The interdisciplinary Materials Science Program only offers MS and PhD degrees in Materials Science.

• Related Link: Illustrative Ph.D. Curriculum for New Students

Master of Science
Materials Science Program Requirements

(Approved: June 2002)

Part A: Curriculum

Requirements

• A minimum of 5 classroom courses consisting of at least 14 credits. Satisfactory progress must be demonstrated, consistent with Graduate School requirements for good standing (i.e., 3.0 GPA or better). The following additional requirements and restrictions apply to these 5 courses:
  • At least 3 courses consisting of at least 8 credits must be at or above the 600 level. Students can petition for exceptions for other courses that must not be generally regarded as part of undergraduate curricula. (Examples of exceptions: NE (NEEP) 547 & NE (NEEP) 548; MS&E 530, MS&E 570, & MS&E 445; CBE 540 & CBE 544. Others possible by petition.)

  • The courses must span two or more Departments, meeting the objective of an interdisciplinary education in materials.

  • MS&E 900 may not be used to satisfy any aspect of this requirement.

• Academic advisor's signature is required to remove the registration hold for each semester's registration.

• Two semesters of MS&E 900 (MSP seminar course). MS&E 900 must be taken in the first and second semester of enrollment if it does not conflict with other requirements.

Relevant Information

• Consistent with Graduate School requirements, students must have an academic advisor who advises them in course selection. Typically, the research mentor(s) (or "major professor(s)") will also serve as the academic advisor(s). The academic advisor's signature approving the semester course plan must be on file in the MSP office in order to remove the registration hold for each semester's registration. The MSP Director or his/her appointee will serve as academic advisor for new students who have not yet selected a research mentor.

• A petition process will be available for special exceptions.

• A standing committee will be appointed and maintained by the Program Director for the purpose of evaluating petitions.

Part B: Research Requirements

Research Report and Oral Evaluation

• A written report describing the student's research must be submitted to the student's MS Committee for evaluation. This report is to be written by the student in consultation with his/her thesis advisor(s) in a format that is acceptable to the advisor(s) and the MS committee. Possible formats include a formal Masters Thesis, a completed publication, and a completed progress report, among others.

• The student will conduct an oral presentation summarizing the research procedures, results, related literature, and significance of the research. The MS Committee will conduct an evaluation of the abilities of the student. Discussions may be directly about the research, or may probe the student's understanding of relevant related concepts. Based on the written report, the oral evaluation, and the student's graduate course grades, the Committee will decide if the student is deserving of an M.S. degree.

• The student is responsible for scheduling this presentation and evaluation, confirming that all MS Committee members can attend, and reporting the date and the Committee members' names in advance to the Materials Science Program Office. The date and time of the presentation will be announced to members of the Materials Science Program. It is intended that this examination normally take place before the end of the fourth regular semester of study (not including summer sessions).

• Committee members may decline to participate in a scheduled MS presentation and evaluation if they have not received the final draft of the written report at least two weeks prior to the scheduled event or if the student's major professor(s) has not approved it.

• MS Committee constitution: The Committee is composed of at least three faculty members of the Materials Science Program (the Materials Science Advisory Committee or MSAC), including the student's major professor(s). The Committee must consist of members from at least two different academic departments. The student may wish to invite additional faculty with relevant expertise who are not members of the MSAC. The student must confirm that each Committee member is willing to serve and report the makeup of the Committee to the Program office by the end of the third semester of study.

Doctor of Philosophy
Materials Science Program Requirements

Part A: Curriculum
(Approved - June 2002)

Requirements

• A minimum of 10 classroom courses consisting of at least 28 credits. Satisfactory progress must be demonstrated, consistent with Graduate School requirements for good standing (i.e., 3.0 GPA or better). The following additional requirements and restrictions apply to these 10 courses:
  • At least one course (at least 3 credits) must be in mathematical analysis techniques or emphasizing its application (Choose from: CBE 660; NEEP 547/EP 547, NE (NEEP) 548/; Math 703 or Math 704; Phys 721. Others possible by petition.) The purpose of this math requirement is to ensure literacy in mathematical descriptions (typically calculus-based) of materials-relevant phenomena. Examples of where this mathematical literacy is important include transport, stress/strain, dynamic reactions, quantum properties, electron or xray microscopy, and electromagnetic properties. Examples of the types of mathematical language that are important to descriptions of materials phenomena include differential equations (ordinary and partial, the latter referring to multivariate models and solving boundary value problems, diffusion equations, wave equations etc.), transform theory (Fourier, Laplace), series solutions and approximations, and complex analysis.

  • At least five courses consisting of at least 14 credits must be at or above the 600 level. Students can petition for exceptions for other courses that must not be generally regarded as part of undergraduate curricula. (Examples of exceptions: NE (NEEP) 547 & NE (NEEP) 548; MS&E 530, MS&E 570, & MS&E 445; CBE 540 & CBE 544. Others possible by petition. Obtain forms in MSP office.)

  • MS&E 900 may not be used to satisfy any aspect of this requirement.

  • The courses must span two or more Departments, meeting the objective of an interdisciplinary education in materials.

• Academic advisor's signature is required to remove the registration hold for each semester's registration.

• Two semesters of MS&E 900 (MSP seminar course). MS&E 900 must be taken in the first and second semester of enrollment if it does not conflict with other requirements.

Relevant Information

• A maximum of two courses or six credits can be satisfied by transfer procedures for graduate courses taken while enrolled as a graduate student at another academic institution (forms in MSP office).

• Consistent with Graduate School requirements, students must have an academic advisor who advises them in course selection. Typically, the research mentor(s) (or "major professor(s)") will also serve as the academic advisor(s). The academic advisor's signature approving the semester course plan must be on file in the MSP office in order to remove the registration hold for each semester's registration. The MSP Director or his/her appointee will serve as academic advisor for new students who have not yet selected a research mentor.

• Academic advisor's signature is required to remove the registration hold for each semester's registration.

• A petition process will be available for special exceptions.

• A standing committee will be appointed and maintained by the Program Director for the purpose of evaluating petitions.

Part B: Research Requirements
(Approved, June 2002)

Requirements:

Satisfactory performance in the Research Readiness Exam (RRE)
Preparation and approval of the Ph.D. Thesis Proposal
Completion of original research project at a level appropriate for the Ph.D. degree
Completion of a Ph.D. thesis using the guidelines set forth by the UW graduate school
Successful defense of the thesis to the student's Ph.D. Thesis Committee
Public seminar on the thesis research

Research Report and Research Readiness Exam (RRE)

• A written report describing the student's research must be submitted to the student's MS/RRE Committee for evaluation. This report is to be written by the student in consultation with his/her thesis advisor(s) in a format that is acceptable to the advisor(s) and the MS/RRE committee. Possible formats include a formal Masters Thesis (if being counted for MS degree requirements), a completed publication, and a completed progress report, among others.

• The student will make an oral presentation summarizing the research procedures, results, related literature, and significance of the research. The MS/RRE Committee will evaluate the abilities of the student. Discussions may be directly about the research, or may probe the student's understanding of relevant related concepts. The Committee must determine whether the student is ready to pursue Ph.D. level research and the Ph.D. degree based on the written report, graduate course grades to date, and this Exam.

• The student is responsible for scheduling this presentation and evaluation, confirming that all MS/RRE Committee members can attend, and reporting the date and Committee members' names in advance to the Materials Science Program Office. The date and time of the presentation will be announced to members of the Materials Science Program. It is intended that this examination normally take place before the end of the fourth regular semester of study (not including summer sessions).

• Committee members may decline to participate in a scheduled Research Readiness Exam if they have not received the final draft of the written report at least two weeks prior to the scheduled event or if the student's major professor(s) have not approved it.

• RRE Committee constitution: The Committee is composed of at least three faculty members of the Materials Science Program (the Materials Science Advisory Committee or MSAC), including the student's major professor(s). The Committee must consist of members from at least two different academic departments. The student may wish to invite additional faculty with relevant expertise who are not members of the MSAC. The student must confirm that each Committee member is willing to serve and report the makeup of the Committee to the Program office by the end of the third semester of study.

• Successful completion of the Research Readiness Exam constitutes passing of the Preliminary Exam required by the Graduate School. The student is responsible for obtaining the exam signature form, and may consult the Program Office for assistance.

• The Research Readiness Exam and Research Project Report may serve in lieu of the MS oral evaluation and MS Project Report, respectively, for students seeking an MS degree from the Materials Science Program. Committee members will decide whether the Report and Exam performance are sufficient for an M.S. degree pass, even if they have not demonstrated Ph.D.-level research readiness.

Ph.D. Thesis Committee

• Immediately after successfully passing the Research Readiness Exam, Ph.D. students should form their Ph.D. Thesis Committee, in consultation with their major professor(s). This Committee consists of at least five faculty members including their major professor(s). At least four of the members must be members of the Materials Science Advisory Committee (MSAC). Committee members must have appointments spanning at least two different academic departments. The make-up of the Ph.D. Thesis Committee must be on file in the Materials Science Program Office by the end of the first regular semester after successful completion of the Research Readiness Exam.

Thesis Proposal

• Students who have passed the Research Readiness Exam and assessment prepare a written thesis proposal and seek approval of this proposal from all members of the Ph.D. Thesis Committee. Since this will generally require all of the Ph.D. Thesis Committee members to read the Thesis Proposal, it is strongly recommended that the main content be concise. A suggested model is similar to NSF grant proposal format (no more than 15 pages, including figures and equations, but not references or title page). In some cases, several iterations may be required before all Thesis Committee members judge the thesis proposal to be satisfactory.

• The Thesis Committee must approve the Thesis Proposal and approval must be reported to the Program Office before the student can apply for Dissertator Status. Formal approval will require the signature of every member of the Thesis Committee. Students may apply for Dissertator status any time after this approval is reported to the Program Office and all coursework requirements are satisfied.

Ph.D. Thesis (completion of a Ph.D. thesis using the guidelines set forth by the UW graduate school)

• Under the guidance of (a) thesis and academic advisor(s), the student must complete original research and prepare a Ph.D. thesis. The guidelines set forth by the UW graduate school for the student-advisor relationship, the conduct of thesis research, and the preparation of the thesis must be followed.

Ph.D. Thesis Oral Defense

• Ph.D. candidates must defend the Ph.D. thesis orally to their Ph.D. Thesis Committee. All members of the Ph.D. Thesis Committee should be present at the Thesis Defense. Committee members may decline to participate in a Ph.D. Thesis Defense if they have not received the final draft of the thesis at least two weeks before the scheduled defense or if it has not been approved by the student's major professor(s). The student is responsible for scheduling the Thesis Defense, informing the MSP Office, and obtaining all the appropriate signature forms.

Public Seminar

• Students must present the work accepted by the Ph.D. Thesis Committee in a public seminar prior to graduation. The date and time of the presentation will be announced to members of the Materials Science Program.

Copyright 2008 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System Date last modified: 08-Jan-2008 Date created: 23-Jan-1997 Content by: vanderby@engr.wisc.edu Accessibility Web services Thank you for visiting http://www.engr.wisc.edu/interd/msp/prospective/degrees.html