Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering (MASE) (Interdisciplinary)
The field of materials sciences and engineering is central to the technological, industrial, and economic development of Texas, the United States, Mexico, and other industrialized countries. The UTEP PhD program MASE is a multi-disciplinary program to prepare scientists and engineers to contribute to this vital field, with a range of skills linking structure, properties, synthesis and processing, and performance of materials. Students develop a research focus in a specialized area using one or more of these skills to study some class or classes of materials, including metals, polymers, ceramics, semiconductors, superconductors, composites, and other materials systems.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the PhD program in materials science and engineering requires a BS or MS degree in a related field (Physics, Chemistry, Electrical and/or Electronic Engineering, etc.) from an ABET accredited institution in the United States, or proof of equivalent education from an international institution and, generally, an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. Program requires minimum English Language proficiency. The current requirements can be found under Admissions in the Graduate School website. Specific admission requirements for the Ph.D. Program in Materials Science and Engineering are described below.
- Undergraduate or graduate degree in Materials Science and Engineering or a related field from an ABET accredited institution in the United States, or proof of equivalent education from an international institution.
- Demonstration of academic achievement and potential as indicated by the upper-level undergraduate and graduate coursework.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- A written statement of intent, describing applicant’s career goals.
- Submission of a CV/resume summarizing professional and academic experience and any other evidence of background, knowledge, research, or work experience in Materials Science and Engineering that may be relevant.
- Applicants whose degrees are from non-English speaking institutions are required to demonstrate English proficiency. Please consult the Graduate School website for required scores.
Background required for Ph.D. in MASE Degree
Applicants whose undergraduate degrees are not in Metallurgical or Materials Engineering must enroll or audit MME 2303 Intro to Materials Sci & Engrg, MME 3306 Rate Processes, and MME 3308 Appl Chemical Thermodynamics and enroll in MASE 6406 Physical Metallurgy and MASE 6407 Mechanical Behavior of Matls as electives in their degree plan. When the student meets with the graduate advisor their degree plan will be assessed to ensure students have the appropriate background.
Thus, applicants must submit evidence of successful completion (or equivalent) of coursework that includes:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MME 2303 | Intro to Materials Sci & Engrg | 3 |
| MME 3306 | Rate Processes | 3 |
| MME 3308 | Appl Chemical Thermodynamics | 3 |
| MASE 6406 | Physical Metallurgy | 4 |
| MASE 6407 | Mechanical Behavior of Matls | 4 |
Students are required to pass an oral dissertation proposal defense administered by their Research Committee. The proposal consists of (1) a written dissertation proposal and (2) an oral presentation where students answer questions regarding their dissertation research project.
Students are encourage to submit their dissertation proposal by their fourth semester. Students can register for dissertation credits after the dissertation proposal has been successfully passed. Students are also required to submit at least one paper to a peer-reviewed journal as first author, before scheduling their dissertation defense. Students can enroll in appropriate graduate research projects or independent study courses prior to passing the proposal.
After completion of the proposed dissertation research, the student will be examined regarding the dissertation research outcomes. The Dissertation Exam consists of (1) an evaluation of the written dissertation, (2) a public presentation, and (3) a private oral discussion conducted by the dissertation committee.
Degree Requirements
A minimum of 60 credit hours are required to satisfy the MASE Ph.D. Program requirements. All students who enter the MASE Ph.D. Program are required to take 15 credit hours of core courses. 15 credit hours of MASE electives (traditional lecture courses), 2 credit hours of seminar, 2 credit hours of writing/research methods, 20 credit hours of graduate research/independent study, and 6 credit hours of dissertation. Students who enter with an MS degree in Materials Science and Engineering or a related field (Physics, Chemistry, Electrical and/or Electronic Engineering, etc.) can receive up to 18 credit hours towards the MASE Ph.D. Degree requirements. All courses require a grade of C or better and a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation.
The student is allowed to enroll in up to 6 credit hours of approved coursework in areas outside the Materials Science and Engineering (MASE) Program, pending approval from the Graduate Advisor and Research Advisor.
Degree Plan
Two options are available for students: Entering with a M.S. degree or entering with a B.S. degree.
Entering with an MS Degree
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements | ||
| Credit from MS (up to 18 hours applied to electives and/or research) | 18 | |
| Core | 15 | |
| Seminar | 2 | |
| Writing and Research Methods | 2 | |
| Research, Independent Study and/or Electives | 17 | |
| Dissertation | 6 | |
Required Credits: at least 42 beyond the master's degree
Entering with a B.S. Degree
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements | ||
| Core | 15 | |
| Electives | 15 | |
| Seminar | 2 | |
| Writing and Research Methods | 2 | |
| Research and/or Independent Study | 20 | |
| Dissertation | 6 | |
Ph.D. in Materials & Science Engineering
Required Credits: 60 beyond the bachelor's degree
Students will be required to complete 15 credit hours of core courses, 2 credit hours of graduate seminar, 2 credit hours of writing/research practice, 15 credit hours of electives, 20 credit hours of research and 6 credit hours of dissertation. Students entering the program with a master's degree will earn up to 18 credits towards electives and research requirements. For students who have completed some or all the core courses, those students can replace the core credits with electives to complete the 60 credit hours required for the Ph.D. program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PhD in Materials Science & Engineering (All courses require a grade of C or better) | ||
| Core Courses: | 15 | |
| MASE 6360 | Microstruct & Microchem Charac | 3 |
| MASE 6361 | Phase Transformations | 3 |
| MASE 6362 | Mod Conc in Matls Sci and Eng | 3 |
| MASE 6363 | Comp and Num Methods in Mat | 3 |
| MASE 6365 | Deformation of Materials | 3 |
| Seminar | 2 | |
| MASE 6101 | Graduate Seminar 1 | 1 |
| MASE 6102 | Graduate Seminar 2 | 1 |
| Proposal/Publication Preparation: | 2 | |
| MASE 6264 | Writing & Research Practices | 2 |
| Research/Independent Study Courses | 20 | |
| Select twenty hours from the following: | ||
| Individual Studies | ||
| Graduate Research Projects | ||
| Individual Studies | ||
| Graduate Research Projects | ||
| Adv Processing of Materials | ||
| Individual Studies | ||
| Graduate Research Projects | ||
| Elective Courses | 15 | |
| Select fifteen hours from the following: | ||
| Contem Topics-Materials Sci/E | ||
| Contem Topics-Materials Sci/E | ||
| Adv Processing of Materials | ||
| Ceramics | ||
| Polymer Engineering | ||
| Metallography and Micro Inter. | ||
| Advanced Failure Analysis | ||
| Hydrometallurgy | ||
| Advanced Materials/Composites | ||
| Interfacial Phenomena | ||
| Transmission Electron Microsc | ||
| Material Joining Technologies | ||
| Non-Destructive Examination | ||
| Root Cause Analysis | ||
| Fracture Mechanics | ||
| Contem Topics-Materials Sci/En | ||
| Dissertation: | 6 | |
| Dissertation and Dissertation | ||
| Total Hours | 60 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Entering with MS Degree | ||
| Requirements | ||
| Core | 17 | |
| Research or Electives | 21 | |
| Credit from MS (up to 30 hours) | 30 | |
| Dissertation | 6 | |
| Entering with BS Degree | ||
| Core | 17 | |
| Research or Electives | 30 | |
| Electives | 21 | |
| Dissertation | 6 | |
| Required Core: 17 hours | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MASE 6401 | 4 | |
| MASE 6402 | 4 | |
| MASE 6103 | ||
| MASE 6195 | Doct. Rsrch Symposium I | 1 |
| MASE 6196 | Doct. Rsrch Symposium II | 1 |
| MASE 6196 | Doct. Rsrch Symposium II | 1 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MASE 6400 | 4 | |
| MASE 6103 | ||
| MASE 6195 | Doct. Rsrch Symposium I | 1 |
| MASE 6196 | Doct. Rsrch Symposium II | 1 |
| MASE 6196 | Doct. Rsrch Symposium II | 1 |
| Research and Elective Courses (Up to 51 hours) | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MASE 6191 | Individual Studies | 1-3 |
| or MASE 6291 | Individual Studies | |
| or MASE 6391 | Individual Studies | |
| MASE 6194 | Graduate Research Projects | 1-3 |
| or MASE 6294 | Graduate Research Projects | |
| or MASE 6394 | Graduate Research Projects | |
| MASE 6103 | ||
| MASE 6195 | Doct. Rsrch Symposium I | 1 |
| MASE 6196 | Doct. Rsrch Symposium II | 1 |
| MASE 6390 | Contem Topics-Materials Sci/En | 3 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MASE 6191 | Individual Studies | 1-3 |
| or MASE 6291 | Individual Studies | |
| or MASE 6391 | Individual Studies | |
| MASE 6194 | Graduate Research Projects | 1-3 |
| or MASE 6294 | Graduate Research Projects | |
| or MASE 6394 | Graduate Research Projects | |
| MASE 6103 | ||
| MASE 6195 | Doct. Rsrch Symposium I | 1 |
| MASE 6196 | Doct. Rsrch Symposium II | 1 |
| MASE 6340 | Advanced Failure Analysis | 3 |
| MASE 6343 | Advanced Materials/Composites | 3 |
| MASE 6390 | Contem Topics-Materials Sci/En | 3 |
| Dissertation | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| MASE 6398 | Dissertation | 3 |
| MASE 6399 | Dissertation | 3 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MASE 6398 | Dissertation | 3 |
| MASE 6399 | Dissertation | 3 |