Materials Science and Engineering

Program Overview

Materials Science and Engineering offers interdisciplinary programs leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. The PhD places major emphasis on training in depth, with the expectation of a significant original contribution in the specialized area.

Each student in the Materials Science and Engineering Program must select and obtain the consent of a full-time affiliated faculty member to serve as his or her advisor. Prior to selection of an advisor, the MSE director will serve as an interim advisor.

On entering the graduate programs, students are expected to have a general competence equivalent to the baccalaureate degree with a major in a physical science or engineering. They are expected to be familiar with basic thermodynamics and with the material in a beginning materials science course. If deficient in these areas, they should be prepared to make up for these deficiencies by taking appropriate courses or examinations.

With the cooperation of the advisor, the student forms a research committee to supervise his or her research thesis/project work. For PhD students, the research committee is composed of the advisor and three other technically qualified members selected from faculty from at least two departments participating in the Materials Science and Engineering Program. An outside examiner must be approved by the Graduate School and added to the committee for the defense of the PhD dissertation. For MS students, a committee that includes an advisor and two others is sufficient.

Requirements for Degree

Graduate School Academic Policies and Procedures

MSE Program Requirements:

Course Requirements for all MSE Programs

  • Courses presented to satisfy degree requirements must have a grade average of at least 3.0.
  • Most of the courses in a student's program should be taken during the first year of residence, so that emphasis can be placed on research in subsequent years.
  • A majority of electives must be MSE courses. Upper level electives only.
Course Number Course Name Credits
MSE 511 Techniques for Studying Solids 4
MSE 593 Frontiers in Materials Science 1
MSE565 Crystallography & Diffraction 3
MSE590 Materials Communications & Seminar 3
MSE 566 Reactivity of Materials 4
Complete at least one of the following three:
MSE 562 Mechanical Behavior of Engineering Materials 3
CHEM 544 Chemistry of Solids 4
MSE 572 Physics of Materials 4

4+1 Combined Programs

  • BS Chemistry: Materials / MS Materials Science and Engineering
  • BS Applied and Engineering Physics / MS Materials Science and Engineering
  • BS Mechanical Engineering / MS Materials Science and Engineering

To complete a 4+1 program, students must complete the requirements for a BS in Chemistry: Materials, Applied Physics and Engineering Physics, or Mechanical Engineering. Students are also required to complete all requirements of the MS degree in materials science, including a thesis. 

  • Students with a GPA of 3.0 or greater (3.3 for Mechanical Engineering) are eligible to apply to the program in their senior year
  • Up to 12 credits taken at the graduate level (5XX) may be applied to both degree programs
  • Students need to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher to stay in the program

Master of Science 

The requirements for the degree include a total of 30 credits. This can be achieved in three ways:

  1. Course taught 24 credits plus a master's thesis (6 research credits). There will be a public presentation of a seminar on the subject of the thesis, and its oral defense. 
  2. Course taught 26 credits plus a scholarly written report on a research project (4 research credits). There will be a public presentation of a seminar on the subject of the research project, and its oral defense.
  3. Students may request an all-course option (30 credits) for the MS degree.

Doctor of Philosophy

The PhD is awarded for original investigation leading to a significant advance of knowledge in a specialized area. To advance to candidacy, students must pass a set of written examinations and a prospectus examination. Following passing these examinations, the student is admitted to candidacy. Additional details can be found in the .

Summary of Minimum Requirements for PhD:

  1. Completion of required coursework and Graduate School residence requirements.
  2. Meet the proficiency in teaching requirements.
  3. Satisfaction of comprehensive exam requirement.
  4. Submission of proposal/prospectus and presentation of colloquium on proposed research.
  5. Acceptance of prospectus outlining dissertation research.
  6. The completion of an original piece of work in a specialized area of materials. 
  7. Submission of dissertation.
  8. Successful defense of dissertation at oral examination.

For more information on the Materials Science and Engineering Program, please refer to the MSE website or email for more information. To apply to the MSE program, please visit University Admissions.