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Programs of Study, 1997-1999
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Head of the Department: J. Economy
Associate Head: I. M. Robertson
Correspondence and Information: Head, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1304 W. Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801
GRADUATE FACULTY
Professors: C. J. Altstetter, R. S. Averback, H. K. Birnbaum, H. Chen, J. Economy, G. Ehrlich, R. J. Gaylord, Ph. H. Geil, J. M. Gibson, S. Granick, J. E. Greene, W. Kriven, F. V. Lawrence, D. A. Payne, I. M. Robertson, K. Schweizer, S. I. Stupp, J. F. Young
Associate Professors: J. R. Abelson, L. H. Allen, J. Kieffer, A. Rockett, J. K. Shang, G. P. Wirtz
Assistant Professors: P. Bellon, J. Bullard, D. Cahill, J. Lewis, D. Viehland
Adjunct Professors: J. Bass, R. Benedek, J. J. Coleman, K. C. Hsieh, K. Kim, M. Kushner, J. Moore, R. Nuzzo, D. Ruzik, J. Stubbins, K. Suslick, B. Thomas, A. Zangvil
GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAMS
The Department of Materials Science and Engineering offers graduate work leading to the master of science and doctor of philosophy in materials science and engineering and the master of science in ceramic engineering. The student body and the faculty have widely varied backgrounds in science and engineering. Faculty members are carrying out research in many different areas, and students may choose to specialize in various aspects of materials science and engineering, including ceramics, metals, polymers, and electronic materials.
ADMISSION
Graduate students have undergraduate degrees in a number of scientific and engineering disciplines. Admission to graduate study is based on undergraduate performance and letters of reference. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0) is required for admission. All applicants must submit scores from the general aptitude tests of the Graduate Record Examination: verbal, quantitative, and analytical. Applicants whose native language is not English must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum of 575 is required for admission to the graduate program. International students are expected to be proficient in English.
MASTER OF SCIENCE
A candidate for the matter of science degree must complete a minimum of eight units of graduate work, including a thesis. A nine unit, nonthesis degree is also available for students who do not hold a research assistantship. Course work includes graduate courses in the student's area of concentration, (e.g., metals polymers, ceramics, or electronic materials), as well as in other areas of materials science and engineering. There are specific requirements for different areas of concentration in addition to the general departmental requirements. Contact the department for details. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
The Ph.D. degree requires, in addition to the requirements for the M.S. degree, six units of course work, including courses on the statistical thermodynamics of materials and the kinetic processes in materials, and 10 units of thesis credit. A minimum GPA of 3.0 must be maintained for graduation. Course work will include graduate courses in the student's area of concentration, in other materials areas, and in other subjects in science and engineering. There may be additional requirements for different areas of concentration in addition to the general departmental requirements. Contact the department for more details regarding these requirements.
Students must pass the written departmental qualifying examinations covering the subjects of classical and statistical thermodynamics and kinetics, as well as meet additional requirements in the student's area of concentration. This must be taken no later than the beginning of the fourth semester after entering the graduate program with a B.S. degree or the beginning of the third semester after entering with a M.S. degree. A preliminary examination covering the student's thesis research is also required. This examination consists of a brief written research proposal and an oral presentation by the student to a committee of faculty members. This committee will be available for consultation with the student throughout the course of thesis research and will then serve on the student's Ph.D. final examination committee. Students must present a satisfactory research thesis and successfully defend it in a final examination.
FINANCIAL AID
Graduate students may be supported by research assistantships, fellowships, teaching assistantships and waivers of tuition and service fees.
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