This department offers a Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering. The degree is conferred by the university upon recommendation by the department faculty and the Graduate Dean following the completion of an approved Program of Study. The Program of Study describes the student's specific courses, research and related activities. The graduate student's advisor, the graduate director of the program and the advisory/examining committee determine the Program of Study for each degree candidate. This includes the acceptable courses for completion of the degree. The Graduate Dean has final approval of the Program of Study. The official Program of Study form can be found on the Graduate School website. It is recommended that the student establish a Program of Study immediately upon arriving at the university. Subsequent changes may be made at any time via Change in Program of Study Form, but only with the approval of the major professor, Department Chair, advisory/examining committee and the Graduate Dean.
When a new graduate student in Materials Science and Engineering arrives, he/she may be assigned a temporary advisor. In general, new students should be able to select a general research area, full advisory committee, and thesis advisor sometime during the first semester of residence. He/she is free to change advisors or committee members at any time during graduate work. If he/she already has a permanent major advisor and committee, a change can be made by submitting a Change in Program of Study form.
Advisory/examining committees consist of at least three members of the graduate faculty: two from the area of specialization, and one from a university outside Chemical and Materials Engineering. Formal approval of the student's advisory/examining committee is given by the Graduate Dean. The committee is very important in guiding a student’s process toward an advance degree, and high priority should be placed in forming the committee during the first semester.
When the student is close to finishing the approved Program of Study, Application for Graduation must be purchased at the Cashier's Office. This application includes the date of graduation, and the approval of the chair of the committee and the Graduate Dean. Information on deadlines for application for application to graduation is found on the Graduate website. An applicant who does not complete degree requirements for application by the specific deadline must update and resubmit an application during the next appropriate filing period.
The department only offers a thesis Master's degree. For this program, the student must follow the guidelines outline below: