A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is preferred, and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in major course work is required. Each graduate department may have additional “special admission requirements” which are noted on this page.

• Completed on-line application and signature page or
• Download the paper application (HTML) | (Acrobat)
• The non-refundable $45 application fee (Waivers accepted for FAMU Feeder Program and McNair Scholars)
• Official transcripts must be submitted directly from the Registrar’s Office from ALL colleges and universities attended
• GRE Scores (Only official score reports are accepted within 5 years of the test date) www.gre.org
• Statement of Academic and Research Interest
• Autobiographical Sketch (Personal biography)
• Resume
• Three letters of recommendation Word

For International Applicants

In addition to the requirements listed above you must meet the following:

• Official transcripts, certificates and/or mark/grade sheets must be sent directly from the college or university to the Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions, and must show proof of degree(s) earned, courses taken and marks/grades received. Also, ALL transcripts must be evaluated by World Education Services (www.wes.org) or AACRAO (www.aacrao.org) and be forwarded to Graduate Recruitment and Admissions.
• TOEFL Scores (Minimum computer-based score of 213 is required and only official score reports are accepted within 2 years of the test date) www.toelf.org

Special Admission Requirements for Doctor of Philosophy degree:

A total of 72 credit hours are required and distributed as follows:

1. a maximum of 18 credit hours for research, depending on the department

2. a maximum of 15 credit hours in core courses in a department

3. a minimum of 27 credit hours in materials science and engineering core area courses, (at least 3 of which must be in Mathematical Methods).

The 10 materials science and engineering core areas are: 

1. Mathematical Methods

2. Thermodynamics/Statistical Mechanics

3. Atomic Arrangements in Solids

4. Phase Equilibria

5. Waves and Diffraction in Materials

6. Imperfections in Crystalline Solids

7. Rate Processes in Materials

8. Mechanical Behavior of Materials

9. Electronic Behavior of Materials

10. Synthesis, Characterization Processing, and Manufacturing

No more than 6 credit hours may be taken in one core area. It is to be noted that in some instances, two or three of these core areas are covered in a single course extending over two semesters. Graduate core courses in MASEAD departments usually cover many MASEAD program core requisites and satisfy course credit hours. The remaining course credit hours may be taken from electives, subject to the approval of the MSE Program Committee and consistent with departmental requirements. No more semester credit hours than are permitted by a department for approved courses having a grade of B or higher may be transferred from another University.

A MASEAD program student is required to maintain at least a B (3.00) overall average in core area courses and in all courses outside the core area. A student failing to maintain a 3.00 grade point average as previously specified will be re-evaluated by the MSE Program Committee in consultation with the student's department, and may be suspended from the program or given a specified time to correct deficiencies inherent in the substandard performance. Course grades of C or lower will not be counted in fulfillment of the minimum requirements for the Ph.D.

Doctor of Philosophy Requirements

For MASEAD program students in departments with both qualifying and preliminary examinations, the former will be administered by the department in which the student is registered. The preliminary examination for MASEAD program students shall be taken no earlier than the beginning of the second year of full-time graduate study and no later than the third. Any exceptions to this requirement must be approved by the MSE Program Committee and must be consistent with departmental rules for taking the preliminary examination.

For departments giving qualifying and preliminary examinations, the preliminary examination will conform to the time and structure of the examination in a given department. For MASEAD program students, it is recommended that a portion of this examination be focused around a materials area. In instances where a MASEAD program student has performed exceptionally well in courses prior to taking the preliminary examination it is recommended that the preliminary examination be an oral presentation centered around a materials research topic before a committee of six (but no less than five) professors, not necessarily limited to those departments in the program. In other instances, a combination of written and oral examinations may be specified. In these situations, the type of examination administered and the examination committee must be approved by the MSE Program Committee and the student's department.

An additional oral presentation on the thesis work is required for departments giving only a preliminary or one examination for the Ph.D. (Physics and Mechanical Engineering). This oral presentation is given after passing the one examination for Ph.D. candidacy, but before the normal thesis defense and serves to test the student's knowledge of materials in the context of his/her thesis and to ensure that a student is making adequate progress towards completion of the Ph.D. degree. The time of this presentation is determined by the research advisor in conjunction with an examining committee (six professors, no less than five) subject to the approval by the MSE Program Committee and the student's department.

A MASEAD program Ph.D. student will qualify for candidacy for the Ph.D. in the program by:

1. satisfying the 72 credit hours for the Ph.D. as previously given;

2. passing the written qualifying examinations in a department;

3. passing preliminary oral or oral and written examinations as specified under examination requirements;

4. submitting a thesis proposal in a materials area; and, 

5. writing and defending an original thesis in a materials area.

The successful Ph.D. student will be awarded the Ph.D. degree in a department which will read "(Ph.D. in (department name) with a Major in Materials Science and Engineering."

Master of Science Requirements

A total of 30 credit hours is required and distributed as follows:

1. a minimum of 9 credit hours taken from MASEAD Program core area courses

2. a maximum of 6 credit hours for research the remaining 15 credit hours distributed between graduate core courses in a department and recommended graduate electives.

In addition: 

1. a student wishing to qualify for candidacy for the M.S. degree must satisfy any departmental requirements for this degree, and write and defend a master's 

2. thesis in a materials area under the direction of a research advisor, and 

3. receive an M.S. degree from a department reading "M.S. in (department name) with a Major in Materials Science and Engineering."

For both the M.S. and Ph.D. levels, any conflict concerning course requirements and examinations between the MASEAD and a department in the program shall defer to departmental requirements.

Core Area Courses

The MASEAD program core areas and the courses and faculty in the various departments which cover them are provided below. A wide range of course offerings are available in the Departments of Physics, Chemistry, Electrical, Chemical and Mechanical Engineering and an individual graduate program can be developed with the assistance of a faculty advisor. Courses in areas of research are available in computational materials science, condensed matter theory x-ray diffraction, laser chemistry, materials chemistry, polymers, biomaterials, electronic materials processing, materials synthesis and characterization, thin films, solid-state electronics and devices, optical behavior of materials and measurements, electronic transport, nanophase composites, mechanical behavior of solids, fracture mechanics, manufacturing and automation, robotics and computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM).

It is to be noted that there may be more than one department (and course) under a given core area. Though the basic principles and regulations in a given core area are fixed, the emphasis and use of these principles will vary depending upon the department and discipline. For example, the core area, "Rate Processes in Materials," lists two courses in Chemical Engineering and one in Chemistry, but the curriculum emphasis in these courses differ. It is anticipated that MASEAD program students would take the core area course given in their own department. This is in keeping with the "student-friendly" nature of the program in which students apply principles in a subject area with which they are familiar. It maintains the integrity of departments by having students take as many core area courses as possible in the department in which they are enrolled. However, because of the interdisciplinary nature of the MASEAD Program, students will take core area courses outside of their primary departments, bringing them into contact with students from other departments to further enhance their educational experience.

Core Area Courses

Mathematical Methods

Physics

021-192/193 - Introduction to Mathematical Physics
216-216/217 - Mathematics Methods in Physics

Chemistry

004-183/205-283 - Mathematics Methods for Chemistry

Electrical Engineering

235-502/503 - Engineering Analysis

Mechanical Engineering

304-303 - Engineering Methods

Chemical Engineering

233-504 - Advanced Mathematics for Chemical Engineers
Thermodynamics/Statistical Mechanics

Physics

021-173 - Thermodynamics
216-222/223 - Statistical Mechanics

Chemistry

004-171 - Physical Chemistry Lecture
205-271- Statistical Chemical Thermodynamics

Chemical Engineering

305-303 - Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
233-502 - Advanced Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
Atomic Arrangement in Solids Waves and Diffractioning Materials 

(These two core areas are covered in one course)

Electrical Engineering

235-531/532 - Solid State Physics

Phase Equilibria

Imperfections in Crystalline Solids

Electrical Engineering

235-535 - Solid-State Devices
Rate Processes in Materials

Chemistry

004-171 - Physical Chemistry Lecture

Chemical Engineering

305-403 - Chemical Engineering Kinetics
Mechanical Properties of Materials

Electrical Engineering

303-201 - Materials Science

Mechanical Engineering

304-204 - Introduction to Solid Mechanics
304-206 - Solid Mechanics Lab
304-309 - Materials Science
Electronic Properties of Materials

Physics

216-292/293 - Special Topics in Solid-State Physics

Electrical Engineering

303-461/462 - Solid State Electronics
235-535/537 - Solid State Devices
235-526 - Solid State Microwave Devices
235-697/698 - Special Topics in Semiconductors
235-531/532 - Solid State Physics

Synthesis, Characterization, Process and Manufacturing

Chemistry

205-268/269 Polymer Characterization Lecture and Lab

Electrical Engineering

303-420 - Introduction to VLSI Design
235-533 - Microelectronics

Mechanical Engineering

304-444 - Robotics
236-533 - CAD in Manufacturing
236-535 - Projects in Manufacturing

Chemical Engineering

305-406 - Introduction to Polymer Systems
305-413 - Process Engineering in Energy Systems

      For electives and special topics courses, consult the MASEAD program.