Materials Science and Engineering (MMSE)

Please see the Program Policy Document for more information.

Requirements For The Degree:

The Masters (MMSE) Thesis degree requires 30 total credits (24 credit hours of course work and 6 credits of thesis work on a research topic approved by your advisor). Of the 24 credits (8 courses) of course work, 9 credits must be the 3 required core courses, another 6 credits are chosen from an approved list of 5 non-core courses, and an additional 9 credits of technical electives can be chosen from the same approved list of 5 non-core courses or other courses approved by the student’s advisor. (Students must take four 800 level courses to earn their degree). MSEG868 may not be taken as a technical elective.

The Masters (MMSE) Non-Thesis degree requires 30 total credit hours of course work. Of the 30 credits of course work, 9 credits must be the 3 required core courses, another 6 credits are chosen from an approved list of 5 non-core courses, and an additional 15 credits of technical electives must be chosen from the same approved list of 5 non-core courses or other courses approved by the student’s advisor. (Students must take four 800 level courses to earn their degree).MSEG868 may not be taken as a technical elective. The non-thesis degree is offered primarily for off-campus or part-time students, but is available to full-time students with permission from the graduate committee.

All graduate students must maintain a cumulative grade-point index of 3.0.
Part-time graduate education is available through the Engineering Outreach Program.
Students must earn a grade of B- or higher in all courses counting towards the degree requirement.

Core Courses:

The following courses, totaling 9 credits, are required of all students. Equivalent courses may be substituted as approved by the faculty advisor and chairperson.

MSEG 608 - Structure and Properties Of Materials I Credit(s): 3
MSEG 803 - Equilibria in Material Systems Credit(s): 3
MSEG 804 - Kinetics in Material Systems Credit(s): 3

Restricted Electives:

Students may choose two courses (6 Credits*) from the following courses with their advisor.

MSEG 640 - Applied Quantum Mechanics I Credit(s): 3
MSEG 817 - Composite Materials Credit(s): 3
MSEG 832 - Principles of Polymerization Credit(s): 3
MSEG 835 - Principles to Polymer Physics Credit(s): 3
MSEG 841 - Solid State Materials I Credit(s): 3

Note:

*Any beyond the two chosen can count as technical electives.

Technical Electives:

9 Credits required for Thesis Option; 15 Credits required for Non-Thesis Option

These courses should be chosen with a student’s advisor and will usually be related to the student’s area of research. These can be any graduate level (600-800 level) courses, except MSEG868-Research, from any of the Departments in the College of Engineering, Chemistry, or Physics.

Thesis Option:

Six credit hours of thesis work must be completed and the thesis must be accepted by the student’s advisory committee and the Department Chairperson.

MSEG 869 - Master’s Thesis Credit(s): 1-6

Non-Thesis Option

Candidates for the Master’s degree without thesis may be asked to demonstrate their comprehensive knowledge of materials science by successfully completing a final project. If so, the project consists of a written analysis and research project proposal on a topic chosen by the candidate and his or her advisor.