Overview

The MS program in Materials Engineering offers students a robust education within a world-class research environment delivered by faculty members across the College of Engineering conducting multidisciplinary materials engineering research in a vibrant collaborative culture. The 30 credit, 1 year MS program will deliver a fundamental understanding of materials science and engineering (through core classes), provide access to state-of-the-art research and teaching laboratories and instrumentation (through supervised Masters’ project), and exposure to a broad spectrum of concepts and skills (through tremendous flexibility and choice of electives). 

Admission Requirements

Students apply directly to the College of Engineering for the Graduate Program. Students must have a related undergraduate degree in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, or other technical fields, and seek to diversify their career opportunities by acquiring an advanced engineering degree in Materials.  Design Manufacturability and Soft Matter are applications.  They are therefore added to the list of electives. 

Curriculum Requirements

Core Courses
CAE 729Molecular Simulation of Materials3
MAE 616Introduction to Composite Materials3
ECE 698Special Topics in Electrical Engineering3
BME 635Advanced Biomaterials3
Engineering Skill/Experiential Course (1 course)3
Students chose one of the following options:
Statistics (chosen from):
Statistical Learning
Statistical Analysis (Student would have to demonstrate that pre-requisite requirements (MTH 210, Linear Algebra, and MTH 224, Probability and Statistics) have been sufficiently met.)
Introduction to Mathematical Statistics (Students would have to demonstrate that pre-requisite (MTH 624, Introduction to Probability) has been sufficiently met.)
Scientific Writing and Communication (chosen from):
Professional Communications Skills for Engineering Grad Students (* ECE 792 would be offered as a 3 credit elective.)
Graduate Scholarship in Biomedical Engineering (* BME 780 will evolve to include training relevant to Materials Engineering students, in addition to BME graduate students.)
Electives or Concentration12
Students can either choose a concentration in Structure & Fabrication, Characterization, or Devices & Application, or elect to take classes across concentrations.
Materials Structure & Fabrication Concentration (chosen from):
Modern Quantum Chemistry
Microfabrication
Scientific and Engineering Foundations of Additive Manufacturing
Additive Manufacturing of Engineering Materials
Additive Manufacturing Lab
Principles of Mass Spectrometry and Applications to Marine, Atmospheric, and Environmental Science
Transport Phenomena
Quantum Computing
Materials Characterization Concentration (chosen from):
Scanning Electron Microscopy for Engineers
Tissue Mechanics
Finite Element Analysis for Engineers
Advanced Mechanics of Solids
Fracture Mechanics
CAD and FEM for Stress Analysis of 3D Printed Structures
Environmental Chemistry
Devices & Applications Concentration (chosen from):
Aerosol Science and Technology
Soft Matter Colloids
MEMS: Sensors and Electronics
BioNanotechnology
Semiconductor Photonic Devices
Organs on Chips
Concrete Materials Science
Design for Manufacturability
Capstone3
Students choose to complete a Master's Project or Industry Project.
Master's Project
One semester project supervised by a faculty member in an appropriate academic unit culminating in a report that’s approved by the supervisor.
Industry Project
A three-month summer industry project, culminating with an internship report detailing the work done and knowledge gained. Project will be supervised by a faculty member in an appropriate academic unit culminating in a report that's approved by the supervisor.
Total Credit Hours30

Sample Plan of Study

Typical plan for MS is to be one year (2 semesters and 1 summer). 

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredit Hours
MAE 616 Introduction to Composite Materials 3
CAE 729 Molecular Simulation of Materials 3
Elective or Concentration Course 3
Elective or Concentration Course 3
Engineering Skill/Experiential Course 3
 Credit Hours15
Spring
BME 635 Advanced Biomaterials 3
ECE 698 Special Topics in Electrical Engineering 3
Elective or Concentration Course 3
Elective or Concentration Course 3
 Credit Hours12
Summer
CET 605 Master's Project 3
 Credit Hours3
 Total Credit Hours30

Mission

  • Provide high-quality graduate education in basic and translational materials engineering that will prepare graduates for professional careers and a lifetime of learning.
  • Conduct high-quality research that will advance the current body of knowledge and engage in new discoveries, and
  • Serve the engineering profession and society through active involvement in professional organizations and contribution of professional expertise.

The program mission will be accomplished by providing an integrated and multidisciplinary scientific and technical education.

Graduates will be involved in translating scientific discoveries to modern technologies and novel products that benefit materials industry. The graduates will be trained in computational and experimental materials design, fabrication, characterization, and integration into devices.

Goals

The educational objectives of the Materials Engineering program are to produce graduates with:

  • advanced technical knowledge in materials science and materials engineering
  • advanced capability to apply scientific, technical and clinical knowledge to engineering problems
  • potential to make significant contributions in Materials Structure & Fabrication, Materials Characterization, or Devices & Applications. 

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the discipline (Structure & Fabrication, Characterization, or Devices & Application) 
  • Students will demonstrate an advanced ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems to carry out supervised research.
  • Students will demonstrate an advanced ability to generate technical contributions and effectively communicate them to the scientific community.