Program Description

Electron microscopy is used to obtain vital microstructural and chemical information.

Because teaching is a powerful means of consolidating knowledge, graduate students are required to engage in progressively independent teaching activities

All students are required to complete five "core" courses from a menu of more than 15 that cover the basics of materials science and engineering. At least one core course must be taken in each semester, until this requirement has been met. The M.S. and Ph.D. programs share this common core of fundamental coursework, allowing students to transfer between the programs with a minimum of discontinuity.

Elective courses provide in-depth study of specialized areas of the subject. Other course offerings include laboratory classes, special "skills" classes intended to introduce the students to special laboratory techniques, and a colloquium (ESM 697). Because teaching is a powerful means of consolidating knowledge and an excellent training for the communication skills required of all scientific and engineering professionals today, graduate students in Materials Science and Engineering are required to engage in progressively independent teaching as part of their academic training. Newly admitted students are required to take a short course in Teaching Techniques (ESM 501) as a preparation for their teaching duties. The Practicum in Teaching (ESM 698) is a semester-long experience of teaching at the college level, under faculty supervision, and is a degree requirement. The First Year For M.S. and Ph.D. students, the first year of study includes core courses, some elective courses, and other requirements, depending on the program and needs of the students. All graduate students are required to take the colloquium course. Students in the M.S. research track and the Ph.D. program are required to identify a research advisor by the end of their first Spring semester in the program. To this end, they are required to meet with each faculty member during the year and discuss their research interests. Students in the Ph.D. program are also required to take the Qualifying Examination (a written test intended to assess the extent of their background knowledge) by their first January in the program. Some foreign students may be required to take remedial English courses, depending upon their mastery of the language. These courses must be successfully completed within the first year. The Second Year and Beyond After the first year, graduate students usually have a few formal requirements, such as core courses, etc., to complete. Most of the course load, however, is devoted to research, for which academic credit is granted. Students in the M.S. program begin to write up their theses, while students in the Ph.D. program prepare for the Preliminary Examination, an oral exam intended to assess students' preparedness to undertake original research. Once the Preliminary Exam has been passed, students have no further requirements except the completion and defense of an original dissertation. Special Opportunities Although most students enroll in the program on a fulltime basis, parttime study is also available. A special track within the M.S. program allows students to complete this degree entirely by coursework, rather than by the usual mixture of coursework and research, including the preparation of a thesis. The "nonthesis" option is particularly appropriate for parttime study. Students may also work toward the completion of their degrees without attending the campus: parttime study toward the M.S. is available through the EngiNet distance learning program, which delivers lectures via television. Especially well-qualified students who are employed in materials research positions may pursue the Ph.D. through the "Extramural Ph.D. Program," which allows the students, with the permission of their employers, to write a doctoral dissertation based upon their work-related research. Please contact the Graduate Program Director with any questions about off-campus education opportunities.

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06/05/99 SC, GBH, AK, and JQ