M.S. Program

The Masters of Science (M.S.) degree program in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering is designed for a broad range of students and professionals seeking to expand on their undergraduate training, enhance professional skills, and gain the experience necessary to become a professional scientist/engineer or to obtain a solid foundation for further education in science and engineering.

Typical coursework for M.S. program       Degree Requirements       Apply Now

By default, applications to the M.S. degree program in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering will be considered for the non-thesis option.  Admission to the M.S. with thesis program is only considered upon request of a faculty member on behalf of the applicant.

Apply by February 15 for fall 2024 admission.

Non-Thesis Masters Option

 The M.S. degree program with non-thesis option requires completion of 36 hours of credit total.  The curriculum is highly flexible with the following requirements and conditions:

• A minimum of 10 hours of MSE 400 or 500- level course work at the graduate level.
• A minimum of 14 hours of 500-level course work overall applied toward the degree (excluding MSE 599).
• Materials Colloquium MSE 595 must be taken every semester in the first two years of residence. A maximum of 2 hours may be applied toward the degree.     
• MSE 529 Hard Materials Student Seminar or MSE 559 Soft Materials Student Seminar must be taken every semester. A maximum of 4 hours may be applied toward the degree.
• Students enrolled in the MS program with non-thesis option are not eligible for a research assistantship from the MatSE Department. 
• Applicants who do not receive offers of admission to the Ph.D. program may request to be considered for the M.S. program without filing a separate application. Instructions for this request may be found in the decision letter for the Ph.D. program application.

Masters Thesis Option

The M.S. degree program with thesis option requires completion of 32 hours of credit total and successful completion of a thesis.  The curriculum is highly flexible with the following requirements and conditions:

• A total of 8 hours of MSE 599 Thesis Research
• A minimum of 10 hours of MSE 400 or 500- level course work at the graduate level.
• A minimum of 14 hours of 500-level course work overall applied toward the degree (excluding MSE 599).
• Materials Colloquium MSE 595 must be taken every semester in the first two years of residence. A maximum of 2 hours may be applied toward the degree.      
• MSE 529 Hard Materials Student Seminar or MSE 559 Soft Materials Student Seminar must be taken every semester. A maximum of 4 hours may be applied toward the degree.
• The completed master's thesis must be approved by the advisor and the department head.

Where do M.S. students go  after graduation?