Materials Engineering and Science, PhD

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Contact Information

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

PhD in Materials Engineering and Science

The doctor of philosophy program in Materials Engineering and Science (MES) offers a student the opportunity to expand his/her knowledge and understanding of the science and technology of materials production, behavior, and applications. Candidates will study either a science or an engineering emphasis within the MES PhD program.

Degree requirements

Distribution of credits

Core requirements: 7-8 credits
Research or project requirements: 22-36 credits
Elective requirements: 28-43 credits
Total credits: 72

At least 36 of the required 72 credits must be taken at the 600 level or above.

Students may apply 24 coursework credits and 6 research credits from a previous MS degree toward the PhD requirements, subject to approval by the student’s committee.

Core requirements

One course (3-4 credits) in analytical mathematics to be selected from this list:
ME 673 Applied Engineering Analysis I Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 481/581 Mathematical Physics Credits: (4-0) 4
One course (3 credits) in numerical mathematics to be selected from this list:
MATH 447/547 Design of Experiments Credits: (3-0) 3
ME 773 Applied Engineering Analysis II Credits: (3-0) 3
MET 614 Advanced Metallurgical Simulation Techniques Credits: (3-0) 3
MEM 433/533 Advanced Mine Planning & Design Credits: (3-0) 3
One credit of Seminar is required. PhD students take MES 890.
MES 790/890 Seminar Credits: (1-0) 1

Research or project requirements

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

MES 898D Dissertation Credits: Credit to be arranged. *
* A minimum of 22 credits of MES 898 is required. No more than 36 credits of MES 898 may be counted toward the degree.

Elective requirements

All elective courses must be approved by the student’s graduate advisory committee (or advisor). Every student must complete the requirements for either the Materials Science emphasis or the Materials Engineering emphasis.

Materials Science emphasis

One course (3 credits) in thermodynamics of solids to be selected from this list:
MES 712 Interfacial Phenomena Credits: (3-0) 3
PHYS 743 Statistical Mechanics Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 613 Transport Phenomena: Heat Credits: (3-0) 3
CBE 714 Transport Phenomena: Mass Credits: (3-0) 3
MES 728 Heterogeneous Kinetics Credits: (3-0) 3
One course (3-4 credits) in crystal structure/chemistry of solids to be selected from this list:
MES 603 Condensed Matter Physics Credits: (4-0) 4
MES 604 Chemistry of Materials Credits: (4-0) 4
PHYS 771 Quantum Mechanics I Credits: (3-0) 3
One course (3-4 credits) in bulk or surface analysis to be selected from this list:
NANO 703/703L Instrumentation and Characterization of Nano-Materials/Lab Credits: (3-1) 4
MES 602 Materials Characterization: Methods and Applications Credits: (2-0) 2
Two courses (6 credits) in fundamental engineering mechanics to be selected from this list: (Courses from the Materials Engineering emphasis section can also be used to fulfill this requirement.)
ME 425 Probabilistic Mechanical Design Credits: (3-0) 3
MET 450/550 Forensic Engineering Credits: (3-0) 3
MET 440/540 Mechanical Metallurgy Credits: (3-0) 3
ME 443 Composite Materials Credits: (3-0) 3
OR
MET 443 Composite Materials Credits: (3-0) 3
MET 625 Strengthening Mechanisms in Metals Credits: (3-0) 3
An additional 25-28 credits of course work related to the dissertation, selected in consultation with the student’s advisory committee, must be completed.

Materials Engineering emphasis

One course (3 credits) in analytical mechanics to be selected from this list:
ME 623 Advanced Mechanical Vibrations Credits: (3-0) 3
ME 613 Transport Phenomena: Heat Credits: (3-0) 3
MES 713 Advanced Solid Mechanics Credits: (3-0) 3
MES 770 Continuum Mechanics Credits: (3-0) 3
One course (3 credits) in elasticity/plasticity to be selected from this list:
CEE 743 Advanced Soil Mechanics Credits: (3-0) 3
MES 713 Advanced Solid Mechanics I Credits: (3-0) 3
MEM 450/550 Rock Slope Engineering Credits: (3-0) 3
One course (3 credits) in failure analysis fracture mechanics to be selected from this list:
ME 715 Advanced Composite Materials Credits: (3-0) 3
Two courses (6 credits) in fundamental materials science to be selected from this list: (Courses from the materials science emphasis section can also be used to fulfill this requirement.)
CHEM 420/520 Organic Chemistry III Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 452/552 Inorganic Chemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
CHEM 426/526 Polymer Chemistry Credits: (3-0) 3
MES 603 Condensed Matter Physics Credits: (4-0) 4
MES 601 Fundamentals of Materials Engineering Credits: (3-0) 3
MES 604 Chemistry of Materials Credits: (4-0) 4
CBE 474/574 Polymer Technology Credits: 2 to 3
PHYS 439/539 Condensed Matter Physics Credits: (4-0) 4
MET 445/545 Oxidation and Corrosion of Metals Credits: (3-0) 3
An additional 27-28 credits of coursework related to the dissertation, selected in consultation with the student’s advisory committee, must be completed.

Examinations

Detailed information on examination policy, admission to candidacy, and defense of dissertation is included in the School of Mines Materials Engineering and Science Ph.D. Handbook. The qualifying examination and the comprehensive examination are administered together.

Qualifying examination

An assessment of the student’s qualifications will be undertaken early in their program. The assessment is comprised of performance in pre-determined courses (coursework exam).

Comprehensive examination and admission to candidacy

The student is granted admission to candidacy after successfully completing the coursework exam and defending a dissertation research proposal. The comprehensive examination, and subsequent admission to candidacy, should be completed at least 12 months before the dissertation is defended.

Dissertation defense

A dissertation defense and a final oral examination are required for this degree.

Additional requirements

For program supervision purposes, the MES Ph.D. program coordinator is the graduate advisor until the major professor is appointed. The major professor is the person responsible for the student’s dissertation research. The graduate office representative on the student’s dissertation committee must be selected from outside of the department with which the major professor is affiliated. It is not necessary that the student be associated with the department of affiliation of his or her major professor.

There is no language requirement for the MES doctoral program.

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.