Academics
Ph.D. Degree
The Ph.D. degree program involves an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach that requires students to complete a set of Materials Science and Engineering core courses augmented by elective offerings in aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, electrical engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering and physics.
A Ph.D. candidate must successfully to carry out independent research in an area acceptable to the Committee on Graduate Studies for Materials Science and Engineering. A student's research is directed by a faculty member from any of the departments or programs participating in the Materials Science and Engineering Program.
The Ph.D. degree program requires successful completion of the following curriculum components:
A minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate coursework is expected for students entering with an appropriate master's degree or, for highly-qualified students, a minimum of 42 semester hours of graduate coursework for students entering with a bachelor's degree, as approved by the Committee on Graduate Studies for Materials Science and Engineering. Additional coursework may be required by the doctoral dissertation committee. Four core courses or their equivalent are required: |
After completion of the first year's coursework (i.e., core courses), students must satisfactorily complete diagnostic examinations, which may be written or oral or written and oral with a supplemental interview with faculty members.
A student must satisfactorily complete a comprehensive examination upon completion of all or nearly all of the coursework requirements and after having demonstrated research ability through partial completion of dissertation research.
The dissertation research will be formulated in conjunction with the student's faculty research advisor, who may be associated with any of the academic disciplines participating in the Materials Science and Engineering Program. The dissertation research represents the culmination of the student's academic efforts and is expected to demonstrate original and independent research activity and be a significant contribution to knowledge in the field.
