Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Return to: College of Engineering

Telephone: (302) 831-7183
Email: mseg-gradinfo@udel.edu
Department website: https://mseg.udel.edu/
Faculty Listing: https://mseg.udel.edu/people/faculty/

Overview

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) offers programs leading to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Master of Materials Science and Engineering (MMSE) thesis or non-thesis, as well as dual degree and accelerated 4+1 degree programs.

The goal of Materials Science is to provide improved materials for society. Current new materials technologies demand materials scientists and engineers who can relate the processing, structure, and properties of a broad range of materials. The Master’s program provides a foundation in the science of materials and their uses. The PhD program additionally provides the development of the student’s ability to conduct original and creative research. The areas of study within the program include:

1. Materials chemistry - designing and synthesizing novel materials by combining chemical architectures that have specific properties, e.g., electrical conductivity, rigidity, flexibility, solubility, etc.
2. Polymers - investigating the relationship between processing, microstructure and property of polymeric materials.
3. Electronic materials - investigating the electrical, magnetic, optical, and thermal behavior of materials, including semiconductors, photovoltaics, superconductors, electro luminescent polymers, and devices.
4. Composite materials - investigating the relationship between manufacturing, microstructure, and properties of composite and hybrid organic/inorganic materials.
5. Biomolecular materials - synthesizing and characterizing materials that incorporate peptide/protein and nucleotide sequences and bio-inspired polymetric materials.
6. Nanoscale materials - synthesizing and characterizing materials at nanometer length scales to create and engineer new, emergent properties.

Research

The primary goal of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering is to equip students with the tools to solve some of the most pressing problems of the 21st century. Our diverse faculty are world leaders in their areas of expertise and provide direct mentorship to our students.  The labs within the Department and the core facilities and research Centers at the University of Delaware provide students with direct access to a wide range of state of the art computing, synthesis, characterization, and fabrication facilities.

Financial Aid

Please refer to Graduate Fellowships and Assistantships for more information.

Materials Science and Engineering, PhD, MMSE

Requirements for Admission

1. A baccalaureate (or higher) degree in the sciences, engineering, mathematics fields, physics, or chemistry, from an accredited institution. Typical applicants have a cumulative GPA (Grade Point Average) of at least 3.2. A successful candidate for admission would minimally have taken courses to the following levels: mathematics, 2 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. MSE does not have concentrations but offers two areas of specialization: Hard materials and Soft materials.
2. Three letters of recommendation from former teachers or supervisors.
3. For those whose first language is not English: a required TOEFL score of 79 or higher with a minimum speak score of 18. Another option is IELTS (International English Language Testing System) with a minimum requirement of 6.5 for admissions with a minimum speaking score of 6.0 or iTEP Academic Plus (International Test of English Proficiency) with a minimum requirement of 3.7 for admissions with a minimum speaking score of 3.5. If applicants earned a degree from a university in the United States or from an English-speaking university, they can request a waiver for this.
4. The GRE test is not required by our department.
5. Students can apply for a Ph.D. degree directly after earning a bachelor’s degree.
6. Candidates applying for our Ph.D. degree need to complete a few essay questions found on the application form.

To receive priority in admissions or funding decisions, applications must be completed by December 15 for the following fall semester and March 1 is our final deadline. For our Master’s degree the application deadline is May 1^st.  Admission to the graduate program is competitive. Those who meet stated requirements are not guaranteed admission., nor are those who fail to meet all those requirements necessary precluded from admission if they offer other appropriate strengths.

Students who have not yet completed their bachelor’s degree may only be admitted under a special program, such as the 4+1 program for qualified UD undergraduates or in another joint program (e.g. 3+2) for schools with which an articulation agreement is in effect. The admissions requirements for these programs are otherwise the same as for other applicants as delineated below.

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. Required courses can be found at the bottom of the page. Apply using the central UD graduate application.

Materials Science and Engineering, 4+1 MMSE or in another joint program (e.g. 3+2) for schools with which an articulation agreement is in effect.

Requirements for Admission

1. Already be enrolled in one of the approved bachelor / 4+1 with MMSE that appear below.
2. Have an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.2.
3. Ask two professors to send recommendation emails/letters to the Graduate Academic Advisor in MSE.
4. Send a brief statement of purpose as to why you want to take this program to the Graduate Academic Advisor in MSE.
5. Completion of the University of Delaware Abbreviated 4+1 Application by the completion of the fall semester preceding the planned fall matriculation (i.e. by the completion of the fifth semester (or equivalent) at the undergraduate institution).

Individual degree requirements associated with this department are listed below:

Programs

• Chemistry/Materials Science and Engineering 3+2 (BS/MS)
• Materials Science and Engineering (MMSE)

• Materials Science and Engineering (PhD)

• Materials Science and Engineering (MBA/MMSE)

• Renewable Energy Engineering and Policy Certificate

• Bachelor of Science/Materials Science and Engineering 4+1 (BS/MMSE)
• Biological Sciences/Materials Science and Engineering 4+1 (BS/MMSE)
• Chemical Engineering/Materials Science and Engineering 4+1 (BChE/MMSE)
• Chemistry/Materials Science and Engineering 4+1 (BS/MMSE)
• Civil Engineering/Materials Science and Engineering 4+1 (BCE/MMSE)
• Computer Engineering/Materials Science and Engineering 4+1 (BCpE/MMSE)
• Electrical Engineering/Materials Science and Engineering 4+1 (BEE/MMSE)
• Environmental Engineering/Materials Science and Engineering 4+1 (BEnE/MMSE)
• Materials Science and Engineering/Materials Science and Engineering 4+1 (BMSE/MMSE)
• Mechanical Engineering/Materials Science and Engineering 4+1 (BME/MMSE)
• Physics/Materials Science and Engineering 4+1 (BS/MMSE)

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