Year One

The following course sequence shows the required core courses to be taken during the first and subsequent years of the program. Students who are unprepared for the required course sequence will be offered appropriate Masters level courses to prepare them to complete the core curriculum. Master's level programs in Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering provide appropriate coursework to support the required preparation. The student will also enroll in one of the three mandatory seminar courses as well as begin directed research. At the end of the first year, all students will complete a qualifying examination covering the material presented in the core courses.

Fall	Spring
MATL 7010: Analytical Methods of Materials Science I (2 sh)	MATL 7020: Analytical Methods of Materials Science II (2 sh)
MATL 8010: Structures of Materials (3 sh)	MATL 8020: Mechanical Properties of Materials (3 sh)
MATL 8030: Thermodynamics and Phase Behavior (3 sh)	MATL 8040: Kinetics, Diffusion and Rate Processes ( 3sh)

Year Two

The typical Ph.D. student will continue research initiatives as well as begin an elective sequence in a focus area appropriate to the research project, selected and agreed upon by the student and the dissertation advisor and committee. In addition, students will be highly encouraged to participate in an internship program, usually through full-time paid employment at a partner company. It is expected that the work completed at the internship site will contribute to the research activity of the student. Since the internship provides up to 6 hours of course credit, those students opting out of the internship will be required to complete additional hours of elective credit. At the end of the second year, a written research proposal describing the work to be completed for the dissertation will be presented orally and defended in front of the dissertation committee.

Year Three and Beyond

The Ph.D. student will continue his/her elective series as well as carry out the bulk of their doctoral research. Approximately mid-way through the dissertation research the student will give an oral presentation of research accomplishments as part of the seminar program required of all students. This will be attended by members of the dissertation committee such that guidance and feedback can be given. The final requirement of the student for successful completion of the Ph.D. in Material Science and Engineering will be the preparation and oral defense of a scholarly dissertation that presents the results of the student's dissertation research.

Typical Student Program

	Year 1 (24 sh)	Year 2 (24 sh)	Year 3 (24 sh)	Year 4 (18 sh)
Fall	MATL 7010: Analytical Methods of Materials Science 1 (2 sh) MATL 8010: Materials Structures (3 sh) MATL 8030: Thermodynamics and Phase Behavior (3 sh) MATL 6982: Graduate Research (1 sh)	MATL 8050: Materials Internship (6 sh) MATL 6982: Graduate Research (3 sh)	Elective 2 (3 sh) MATL 8060: Dissertation (6 sh)	Elective 4 (3 sh) MATL 8060: Dissertation (6 sh)
Spring	MATL 7020: Analytical Methods of Materials Science II (2 sh) MATL 8020: Mechanical Properties and Processing (3 sh) MATL 8040: Kinetics, Diffusion and Rate Processes (3 sh) MATL 6990: Seminar (1 sh)	Elective 1 (3 sh) MATL 6990: Seminar (1 sh) MATL 6982: Graduate Research (5 sh)	Elective 3 (3 sh) MATL 6990: Seminar (1 sh) MATL 8060: Dissertation (5 sh) Mid-program oral presentation	MATL 8060: Dissertation (9 sh) Dissertation Defense
Summer	Complete Qualifying Exam MATL 6982: Graduate Research (6 sh)	Complete Research Proposal MATL 6982: Graduate Research (6 sh)	MATL 8060: Dissertation (6 sh)

Program Elements

• Qualifying exam, based on the topics presented in the core curriculum, following the first year of study. Students will have two opportunities to successfully complete the qualifying exam.
• Recommended internship program, usually through full-time paid employment at a partner company. The internship will ideally include 600 contact hours. It is expected that the work completed at the industrial partner will contribute to the research activity of the student.
• Written research proposal describing the work to be completed for the dissertation. The proposal will be presented orally and defended in front of the dissertation committee. This would normally be completed in the second year of study and prior to initiation of substantial research activities.
• Oral presentation of research accomplishments, approximately mid-way through the dissertation research. The presentation would be part of the regular seminar program required of all students, and should be attended by members of the dissertation committee, who will be requested to provide feedback and direction to the students.
• Dissertation detailing the work completed. The dissertation will be defended orally to the dissertation committee, which will also approve the final written document. Completion of the dissertation is the culminating experience of the Ph.D. program.