Graduate Doctor of Philosophy Program

The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science (MEMS) offers advanced degrees in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), including Master of Science (MS) and Philosophical Doctor (PhD).

Doctor of Philosophy Prgram

The doctor of philosophy (PhD) program in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science is a research degree leading largely to careers in teaching and research in academia, government and industry. The program is designed for excellent students. Students develop an understanding at the highest level in their areas of specialization and their research must lead to an original contribution to the field in the PhD dissertation.

PhD studies are a demanding (and rewarding) experience that requires a strong interest in research in the selected area of specialization. The PhD program has been designed to optimize the fundamental education of students in materials science and engineering, at the same time providing much required advanced specialization. The program is designed to develop the student's ability to think about materials science and engineering at a high level in order to provide the foundation necessary to cross into other materials-related interdisciplinary areas, as required by future career developments.

Please view the current graduate course listings.

Application Requirements

A bachelor's or master's degree holder applying to the program must have a QPA equal to or larger than 3.3 (B+) or equivalent. Students who do not meet this requirement may be able to enter the program based on experience demonstrating their excellence, as evaluated by the Graduate Committee.

In some cases, depending on previous background and QPA, students may be admitted initially on a provisional basis. This usually requires students to secure grades of 3.3 (B+) or better in courses that are required to obtain a better background in materials science and engineering and/or other graduate-level courses as deemed necessary by the Graduate Admissions Committee.

PhD Program Requirements

A minimum of 72 credits beyond the BS level is required for the PhD. No more than 30 credits may be accepted for a master's degree awarded by another institution to meet the minimum credit requirement. In recognition of graduate study beyond the master's degree successfully completed elsewhere, no more than 12 additional credits may be accepted at the time of admission to meet the minimum credit requirement. No more than 30 credits may be accepted for a previously earned PhD degree in recognition of master's degree work.

Fulfilling the minimum requirements of the PhD program in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science involves:

Completion of coursework
Passing the Qualifying Examination
Preparing and defending a PhD Dissertation Proposal
Passing a Comprehensive Exam
Execution of PhD level original research
Preparation and defense of the Doctoral Thesis

residency requirement

Students seeking the PhD degree are required to engage in a minimum of one term of full-time doctoral study, which excludes any other employment except as approved by their departments.

Courses

Polymeric Materials

If your primary area of research interests is polymeric materials, you should consider contacting the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering.