Materials Science and Engineering, PhD

Program Description

Materials Science and Engineering combines engineering with chemistry and physics and prepares graduates to apply science and engineering principles to problems related to the understanding, characterization, and development of new technology for the processing and manufacturing of advanced materials and related products. The PhD in MSE program is designed to prepare graduates for entry into materials related government, academic, and industrial institutions in a research or other technically oriented capacity.

Students with a baccalaureate or master’s degree in any branch of engineering, as well as chemistry, physics and biology majors with strong mathematical backgrounds, may be admitted to the program.

Additional information is available at https://www.clemson.edu/cecas/departments/mse/.

Summary of Degree Requirements

This degree requires a minimum of 30 credits beyond the master’s degree, and at least 60 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. A minimum of 16 credit hours of non-research coursework and a minimum of 18 hours of dissertation research are required.

Coursework leading to the PhD is planned to give students a comprehensive knowledge of Materials Science and Engineering and a mastery of the methods of research. This degree is not awarded solely on the basis of coursework completed, residence, completion of comprehensive examinations, dissertation and defense, or other routine requirements. The final basis for granting this degree is the student’s grasp of the subject matter across a broad field of study, competence in planning and conducting research, and the ability to express themselves adequately and professionally both orally and in writing. Ultimately, only the student’s advisory committee can certify that the student has earned this degree.

Coursework

All PhD students take the following courses:

• MSE 8100 - Fundamentals of Materials Science 3 Credits  
• MSE 8260 - Phase Equilibria in Materials Systems 3 Credits  
• MSE 8270 - Kinetics of Phase Transformation 3 Credits  
• MSE 8190 - Inorganic Materials Characterization Techniques 4 Credits  or MSE 8400 - Analytical Methods for Organic Materials 4 Credits  
• one additional 8000-level MSE course