Materials Science
Graduate Program

The interdisciplinary materials science program is a collaboration of the Departments of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Geochemistry, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Physics, Division of Engineering, Environmental Science and Engineering and Mining Engineering. The range of disciplines provides a Materials Science degree within one of the thirteen focus areas.

The required six Materials Science core courses are:

MLGN500 - Processing, Microstructure, and Properties of Materials

MLGN512/MTGN412 - Ceramic Engineering

MLGN531/CHEN416 Polymer Engineering and Technology

MLGN501/CHGN580 - Structure of Materials
or CHGN505 Advanced Organic Chemistry

MLGN504/MTGN555 - Solid State Thermodynamics
or CHEN509 - Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics

MLGN511 - Kinetic Concerns in Materials Processing
or MTGN 548 Transformations in Metals
or MTGN556/MLGN 506 Transport in Solids
or CHEN518 Reaction Kinetics & Catalysis
or CHGN585 Chemical Kinetics

Students who have taken the equivalent of any of the core courses listed above, and have not used the courses to fulfill requirements towards their B.S. degree, may petition the Materials Science Graduate Committee for transfer credit.

Master of Science Degree Program with Thesis

Requirements for obtaining a Master of Science Degree is the ability to perform research work as well as understand and apply the advanced concepts presented in graduate-level courses in your area of specialization. A Master of Science thesis, which is a report of original scientific research or development, is required for the completion of your degree. You will conduct your research project with the guidance of your advisor but must demonstrate independent thinking.
The Master of Science degree requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of acceptable course work and research credit including:
-18 hours of Materials Science courses (must have completed the six core courses)
-6 to 12 hours of thesis research credits depending on Focus Area requirements
-Submit a thesis and pass the Defense of Thesis examination before the Thesis Committee.

You must complete a minimum of 18 hours of approved graduate course work. Up to nine hours of 400-level courses may be counted towards graduation. Up to nine hours of course work with a grade of "B" or better may be transferred from another recognized institution upon the approval of the Graduate Affairs Committee and the Graduate Dean. A total of 30 hours is needed for the Master of Science degree.

Typical Timetable
1st Semester: Begin course work; select research topic; appoint thesis committee: begin research.
2nd Semester: Present course work to committee; continue course work and research.
2nd Year: Complete course work and thesis; defend thesis.
The typical time to completion is 1 1/2 to 2 years.

Master of Science Degree Program - Non-Thesis
Master of Science degree program without thesis has been designed for engineers or scientists who are working in industry. The thesis requirement is replaced with the requirement that non-thesis students complete a Case Study. The industrial student, who most likely has technical laboratory or manufacturers experience, may find this program more suited to their employment responsibilities.
The non-thesis Master of Science degree requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of acceptable course work and research credit including:

• 18 hours of Materials Sciences Core courses plus other courses as required by the specialty area. The specialty materials-related courses can be taken in preparation for the PhD qualifying process examination (usually taken in the second year of graduate school. Student must take at least 30 hours of gradable coursework (research credits do not count).
• 6 hours of case study credits. (Sign up for MLGN 599, Case Study Materials Science, using a paper form at the Registrar’s Office). The student must successfully prepare and defend a case study report on a topic that is most likely supporting materials for the student’s PhD thesis. The case study will require the student to perform an analysis of the way processing-structure-property-performance relationships affect materials development and how it will influence the future of materials design. A panel of three faculty members will attend the case study presentation. A faculty member will be selected to read and grade the report. The three faculty members will also make a recommendation on whether the student will be accepted into the Materials Science PhD Program.
  

A faculty member selected by the mentor of the Focus Area will advise students in the non-thesis option. Non-thesis students will be strongly encouraged to gain industrial or laboratory experience during the course of their studies through co-ops or other arrangements. Students must indicate their intent to pursue a non-thesis Master of Science at their initial enrollment in the Materials Science program. Permission to change tracks from thesis to non-thesis, or vice-versa, will be granted under some circumstances. It must be approved by your advisor and submitted for approval by the Graduate Affairs Committee.

Conversion of Master Program to Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program

An M.S. or M.S. Non-thesis student who wishes to continue to the PhD program must first defend his/her thesis or present his/her engineering case study report. The quality of your defense and research will be considered when the advisor and committee discuss your qualifications to enter the PhD program. The advisor or Committee Chair must recommend in writing that the candidate is promoted to the PhD program. The candidate must also apply to PhD status by applying electronically in the Graduate Office website. It is not necessary to get letters of recommendation. "Trick" the program by entering "cat", "dog", "horse" or three similar words.

If it is your intention to get a PhD when you first apply, it is possible to be dual listed as a MS/PhD graduate student. Until you complete your M.S. or M.S. Non Thesis, you are officially a Master degree student. Once you complete all the requirements for the M.S. (including checkout), the advisor and your thesis committee must recommend that you are qualified to continue to the PhD program based on the quality of your research and defense. Again, your advisor or Committee Chair needs to send an email to Professor Olson and to Connie Sanford stating that the student has completed all the requirements of the Master of Science or Master of Science Non-thesis degree (including checkout) and is considered qualified to enter the PhD program. Once the Graduate School has process this memo, you will be listed solely as a PhD Materials Science student.

The Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program

The Doctor of Philosophy degree is awarded to those students who have demonstrated unusual competence in their field. The recipient must produce an original contribution to the science and/or engineering of the chosen research field. You must display a deep understanding of that field and demonstrate the ability to apply this knowledge effectively toward the solution of new problems.
Doctoral study is a period of intensive study and research under the direction of the advisor and with the guidance of the Doctoral Committee appointed by the Graduate Dean. A series of formal steps have been established which will guide you and your advisor in assessing your progress. The steps are given below in order of completion.
The Doctor of Philosophy degree requires a minimum of 72 hours of course and research credit including:

• The fulfillment of the Materials Science core course requirements plus additional courses as required by the focus area and a minimum of 30 hours of research credit.
• A written and/or oral qualifying process examination in the specialty area (depending upon focus area requirements).
• Prepare and submit a thesis and pass a Defense of Thesis examination before the Thesis Committee.
  

The prerequisite for acceptance into the Materials Science PhD Program is completion of a science or engineering Master degree (with or without thesis) and completion of the Materials Science Core courses with a grade of B or better (or evidence that the course content of these courses had been taken in previous courses) Transfer courses must be equivalent to the degree programs offered at CSM.. A candidate with a Master degree in Materials Science or related field from another institution can transfer into the program 30 course credit hours. You are expected to complete the Master of Science core courses (see page 13) and take the qualifying process examination required of PhD students in the time frame given.

You must submit a written request to the Graduate Affairs Committee prior to April 1 in order to take the qualifying process examination. If you fail on your first attempt, you will be permitted to retake the qualifying process examination at its next offering. A second failure will lead to dismissal from the PhD program.

You must complete the required courses as defined by your focus area. A total of 72 credit hours are needed for the Doctor of Philosophy degree that includes at least 30 hours of thesis research credit of courses (MLGN 706).

The Ph.D. student will invite at least five voting members, including the faculty advisor, two additional committee members, a minor representative, and one additional committee member selected by the student and advisor from outside the home department. Students may select off-campus members with either voting or non-voting status. Students must attach a brief resume of education and/or experience for off-campus committee members who hold voting status.

The qualifying process examination, usually taken in the second year, is prepared and monitored by the faculty from the student’s focus area. The exam must be completed at least six months before graduation and no later than three years after the student begins the doctoral program. Commonly, the qualifying process examination has two parts, an oral and a written examination. The faculty in the student’s focus area creates and administers the qualifying process examination.

A pass/fail examination will be based on the review of the results of the qualifying process examination and class performance as measured by grades. If you fail the oral qualifying process, the student must reschedule his/her oral examination within 6 months. The qualifying process examination can only be taken twice.

The defense of your thesis consists of an oral presentation and defense to your thesis committee and other interested faculty members and students.

Typical Timetable:
1st Year: Complete core course work, select research topic, form thesis committee, begin research, and start preparation for the qualifying process examination.
2nd Year: Written and/or Oral qualifying process examination/thesis proposal, completion of course work, continue thesis research.
3rd Year: Complete course work and thesis; defend thesis.
4th Year: Complete thesis; defend thesis.

For students with an acceptable MS degree, it normally takes 3 to 4 years to complete a PhD. For students with an acceptable BS degree, it normally takes 4 to 5 years to complete a PhD.

Steps to Defending Your Thesis
There are several forms and processes to do in preparation to defend your thesis. Refer to "Steps to Defending Your Thesis."

Fields of Research
Advanced polymeric materials
Alloy theory, concurrent design, theory-assisted materials engineering, electronic structure theory
Applications of artificial intelligence techniques to materials processing and manufacturing, neural networks for process modeling and sensor data processing, manufacturing process control
Archaeometallurgy, industry and university partnerships
Aerospace materials
Bio materials and biocompatibility
Ceramic processing, modeling of ceramic processing
Characterization, thermal stability, and thermal degradation mechanisms of polymers
Chemical and physical processing of materials, engineered materials, materials synthesis
Chemical processing of materials
Chemical vapor deposition
Coating microstructural evolution
Coating materials and applications
Computational condensed-matter physics, semiconductor alloys, first-principles phonon calculations
Computer modeling and simulation
Control systems engineering, artificial neural systems for senior data processing, polymer cure monitoring sensors
Crystal and molecular structure determination by X-ray crystallography
Crystal mechanics
Dielectrics and ferrimagnetics
Drug-delivery system
Electrical energy generation materials
Electro deposition
Electro-microcopy analysis
Electrophotography
Experimental condensed-matter physics, thermal and electrical properties of materials, superconductivity, photovoltaics
Extractive and process metallurgy, electrochemical corrosion, synthesis of ceramic precursor powders and metal powders
Forging, deformation modeling, high-temperature material behavior
Fuel cell materials
Fullerene synthesis, combustion chemistry
Heat and mass transfer, materials processing
Heterogeneous catalysis, reformulated and alcohol fuels, surface analysis
High temperature materials
Intelligent automated systems, intelligent process control, robotics, artificial neural systems
Materials synthesis, interfaces, flocculation, fine particles
Materials for energy generation
Mathematical modeling of material processes
Mechanical metallurgy, failure analysis, deformation of materials, advanced steel coatings
Mechanics of Materials
Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC)
Molten salt processing
Mössbauer spectroscopy, ion implantation, small-angle X-ray scattering, semiconductor defects
Nano materials
Non destructive evaluation of defects and microstructures
Novel separation processes: membranes, catalytical membrane reactors, biopolymer adsorbents for heavy metal remedia­tion of ground surface water
Nuclear materials and processing
Numerical modeling of particulate media, thermo-mechanical analysis
Optical properties of materials and interfaces
Phase transformations and mechanisms of microstructural change, electron microscopy, structure-property relationships
Physical metallurgy, ferrous and nonferrous alloy systems
Physical vapor deposition, thin films, coatings
Polymer chemistry and physics
Power electronics, plasma physics, pulsed power, plasma material processing
Process monitoring and control for composites manufacturing
Corrosion Science and Engineering
Processing and characterization of electro-ceramics (ferroelectrics, piezoelectrics, pyroelectrics, and dielectrics), glass-ceramics for electronic and structural applications
Pyrometallurgy, corrosion, materials synthesis, coatings
Reactive metals properties and processing of ceramics and ceramic-metal composites
Self-assembly and nanofabrication
Solidification and near net shape processing
Surface physics, epitaxial growth, interfacial science, adsorption
Thermodynamic modeling of ferroelectrics
Transformations, microstructure, deformation, fracture
Transport phenomena, mathematical modeling, kinetic properties of colloidal suspensions, and diffusion with chemical reaction
Weld metallurgy, materials joining processes
Welding and joining science
X-ray diffraction analysis

Focus Area Flowcharts

Each Materials Science candidate will be required to select a focus area during his/her first semester from the fourteen interest areas listed below:

(1) Advanced Polymeric Materials – Professor Dan Knauss
(2) Ceramics – Professor Ryan O’Hayre
(3) Composites – Professor Ivar Reimanis
(4) Electronic Materials – Professor David Wood
(5) Joining Science – Professor Stephen Liu
(6) Mechanics of Materials – Professor Cristian Ciobanu
(7) Computational Materials Science – Professor Mark Eberhart
(8) Surface & Interfaces / Films & Coatings – Professor Scott Cowley
(9) Bio-materials – Professor Reed Ayers
(10) Nuclear Materials – Dr. Marty Mataya
(11) Enviro-Material Science – Professor Ron Cohen
(12) Mining-Materials and Petroleum Materials Science – Professor Hugh Miller and Pet. Eng. Faculty
(13) Non Destructive Materials Assessment – Professor David Olson
(14) Materials Chemical Processing – Professor Patrick Taylor

The Graduate Affairs Committee will consider other focus areas, to allow for the Materials Science Program to be as individual a learning experience as possible.

Focus Area Chart Organization
Courses required of all Materials Science graduate students are listed in the shaded box above the dashed line. The courses are selected to give the student a background in the entire spectrum of materials science focus areas. If a student comes into the program from another institution and can show proof that they have successfully completed a similar course, they can ask for transfer credits. This process is done in writing stating that the Program will give them credit for the course(s) they have taken. Similarly, if a student comes into the Program with a Master Degree and his transcript shows successful completion of the required courses, these courses are accepted.