Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering
Program Overview
The PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at Colorado State University is designed to train the next generation of professionals to address global challenges in the field. The multidisciplinary program emphasizes hands-on training and diverse faculty mentorship, equipping students with the tools to question current design paradigms and drive innovative solutions across various sectors. With a focus on active learning and industry partnerships, the program prepares graduates for careers in research, development, and leadership roles in materials science and engineering.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) program at Colorado State University is designed to educate and train the next generation of thinkers to solve global challenges. The program emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach, equipping students with the tools to question current design paradigms and drive innovative materials and manufacturing solutions across various sectors.
Objectives:
The program aims to develop science and engineering professionals with multidisciplinary problem-solving skills to address global challenges in the field of materials science and engineering.
Program Description:
The MSE Ph.D. program focuses on:
- Active hands-on training: Students engage in practical training in materials characterization, computational methods, intellectual property protection, technology transfer, and professional soft skill development.
- Enhanced educational opportunities: The program fosters industry partnerships, facilitating internships and class time spent in commercial manufacturing labs.
- Diverse faculty mentorship: Students benefit from faculty expertise in areas like nanoscale structure control, predictive property modeling, high-performance composites, photovoltaics, and additive manufacturing.
Outline:
Core Courses:
- MSE 501: Materials Technology Transfer (1 credit)
- MSE 502A: Materials Science & Engineering Methods: Materials Structure and Scattering (1 credit)
- MSE 502B: Materials Science & Engineering Methods: Computational Materials Methods (1 credit)
- MSE 503: Mechanical Behavior of Materials (3 credits)
- MSE 504: Thermodynamics of Materials (3 credits)
- MSE 793: Professional Development Seminar (1 credit per semester for the first 4 semesters)
- MSE 799: Dissertation (26 credits)
Select at least one course from the following:
- MSE 502C: Materials Science & Engineering Methods: Materials Microscopy
- MSE 502D: Materials Science & Engineering Methods: Materials Spectroscopy
- MSE 502E: Materials Science & Engineering Methods: Bulk Properties and Performance
- MSE 502F: Materials Science & Engineering Methods: Experimental Methods for Materials Research
Select one course from the following:
- CHEM 511: Solid State Chemistry (3 credits)
- CHEM 517: Chemistry of Electronic Materials (3 credits)
- ECE 574: Optical Properties in Solids (3 credits)
- PH 531: Introductory Condensed Matter Physics (3 credits)
Specialty Courses (6 credits minimum):
- BIOM 570/MECH 570: Bioengineering (3 credits)
- BIOM 592: Seminar (3 credits)
- CBE 501: Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (3 credits)
- CBE 514: Polymer Science and Engineering (3 credits)
- CHEM 515: Polymer Chemistry (3 credits)
- CHEM 550A: Materials Chemistry: Hard Materials (3 credits)
- CHEM 550B: Materials Chemistry: Soft Materials (3 credits)
- CHEM 550C: Materials Chemistry: Nanomaterials (3 credits)
- CHEM 567: Crystallographic Computation (3 credits)
- CHEM 569: Chemical Crystallography (3 credits)
- CHEM 577: Surface Chemistry (3 credits)
- CIVE 560: Advanced Mechanics of Materials (3 credits)
- CIVE 565: Finite Element Method (3 credits)
- CIVE 662: Foundations of Solid Mechanics (3 credits)
- CIVE 664: Mechanics of Fatigue and Fracture (3 credits)
- ECE 505: Nanostructures: Fundamentals and Applications (3 credits)
- ECE 569/MECH 569: Micro-Electro-Mechanical Devices (3 credits)
- ECE 673: Thin Film Growth (3 credits)
- GRAD 544: Ethical Conduct of Research (3 credits)
- MATH 535: Foundations of Applied Mathematics (3 credits)
- MATH 550/ENGR 550: Numerical Methods in Science and Engineering (3 credits)
- MATH 560: Linear Algebra (3 credits)
- MATH 561: Numerical Analysis I (3 credits)
- MATH 750: Numerical Methods and Models I (3 credits)
- MECH 525/BIOM 525: Cell and Tissue Engineering (3 credits)
- MECH 530: Advanced Composite Materials (3 credits)
- MECH 531/BIOM 531: Materials Engineering (3 credits)
- MECH 532/BIOM 532: Materials Issues in Mechanical Design (3 credits)
- MECH 573/BIOM 573: Structure and Function of Biomaterials (3 credits)
- MECH 628: Applied Fracture Mechanics (3 credits)
- MSE 505: Kinetics of Materials (3 credits)
- PH 631: Modern Topics in Condensed Matter Physics (3 credits)
- PH 731: Condensed Matter Theory (3 credits)
Other Courses:
- MSE 651: Special Topics in Materials Science (variable credits)
- MSE 695: Independent Study (variable credits)
- MSE 784: Supervised College Teaching (variable credits)
- MSE 795: Independent Study Program (variable credits)
Other:
- The program requires a minimum of 72 credit hours.
- Students must register for 1 credit of MSE 793 each of their first 4 semesters in the program.
- Students must complete a minimum of 6 credits of MSE 799.
