements given below. Deviations from the program outlined below may be authorized in writing by the faculty advisor to the Chairperson and to the Graduate Office in exceptional circumstances such as may apply for transfer students or students entering the Department in the Spring.
Two options are available, one with a thesis and the other by lecture course credit only. The first is available to all students, the second is only available to Outreach or part-time students and does not require a thesis. Transfer is not permitted from the first to the second option, although transfer is acceptable from the second to the first.
1. 26 credit hours of course work and 6 credit hours of thesis research are necessary for the thesis-option Master’s degree.
2. The following courses, totaling 14 credits, are required of all students. Equivalent courses may be substituted as approved by the faculty advisor and Chairperson:
MSEG 608 Structure and Properties of Materials I (4 credits)
MSEG 609 Structure and Properties of Materials II (4 credits)
MSEG 803 Equilibria in Materials Systems (3 credits)
MSEG 804 Kinetics in Materials Systems (3 credits)
3. Students must select a concentration and complete the required courses for that concentration
Soft Materials Concentration
MSEG 832 Principles of Polymer Synthesis (3 credits)
MSEG 833 Polymer Synthesis and Characterization Laboratory (3 cr.)
MSEG 835 Polymer Physics (3 credits)
Hard Materials Concentration
MSEG 640 Applied Quantum Mechanics I (3 credits)
MSEG 841 Solid State Materials I (3 credits)
MSEG 842 Solid State Materials II (3 credits)
Composite Materials
Concentration
MSEG 832 Principles of Polymer Synthesis (3 credits)
MSEG 817 Composite Materials (3 credits)
4. The remaining 3-6 credits will be obtained with elective courses chosen after discussion with the faculty advisor, and will usually be related to the student’s area of research. Courses required for a different specialization can be used as electives.
5. Six credit hours of thesis work must be completed, and the thesis must be accepted by the student’s advisory committee and the Department Chairperson.
6. Students must complete the required credits of course work with an average GPA of 3.25 or higher.
7. All graduate students are expected to attend departmental seminars.
1. 30 credit hours of course work are required for the Master’s degree without a thesis.
2. The following courses, totaling 14 credits, are required of all students. Equivalent courses may be substituted as approved by the faculty advisor and Department Chairperson:
MSEG 608 Structure and Properties of Materials I (4 credits)
MSEG 609 Structure and Properties of Materials II (4 credits)
MSEG 803 Equilibria in Materials Systems (3 credits)
MSEG 804 Kinetics in Materials Systems (3 credits)
3. Students must select a concentration and complete the required courses for that concentration
Soft Materials Concentration
MSEG 832 Principles of Polymer Synthesis (3 credits)
MSEG 833 Polymer Synthesis and Characterization Laboratory (3 cr.)
MSEG 835 Polymer Physics (3 credits)
Hard Materials Concentration
MSEG 640 Applied Quantum Mechanics I (3 credits)
MSEG 841 Solid State Materials I (3 credits)
MSEG 842 Solid State Materials II (3 credits)
Composite Materials
Concentration
MSEG 832 Principles of Polymer Synthesis (3 credits)
MSEG 817 Composite Materials (3 credits)
4. The remaining 7-10 credits will be obtained with elective courses chosen after discussion with the faculty advisor, and will usually be related to the student’s research interests. Courses required for a different specialization can be used as electives.
5. Students must complete the required credits of course work with an average GPA of 3.25 or higher.
6. All graduate students are expected to attend departmental seminars.
7. Candidates for the Master’s Degree without thesis must demonstrate their comprehensive knowledge of materials science by successfully completing a final project. The project consists of a written analysis and research project proposal on a topic chosen by the candidate and his/her advisor. The written report should contain no more than 15 pages single-spaced (12-pt. Font) not including the bibliography. The written report should cover at least the following topics/issues:
a. Motivation and Significance of the Research
b. Definition of the Critical Issues
c. Literature Search/Bibliography
d. Research Objectives
e. Outline of a feasible Experimental/Theoretical Approach
f. Anticipated Results
g. Potential Impact (scientific or technological)
The written report must be
approved by the student’s faculty advisor and the Department Chairperson.
After completion of the capstone requirement will be sent by memo to the
Office of Graduate and Professional.
1. 30 credit hours of course work and 15 credit hours of thesis research are required for the Ph.D. Degree. The distribution of required credits is described below.
2. Direct entry to the Ph.D. Program without prior completion of a Master’s Degree is available for suitably qualified candidates.
3. Students entering with a Master’s Degree may substitute advanced courses for the required elements of the curriculum when the student can demonstrate that they have already taken a course covering the topics presented in the required course. Such substitutions must be approved by the student’s faculty advisor and the Department Chairperson.
.
4. The following courses, totaling 14 credits, are required. Equivalent courses may be substituted when approved by the faculty advisor and Department Chairperson:
MSEG 608 Structure and Properties of Materials I (4 credits)
MSEG 609 Structure and Properties of Materials II (4 credits)
MSEG 803 Equilibria in Materials Systems (3 credits)
MSEG 804 Kinetics in Materials Systems (3 credits)
5. Students must select a concentration and complete the required courses for that concentration
Soft
Materials Concentration
MSEG 832 Principles of Polymer Synthesis (3 credits)
MSEG 833 Polymer Synthesis and Characterization Laboratory (3 cr.)
MSEG 835 Polymer Physics (3 credits)
Hard Materials Concentration
MSEG 640 Applied Quantum Mechanics I (3 credits)
MSEG 841 Solid State Materials I (3 credits)
MSEG 842 Solid State Materials II (3 credits)
Composite Materials
Concentration
MSEG 832 Principles of Polymer Synthesis (3 credits)
MSEG 817 Composite Materials (3 credits)
6. The remaining 7-10 credits of elective courses will be chosen after discussion with the student’s advisor, and will usually be related to the student’s area of research. Courses required for a different specialization can count as elective courses.
7. Students must complete the required credits of course work with an average GPA of 3.25 or higher.
8. Six credit hours of thesis work (MSEG 868) must be completed prior to the admission to Candidacy.
9. After admission to Candidacy, the student must complete 9 credit hours of Dissertation MSEG 969.
10. All graduate students are expected to attend departmental seminars.
11. Qualifying examination: Candidates for the Ph.D. degree are required to demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge of materials science by passing the qualifying examination. This is administered at the request of the student/advisor and consists of a comprehensive written and oral research project review on a topic chosen by the candidate and his/her advisor. The written part should contain no more than 15 pages single-spaced (12-pt. Font), not including the bibliography. The oral presentation should be approximately 30 minutes in length. Both the written and oral presentations should include, but are not limited to, discussion on the following topics/issues:
a. Motivation and Significance of the Research
b. Definition of the Critical Issues
c. Literature Search/Bibliography
d. Research Objectives
e. Outline of the Experimental/Theoretical Approach
f. Anticipated Results
g. Timeline (sequence of accomplishments and milestones)
h. Metrics to Determine the Successful Outcome of the Research
i. Relevant Supporting Preliminary Data
j. Potential Impact (scientific or technological)
The oral exam is designed to evaluate comprehensive knowledge in materials science and engineering, “soft” skills, e.g., communication, awareness of market-driven technology, etc., and the ability to organize and plan a project. Thus questions during the oral exam will not only be directed towards the research topic but can also be directed toward peripheral materials issues related to the proposed research. Full time students entering the Ph.D. program with a Masters Degree are expected to take the qualifying examination and set up a Qualifier/Dissertation Committee in their first five semesters. Under certain circumstances, an extension is possible upon request to and approval of the research advisor and Department Chairperson. The Qualifier/Dissertation Committee will contain the student’s advisor(s) and at least three other faculty, at least one of whom is not a member of the Materials Science and Engineering Faculty. Within the first two years, students will be admitted to candidacy based on three criteria:
a. Results of Qualifying Examination
b. Successful completion of the required courses with a GPA of 3.25 or higher.
c. Satisfactory research progress as determined by the candidate’s Qualifier/Dissertation Committee.
Admission to candidacy decisions will be made by the Department Chairperson with advice from the Departmental Graduate Committee.
For those who enter the program with a M.S. or equivalent or those
exceptionally well qualified students (with a B. S. degree or equivalent)
wishing to directly enter the Ph.D. program, they will have until the end of January of their second year (a second and final chance by June 1 in the same year if performance on first exam is unsatisfactory) to take the Qualifying examination.
Part-time students entering with a B.S. degree take the qualifying examination no later than the sixth semester, and will then follow the above procedure with the expectation that admission to candidacy requirements be satisfied by the second year after the qualifying exam is taken.
12. Dissertation: A dissertation containing original results of the student’s research effort must be presented and approved by the Ph.D. Committee and the Department Chairperson.
13. Final Oral Examination: After an oral presentation open to all interested persons, the student will be examined on the dissertation by the Ph.D. Qualifier/Dissertation Committee. In addition to examining the results of the original research contained in the dissertation, the committee will pay particular attention that suggestions for future work shall constitute a well-formulated and coherent plan to extend the research significantly.