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Ph.D. degree
Information concerning the pursuit of a Ph.D. in MSE, including degree requirements, Candidacy Exam procedures, Dissertation Overview procedures, time frame for completion, graduation details, and more.
Time frame for completion
The typical length of time for competion of a Ph.D. degree while enrolled as a full time student is approximately five years, inclusive of Summers. A student holding a GRA or Fellowship will often combine research and academic studies during the first two to three years in the program. During this period the student will take the required MSE Ph.D. Core Courses--MSE 715, 730, 732, 745, 750, & 765--along with other courses to develop his/her knowledge of MSE.
After taking the Core Courses--i.e., one to two years after entry in the program--the student may request to take the Ph.D. Candidacy Exam (more below). Roughly one year after the Candidacy Exam the student is to complete the Dissertation Overview exercise. The overview is designed to give guidance and help the student focus his/her thinking concerning the dissertation topic.
Roughly six months to one year after the Dissertation Overview the student is to present and defend an acceptable dissertation.
Degree requirements
Link to Ph.D. degree requirements. MSE-specific requirements necessary to earn a doctoral degree in materials science and engineering.
Candidacy Exam procedures
Link to Candidacy Exam procedures. Information concerning the Ph.D. Candidacy Exam, including prerequisites, required documents, what to expect during the exam, suggestions on how to prepare, and more.
Dissertation Overview procedures
Link to Dissertation Overview procedures. Provides information regarding the purpose, timing, and the form needed to complete this required exercise.
Graduation procedures
Link to Ph.D. graduation procedures. Details concerning the graduation process. Includes on-line request for the Application to Graduate form, dissertation defense process, Commencement information and more.
