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 |
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| Ph.D. exam and dissertation requirements: Qualifying exam Preliminary exam Final exam or dissertation defense Dissertation deposit |
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| 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
Ashley Phillips Smith
Assistant Director of Graduate Programs
106C MSEB
1304 W. Green St.
Urbana, IL 61801
P: (217) 300-6668
Katie M. Burke
Graduate Programs Coordinator
106B MSEB
1304 W. Green St.
Urbana, IL 61801
P: (217) 244-1379