Materials Engineering and Science, PhD

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

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• 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
• MEM 433/533 Advanced Mine Planning & Design Credits: (3-0) 3

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• One credit of Seminar is required. PhD students take MES 890.

• MES 790 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: 1 to 12 *

• * 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.

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.

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.

Objectives and Outcomes

Student Outcomes:

1. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying Materials Engineering and Science principles
2. an ability to analyze and interpret technical data
3. an ability to design and conduct independent research in the area of Materials Engineering and Science
4. an ability to communicate effectively in a technical manner and disseminate the results to a wider audience
5. ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities