Degree Requirements Ph.D.

For complete details on the academic requirements in the MatSE Department and concentration areas for the master's of science and doctoral programs, please refer to the Graduate Student Handbook.

Below is the summary of requirements for graduate degrees in Materials Science and Engineering.

Ph.D. Degree

Requirements Entering with approved M.S. degree Entering with approved B.S. degree*
Credit Hours Hours Hours
Total Credit for the Degree 64 96
Thesis Research - MSE 599 44 52
Course Work 20 44
One of CHEM 544, MSE 500, PHS 504 with a grade of B or higher 4 4
MSE 492 (credit does not apply toward the degree) 0 0
MSE 595 0-2 0-4
Advisor group meetings (MSE 590) and area seminars (MSE 529, MSE 559) (subject to Other Requirements and Conditions below) 0-4 0-8
Other Requirements and Conditions (may overlap):    
MSE course work hours 10 20
500-level credit hours applied toward the degree (excluding 599) 10 24
MSE 595 (0 or 1 hour) must be taken every semester in the first two years of residence. A maximum of 2 hours (if entering with an M. S. degree) or 4 hours (if entering with a B. S. degree) may be applied toward the degree.    
MSE 529 or MSE 559 (0 or 1 hour) must be taken every semester. A maximum of 4 hours (if entering with an M. S. degree) or 8 hours (if entering with a B. S. degree) may be applied toward the degree.    
The minimum program GPA is 3.0.    
The completed master's thesis must be approved by the advisor and the department head.
Thesis Deposit Guidelines
   
Ph.D. exam and dissertation requirements:
Qualifying exam
Preliminary exam
Final exam or dissertation defense
Dissertation deposit
   
Completion of  MatSE Exit Form and Exit Interview (Department Head). This is required with thesis deposit.    

*These students may earn a Master of Science degree during the Ph.D. program.

 

MatSE Graduate Programs Office

Graduate Programs Office
106 MSEB
1304 W. Green St.
Urbana, IL 61801

matse-grad@illinois.edu

Ashley Phillips Smith
Assistant Director of Graduate Programs 
106C MSEB
1304 W. Green St.
Urbana, IL 61801
P: (217) 300-6668

aphilli5@illinois.edu

Katie M. Burke
Graduate Programs Coordinator
106B MSEB
1304 W. Green St.
Urbana, IL 61801
P: (217) 244-1379

kmburke4@illinois.edu