Program Overview
The Materials Science Program offers the degrees of Master of Engineering, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy. The Master degrees can also be sought in the concentration of Microelectronics and Photonics Science and Technology (MPST), an interdisciplinary area of study jointly administrated with the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Physics and Engineering Physics. Our graduate program has been designed with input from industry to prepare you for a wide range of fast growing professional opportunities.

Admission Requirements
Admission to the Materials Science Graduate Program generally requires an undergraduate education in materials science and engineering. Candidates with undergraduate training in related disciplines such as physics, chemistry, chemical engineering and electrical engineering are also eligible due to the interdisciplinary nature of the materials field. Students without sufficient undergraduate preparation in materials will be offered a remedial course designed to satisfy their deficiencies in materials processing, structure, property, and performance interrelations.

An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is needed for admissions. Special consideration may be given to a candidate with a slightly lower GPA based on the candidate's final year undergraduate performance. A minimum of 500 (paper based) or 173 (computer based) in TOEFL is required for international students. GRE is not required for general admissions.

In order to be an official doctoral candidate in the Materials Science Program, the candidate must pass a Ph.D. qualifying exam. The exam consists of an oral exam. Specific requirements are as follows. The candidate must maintain a minimum of 3.20 GPA at the time of the exam. The candidate must submit a written research (thesis) proposal and make an oral presentation based on the proposal to an oral exam committee consisting of four members of the Materials faculty. The exam shall be taken within three semesters of his/her graduate enrollment in the program.

Financial Aid
Financial aids in forms of teaching assistantship, research assistantship, and other types of fellowships are available on a highly competitive basis. For a successful candidacy, evidence of strong academic achievements in undergraduate or graduate preparation must be presented. A minimum of 570 (paper based) or 230 (computer based) in TOEFL is required for international students. Candidates for financial support are strongly encouraged to take GRE.

The degree in Master of Engineering or Master of Science in the MPST concentration requires a total of 30 credits, 12 of which must be from the core with balance in designated electives in the Materials Science Program and the other two participating departments. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for the Master degrees. A graduate certificate in this concentration area requires 15 credits, 3 of which must be from a core with balance in designated electives. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is also required.

The degree in Doctor of Philosophy requires a total of 60 credits above and beyond the credit requirement for a Master degree. A minimum of 30 credits for dissertation with balance in electives is needed. The doctoral dissertation that is based on original research, carried out under the guidance of a thesis advisor, and publicly defended in front of a general audience including a thesis committee, is a major component to in the fulfillment of the requirements for a doctoral degree. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is also required.

Core Courses
MT 601 Structure and Diffraction
MT 602 Principles of Inorganic Material Synthesis
MT 603 Thermodynamics and Reaction Kinetics of Solids

Electives
MT 501 Intro to Materials Science and Engineering
MT 503 Introduction to Solid State Physics
MT 506 Mechanical Behavior of Solids
MT 507 Intro to Microelectronics and Photonics
MT 520 Composite Materials
MT 525 Techniques of Surface Analysis
MT 533 Environmental Degradation of Materials
MT 543 The Science of Ceramic Materials
MT 544 Introduction to Electron Microscopy
MT 545 Plasma Processing
MT 562 Solid State Electronics II
MT 595 Reliability and Failure of Solid State Devices
MT 596 Micro-Fabrication Techniques
MT 650 Special Topics in MS&E
MT 670 Polymer Properties and Structure
MT 700 Seminar in Materials Engineering
MT 800 Special Problems in Materials (for MS or ME)
MT 801 Special Problems in Materials (for Ph.D.)
MT 900 Thesis in Materials (for MS or ME)
MT 960 Research in Materials (for Ph.D.)

Microelectronics and Photonics Science & Technology Concentration*
Microelectronics & Photonics Web site

Core
MT/EE/PEP 507 Introduction to Microelectronics and Photonics
MT 601 Structure and Diffraction
MT 602 Principles of Inorganic Material Synthesis
MT 603 Thermodynamics and Reaction Kinetics of Solids

Electives
PEP 503 Introduction to Solid State Physics
PEP 515 Photonics I
PEP 516 Photonics II
PEP 561 Solid State Electronics I
MT 562 Solid State Electronics II
MT 595 Reliability and Failure of Solid State Devices
MT 596 Micro-Fabrication Techniques
EE 626 Optical Communication Systems
EE 685 Physical Design of Wireless Systems
CpE 690 Introduction to VLSI Design

*Students pursuing an ME degree need to take the four core courses as well as six electives. Three electives must be from EE and PEP. At least one elective must be from each of the three offering departments. Students pursing a graduate certificate only need to take only MT 507 plus four electives, at least one of which must be from each of the three offering departments.