Materials Science and Engineering

Return to: School of Graduate Engineering and Applied Science  

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PHD Degree

The Ph.D. degree program in MSE aims to develop a strong foundation in materials science through classroom and laboratory experience, and to produce tangible intellectual achievement(s) from independent research at the frontier in the filed of engineering or applied science of materials. Degree requirements include satisfactory completion of at least 38 course credits beyond the BS level beginning with a required four-course, 12-credit core curriculum.

	Credits
4 MSE core courses	12
4 MSE Courses (2 at 7xxx level)	12
4 elective courses from MSE, SEAS or UVA Sci/Math	12
Graduate Seminar	2
TOTAL:	38

The Ph.D. student will work closely with their advisor to develop a program of study that both meets the departmental requirements and supports the academic needs of the student and their research goals. This may be done in consultation with the MSE Graduate Director. Up to six elective credits may be earned in faculty-supervised independent study; independent study credits do not count toward the six-required credits of MSE coursework at the 7xxx level. A maximum of 24 credits may be applied to the Ph.D. course requirements from an M.S. program in another department, school or university, subject to approval by the MSE Curriculum Committee, and to satisfy any course of the core requirement. The Ph.D. candidate’s advisory committee will tailor the program of courses to reflect the importance of both depth and breadth in MSE. Breadth may be cross disciplinary.

The Ph.D. candidate must pass a qualifying exam consisting of both written and oral components and which includes both course-based and research-practice elements. These examinations are taken within 24 months after the B.S. degree, or by the beginning of the third year. The Ph.D. candidate must write and defend publicly a proposed research plan that is the foundation for his/her dissertation. The Ph.D. dissertation proposal and the public defense of the Ph.D. dissertation must occur in different semesters. It is expected that all students will have defended their PhD dissertation proposal by the end of their third year of graduate school, preferably in the semester following completion of the qualifying examination. The Ph.D. degree requires at least 24 credits of research, under the supervision of a faculty advisor, culminating in a written dissertation that is presented and defended in a public forum. Students are encouraged to enter the Ph.D. program directly, and may elect to receive the MMSE degree on the path to the Ph.D.

MS Degree

The Master of Science (MS) in Materials Science and Engineering degree intends for the successful student to demonstrate the ability to do independent research in engineering or applied science with close faculty guidance. In addition to research, this degree program requires that the student achieve an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 in the 25 course credits beyond the BS level to be distributed as follows:

	Credits
4 MSE core courses	12
4 elective courses from MSE, SEAS or UVA Sci/Math	12
Graduate Seminar	1
TOTAL:	25

• The MS program requires at least two courses in MSE beyond the MSE four core courses.
• The program of study includes four electives beyond the MSE core. These electives are at the 6xxx and 7xxx levels, are approved by the graduate student’s advisor, and are selected from SEAS-course offerings or other UVa Science/Mathematics courses. No more than six elective credits may be earned in faculty-supervised independent study courses.
• MSE 6050 and MSE 6060 may be taken for elective credit only by those students who do not have an undergraduate degree in MSE, or upon petition to the MSE Graduate Director by the graduate student’s advisor.
• Students who have earned graduate course credits at UVa or at another institution may transfer up to six credits into the MSE-MS program of study provided those courses were not used to earn another degree. Transferred courses may be used to satisfy part of the MSE core requirement, if deemed equivalent by the faculty member teaching the course, or to satisfy the elective requirement, subject to approval by the MSE Graduate Director and the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. The student must document the syllabus content of a transferred MSE core course, and the 6xxx or 7xxx level of a transferred elective course. Transferred courses may have been taken in MSE or in another field of engineering or science, but may not have been applied to achieve any other earned degree.
• The sequence in which core elective classes are taken is defined by the student and advisor, considering that core courses provide an important foundation for many of the elective courses and research.
• The MS degree requires at least six credits of research, under the supervision of a faculty advisor, and culminates in a written thesis, that is presented and defended in a public forum.
• The four core courses, written thesis, and public defense of the thesis are departmental requirements for the MS degree and cannot be waived.
• The MS candidate must write and defend publicly his/her thesis at least four weeks prior to the Libra Upload date published by SEAS in order to graduate within a given semester. The MS defense will conclude with a faculty evaluation and decision on thesis acceptability and additional requirements, if any.
• All members of the thesis defense committee must receive the completed thesis at least seven calendar days prior to the defense date. Faculty members may request additional time when the defense date is being set.
• After public defense of the MS thesis, each MS student will be assessed by faculty based on his or her ability to perform graduate-level engineering research, proficiency at technical writing, and oral presentation skills.

MMSE Degree

The MMSE degree in MSE emphasizes classroom learning and requires that the student achieve satisfactorily 30 course credits beyond the BS level.

The courses requirements are as follows: 

	Credits
4 MSE core courses	12
6 elective courses from MSE, SEAS or UVA Sci/Math	18
TOTAL:	30

*Minimum of 2 courses in MSE beyond core

• MSE 6050 and MSE 6060 may be taken for elective credit only by those students who do not have an undergraduate degree in MSE or upon petition to the MSE Graduate Director by the graduate student’s advisor.
• The plan of study must be approved*.
• Up to six credits of electives may be earned in faculty-supervised independent study or advanced topics courses. Such studies may include laboratory work.
• Each MMSE student will be assessed by faculty based on his or her proficiency at technical writing and engineering analysis.

*The MMSE degree program of study must be approved by the MSE Graduate Director. MMSE -CGEP degree plan of study must be approved by the MSE CGEP advisor.