Materials Engineering and Science, MS

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Contact Information

Dr. Jon J. Kellar, Program Director
Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
Mineral Industries 112
(605) 394-2343
E-mail: Jon.Kellar@sdsmt.edu

MS in Materials Engineering and Science

The MS in Materials Engineering and Science offers both a thesis option and a non-thesis option.

SD Mines students admitted to the Accelerated MS option may apply up to 12 credits of 400/500/600 level credits taken as an undergraduate toward both the BS and the MS degrees.

Degree requirements for thesis option

Distribution of Credits

Core requirements: 15 credits
Research or project requirements: 6 credits
Elective requirements: 9 credits
Total credits: 30

A minimum of 15 credits of the 30 required must be taken at the 600 level or above.

Core requirements

Because students graduating with this degree are expected to have a broad-based fundamental knowledge in both materials engineering and materials science, every student is required to take four core courses and a seminar (see below).

MES 601 Fundamentals of Materials Engineering Credits: (3-0) 3
MES 602/602L Materials Characterization: Methods and Applications/Lab Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 439/539 Condensed Matter Physics Credits: 3 to 4 credits
MES 604 Chemistry of Materials Credits: (4-0) 4
MES 790/890 Seminar Credits: (1-0) 1 *
*MES 790 should be taken by MS students and MES 890 by PhD students.

Research or project requirements

The completion of a master’s thesis, approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee and the Dean of Graduate Education, is required for this degree.

MES 798 Thesis Credits: Credit to be arranged. **
** At least 6 credits of MES 798 are required. No more than 6 credits of MES 798 may be counted toward the degree.

Elective requirement

At least 9 credits of elective coursework approved by the student’s advisor or advisory committee.

Examinations

A thesis defense and an oral final examination are required for this degree.

Additional requirements

In addition to these degree-specific requirements, the student must also meet the requirements and policies applied to all graduate degrees by the Council of Graduate Education.

Degree requirements for non-thesis option

Distribution of Credits

Core requirements: 15 credits
Research or project requirements: 0-3 credits
Elective requirements: 14-17 credits
Total credits: 32

A minimum of 16 credits of the 32 required must be taken at the 600 level or above.

Core requirements

MES 601 Fundamentals of Materials Engineering Credits: (3-0) 3
MES 602/602L Materials Characterization: Methods and Applications/Lab Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 439/539 Condensed Matter Physics Credits: 3 to 4 credits
MES 604 Chemistry of Materials Credits: (4-0) 4
MES 790/890 Seminar Credits: (1-0) 1 *
*MES 790 should be taken by MS students and MES 890 by PhD students.

Research or project requirements

Students who elect to undertake a project should do so under the supervision of a faculty member.

MES 788 Master’s Research Problems/Projects Credits: Credit to be arranged. **
** Up to 3 credits of MES 788 may be counted toward the degree.

Elective requirements

At least 15 credits of elective coursework approved by the student’s advisor or advisory committee.

Examinations

No final degree examination is required for the non-thesis option. Individual courses may hold final examinations as part of the course.

Additional requirements

In addition to these degree-specific requirements, the student must also meet the requirements and policies applied to all graduate degrees by the Council of Graduate Education.