M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering

The M.S. degree in MSE intends for the successful student to demonstrate both academic achievement and the ability to do independent research in engineering-science, with close faculty guidance. This degree program requires 25-course credits beyond the BS level. All entering-M.S. graduate students are enrolled in a 4-course, 12-credit core that includes:

1. Thermodynamics of Materials
2. Materials Structures and Defects
3. One Prescribed Elective selected from:
   Materials Characterization
   Deformation and Fracture of Materials During Processing and Service
   Chemical and Electrochemical Properties of Solid Materials
   Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Materials
4. Kinetics of Solid-state Reactions

The M.S. program of study includes 1 credit of MSE seminar, as well as 4 electives beyond the MSE core. These electives are at the 5xx, 6xx and 7xx levels, approved by the graduate student’s advisor and the MSE Curriculum Committee, and selected from all SEAS-course offerings or other UVa Science/Mathematics courses. Up to 6 credits of 5xx MSE courses, and up to 9 credits of 5xx SEAS or UVa courses are permitted. No more than 6 elective credits may be earned in faculty-supervised independent study or advanced-topics courses. One of these 4 electives should be math intensive, consistent with a list established by the MSE faculty. The M.S. degree requires at least 6 credits of research, under the supervision of a faculty advisor, and culminating in a written thesis that is presented and defended in a public forum.