Materials Science and Engineering
- Master of Science in Engineering
- Doctor of Philosophy
Objectives
This program is designed to educate materials scientists and engineers, to develop new knowledge, and to solve problems related to the synthesis, processing, characterization, and application of materials.
Facilities for Graduate Work
Extensive facilities, including laboratories for materials research and instruction and offices for faculty members and students, are located in several buildings on the main campus and at the J. J. Pickle Research Campus. The offices for the Texas Materials Institute (TMI), the materials science and engineering graduate program, and numerous faculty members are located in the Engineering Teaching Center. Core central facilities for research include the Electron Microscopy, X-Ray Scattering, Surface Analysis, Nanofabrication and Testing, Electronic and Vibrational Scattering, Scanning Probe, and Polymer Characterization Facilities, each of which employs a manager to assist users. Other laboratories provide mechanical testing, powder processing, corrosion testing, crystal growing, ultrasonic, laser, magnetic, and microwave facilities for use by students and faculty members. Extensive service installations are available, including those of Information Technology Services, as well as electronics shops, machine shops, and glassblowing services.
Areas of Study
Graduate study is focused around concentrations in nanomaterials, clean energy materials, and general materials science and engineering. Course requirements are tailored to the specific concentration.
Graduate Studies Committee
The following faculty members served on the Graduate Studies Committee in the spring semester 2006–2007.
- Sanjay K. Banerjee
- Paul F. Barbara
- Michael F. Becker
- David L. Bourell
- R. Malcolm Brown Jr.
- Ray Chen
- Alex de Lozanne
- Ananth Dodabalapur
- John G. Ekerdt
- Paulo Ferreira
- John B. Goodenough
- Graeme A. Henkelman
- Paul S. Ho
- Gyeong Hwang
- Keith P. Johnston
- Miguel Jose-Yacaman
- Maria G. Juenger
- John W. Keto
- Brian A. Korgel
- Desiderio Kovar
- Dim-Lee Kwong
- Jack C. Lee
- Kenneth M. Liechti
- Arumugam Manthiram
- John T. McDevitt
- Jeremy P. Meyers
- Tessie J. Moon
- Charles B. Mullins
- Dean P. Neikirk
- Donald R. Paul
- Llewellyn K. Rabenberg
- Kenneth M. Ralls
- Krishnaswa Ravi-Chandar
- Isaac C. Sanchez
- Juan M. Sanchez
- Li Shi
- Chih-Kang Ken Shih
- Yuyu Sun
- Eric M. Taleff
- Harovel G. Wheat
- Bugao Xu
Admission Requirements
Students with a bachelor's degree in engineering or in one of the physical sciences may be admitted to the materials science and engineering degree program upon the recommendation of the Graduate Studies Committee. Students who do not have a background that the committee considers satisfactory for the study of advanced materials science and engineering will be required to take preparatory coursework, some of which may be at the undergraduate level. Completion of some coursework may be required before the student begins the work for the graduate degree.
Degree Requirements
Master of Science in Engineering
The student's program of coursework is selected with the advice of the graduate adviser and must be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee. All students must complete deficiency, core, and advanced-level courses. (Individual deficiency and core courses may be waived if the student has equivalent credit on entering the program.) The specific course requirements vary for each concentration.
At least one full year is required to complete the master's degree program.
Master of Science in Engineering with thesis. For students electing this option, thirty semester hours of credit are required, consisting of twenty-four hours of organized coursework and six hours in the thesis course. Students begin the program by completing deficiency courses, but they may petition to waive these courses if they have equivalent credit. Nine hours in core courses and nine to fifteen additional hours in advanced-level courses must then be taken. A maximum of nine hours of upper-division coursework may be counted toward the required thirty hours.
The student should choose a thesis research topic and begin research during the first semester.
Master of Science in Engineering with report. This option requires thirty-three semester hours of credit, consisting of thirty hours of organized coursework and three hours in the report course. The program must be approved by the graduate adviser. At least nine hours in core courses and an additional fifteen to twenty-one hours of advanced-level coursework must be taken. Up to nine hours of upper-division coursework may be counted. Enrollment in this option must be approved by the graduate adviser.
Master of Science in Engineering without thesis or report. For students electing this option, thirty-six semester hours of coursework are required. Nine hours in core courses and an additional eighteen to twenty-four hours in advanced-level courses must be taken. The program must be approved by the graduate adviser. Up to nine hours of upper-division coursework may be included. No research is required, but the level of academic performance is the same as that required for the master's degree with thesis.
Doctor of Philosophy
A student may choose to pursue the doctoral degree without first obtaining a master's degree. Before admission to doctoral candidacy, the student must have a master's degree in materials science and engineering or an equivalent amount of graduate credit and must have demonstrated satisfactory performance on each part of the doctoral qualifying process. The doctoral candidate must also pass preliminary and final oral examinations covering the research program and the underlying science and engineering upon which the research is based. For a student with a Bachelor of Science degree, at least three years are required to complete the Doctor of Philosophy degree program.
For More Information
Campus address: Engineering Teaching Center (ETC) 8.172, phone (512) 471-1504, fax (512) 475-8482; campus mail code: C2201
Mailing address: The University of Texas at Austin, Materials Science and Engineering Program, 1 University Station C2201, Austin TX 78712
E-mail: tmi@mail.utexas.edu