Requirements for the M.S.E. degree with essay (8 Courses)

The degree of Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) with Essay is awarded subject to the recommendation of the student’s adviser and departmental approval, based on satisfactory completion of the following requirements:

• Three core courses in Materials Science and Engineering:
• 510.601 Structures of Materials
• 510.602 Thermodynamics of Materials
• 510.603 Phase Transformations in Materials
• Any one of the following:
• 510.604 Mechanical Properties of Materials
• 510.605 Electronic, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Materials
• 510.606 Chemical and Biological Properties of Materials
• Four advanced (400 level or higher) elective courses in materials science and engineering or related fields, subject to the following rules:
• Up to two of the elective courses may be taken from within the EPP Program.
• Up to two of the elective courses can be business courses.
• Any elective taken from outside the department (including EPP courses) requires prior approval of the Graduate Program Committee.
• With approval of the Graduate Program Committee, the student can transfer up to two graduate courses from another institution. Students desiring such credit must make the request in writing to the Graduate Program Committee by the end of the first semester after matriculation. This request must include a description of the course, a course syllabus, and documentation of the grade received.

• A grade of C or better must be achieved in each course to obtain credit.
• A grade point average of 3.0 is required to earn the degree at the end of the program.
• Attendance is required at the weekly Department of Materials Science & Engineering Seminar.
• A Masters Essay or journal publication is required. For the journal publication a student must submit to the Graduate Program Committee an article describing his or her research that has been published (or accepted for publication) in an archival, peer-reviewed technical journal. The student must be the primary author of the article.
  

Admission to the M.S.E. program is through the standard graduate admissions process. The typical duration of the program is 21 months. The student’s transcript will reflect a “Master of Science in Engineering with Essay.”  

Requirements for the M.S.E. degree without essay (10 Courses)

The degree of Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) without essay is awarded subject to the recommendation of the student’s adviser and departmental approval, based on satisfactory completion of the following requirements:

• Three core courses in Materials Science and Engineering:
• 510.601 Structures of Materials
• 510.602 Thermodynamics of Materials
• 510.603 Phase Transformations in Materials
• Any one of the following:
• 510.604 Mechanical Properties of Materials
• 510.605 Electronic, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Materials
• 510.606 Chemical and Biological Properties of Materials
• Six advanced (400 level or higher) elective courses in materials science and engineering or related fields, subject to the following rules:
• Up to two of the elective courses may be taken from within the EPP Program.
• Up to two of the elective courses can be business courses.
• Up to two of the elective courses may be Graduate Research in Materials Science (510.807-808), which may be taken in any session (Fall, January, Spring, or Summer). Note that 117 hours of research per course are required for credit.
• Any elective taken from outside the department (including EPP courses) requires prior approval of the Graduate Program Committee.
• With approval of the Graduate Program Committee, the student can transfer up to two graduate courses from another institution. Students desiring such credit must make the request in writing to the Graduate Program Committee by the end of the first semester after matriculation. This request must include a description of the course, a course syllabus, and documentation of the grade received.
• All electives will need prior approval from the Graduate Program Committee.
• A grade of C or better must be achieved in each course to obtain credit.
• A grade point average of 3.0 is required to earn the degree at the end of the program.
• Attendance is required at the weekly Department of Materials Science & Engineering Seminar.

Admission to the M.S.E. program is through the standard graduate admissions process. The typical duration of the program is 12 months. The student’s transcript will reflect a “Master of Science in Engineering.”

• Six core courses in materials science and engineering:

510.601	Structure of Materials
510.602	Thermodynamics of Materials
510.603	Phase Transformations in Materials
510.604	Mechanical Properties of Materials
510.605	Electronic, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Materials
510.606	Chemical and Biological Properties of Materials

• Four advanced (600 level or higher) courses in materials science and engineering or related fields.

• A comprehensive oral exam covering the areas of structure, thermodynamics, and phase transformations of materials, and the student’s choice of one of the following areas: chemical and biological properties of materials; mechanical properties of materials; electrical, optical, and magnetic properties of materials. This exam is offered semiannually and may be taken prior to or during the student’s second year. The student will have two opportunities to pass within a one year period. The examining committee will be composed of three tenured and/or tenure track departmental faculty members.
  
  
• An oral presentation of a dissertation proposal at a department seminar held before the end of the student’s third year. A written version of the dissertation proposal must be presented to a three-member faculty committee two weeks prior to the oral presentation. One member of the committee shall be the faculty adviser; the other two members shall be selected in consultation with the faculty adviser. A brief closed discussion session between the student, adviser, and the other members of the faculty committee shall follow the presentation; additional private discussions may be required by one or more of the committee members.
  
  
• The completion of an original research project. Candidates must write a dissertation describing their work in detail. A public defense of the thesis before a committee of five faculty members (chosen by the Graduate Program Committee, with at least three members being from outside the department) is required, and will be followed by a closed final graduate board examination with the committee. The thesis will be approved by a majority vote of the committee. The thesis defense/oral examination must be scheduled for a date two months prior to any personal or university deadline for graduation. A complete draft of the dissertation must be presented to all of the committee members no later than two weeks before the defense. The dissertation in its final form must be read and signed by two members of the committee (the adviser and one other member).
  
  
• Only courses for which the student has received a grade of B- or better will be counted towards completion of course requirements. If a grade of C+ or lower is received, the student must repeat the course and achieve a grade of B- or better. Receipt of a letter grade of C+ or lower in two courses will normally be cause for dismissal from the program.

An overall grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained. Failure to maintain a 3.0 GPA will normally result in dismissal from the program.

Independent research courses and part-time graduate program courses will not be counted toward completion of the Ph.D. course requirements.

Attendance is required at the weekly Department of Materials Science and Engineering Seminars.

The department must be satisfied that all academic requirements have been satisfied by the candidate before a recommendation to confer a Ph.D. degree is passed on to the University Graduate Board.