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

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.