All students must meet the Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree

Overview

The Materials Science Ph.D. leads to a degree in 5 years. Students must engage in research and defend a dissertation. Successful completion of a comprehensive exam within the first 2 years of the program is required.

Specific Requirements

Requirements for Admission to Graduate Studies for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

An accredited Master's Degree (or equivalent) in physics, chemistry, metallurgy, engineering, mathematics, or materials science.

Minimum Degree Requirements

In addition to the above, the following are required:

  • A minimum of 75 graduate credits including a minimum of 20 in dissertation research. An overall grade point average in graduate courses of 3.00 or better

  • Completion of at least one 3-credit course in 5 of the following 6 categories (other appropriate core area courses may be approved by the Program Director). Note that 2 of the selected courses need to be from the following categories: Quantum Properties of Materials, Computational Materials Science, Synthesis and Characterization of Materials, and 3 of the selected courses need to be from the following categories: Electrical and Optical Properties of Materials, Thermodynamics and Kinetics, and Mechanical Properties of Materials.

Electrical and Optical Properties of Materials - Core Courses:
PHYS 242
Intro to Solid State Physics
PHYS 341
Solid State Physics
EE 261
Semiconductor Materials/Device
Thermodynamics and Kinetics - Core Courses:
CHEM 260
Advanced Physical Chemistry (cannot be double-counted to simultaneously satisfy 2 categories)
PHYS 265
Thermal & Statistical Physics
ME 204
Biothermodynamics
Mechanical Properties of Materials - Core Courses:
ME 252
Mechanical Behavior Materials
ME 255
Adv Engineering Materials
ME 201
Biomaterials Engineering
Quantum Properties of Materials - Core Courses:
CHEM 260
Advanced Physical Chemistry (cannot be double-counted to simultaneously satisfy 2 categories)
PHYS 273
Quantum Mechanics I
PHYS 362
Quantum Mechanics II
Computational Materials Science - Core Courses:
PHYS 256
Computational Physics
CHEM 275
Computational Chemistry
ME 350
Multiscale Modeling
Synthesis and Characterization of Materials - Core Courses:
CHEM 231
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
CHEM 214
Polymer Chemistry
CHEM 226
Analytical Spectroscopy
  • Satisfactory completion of a Ph.D. dissertation including its defense at an oral examination

Comprehensive Examination

Full-time Materials Science Ph.D. candidates are required to pass a written Comprehensive (Qualifying) Exam with a score of 50% or better, no later than 4 semesters after joining the program. Failure to pass the test will result in dismissal from the program. The deadline for part-time students is the semester they complete 24 credits. All students (full and part-time) are allowed a maximum of 2 attempts to pass the exam. Offered annually, the 3-hour exam requires students to solve a minimum of 4 problems that cover the following topics: electrical and optical properties of materials, thermodynamics and kinetics, mechanical properties of materials, quantum properties of materials, computational materials science, synthesis and characterization of materials or equivalent core course requirements.

Requirements for Advancement to Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

Successful completion of a comprehensive examination in Materials Science.