The materials science and engineering major for the MS degree is offered through two options:

1. Thesis Option, MS degree
2. Project Option (non-thesis), MS degree

MSE also offers two technical areas of concentration in the MS program: (1) nanomaterials; and (2) automotive materials.

Concentrations (Optional) and Options Available

Nanomaterials — Thesis, Project

Automotive Materials — Thesis, Project

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus

Admissions Standards/Procedures

• The materials science and engineering program is flexible and interdisciplinary in nature. Students may be admitted from a wide range of disciplines. These include physics, chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, materials engineering, nuclear engineering and engineering science programs.
• Applicants for admission to the MS program in materials science and engineering are expected to have completed a bachelor’s degree in an area of engineering or science with a grade-point-average of at least 2.7 out of 4.00 (or 3.0 during the senior year of undergraduate study).
• All applicants must submit scores from the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
• Applicants whose native language is not English must have a minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the written exam or 80 on the Internet-based Test to be considered for admission to the programs.
• After one year in residence and with the approval of the faculty, a student may proceed directly to the doctoral program without completion of a master’s degree.

Credit Hours Required

30 graduate credit hours

Required Courses

• Thesis Option
  • MSE 500  (minimum of 6 credit hours)
  • Complete three of the following four MSE courses: MSE 511 , MSE 512 , MSE 513 , and MSE 514  (total 9 credit hours)
  • Up to an additional 15 credit hours in related areas selected in consultation with the advisor.
• Project Option
  • MSE 580  (3 credit hours)
  • At least 18 credit hours must be in the department and include three of the following four MSE courses: MSE 511 , MSE 512 , MSE 513 , and MSE 514  
  • Up to 12 credit hours may be in related areas selected in consultation with the advisor.
  • Satisfactory completion of MSE 580 , as the culminating experience, requires passage of a technical oral presentation (with an option for an additional written requirement), as proctored by the student’s advisor and committee. Students are not required to take a comprehensive exam as part of the degree requirements.

Additional Course Requirements

• Three credit hours of MSE 503  may be counted toward degree requirements in either the thesis or project option.
• Concentration Requirements: 6 credit hours as follows
  • Automotive Materials: two courses from the approved course list below for the automotive materials concentration
    • MSE 484  
    • MSE 510  
    • MSE 525  
    • MSE 527  
    • MSE 532  
    • MSE 552  
    • ME 517  
    • ME 565  
    • ME 567  
    • ME 588  
    • ME 589  
    • ME 591     
    • MSE 612  
    • MSE 650  
    • MSE 675  
  • Nanomaterials: two courses from the approved course list below for the nanomaterials concentration
    • BME 578  
    • MSE 515  
    • MSE 522  
    • MSE 540  
    • MSE 551  
    • MSE 556  
    • MSE 567  
    • MSE 612  
    • MSE 630  
    • MSE 644  
    • MSE 666  

Non-Course Requirements

• Thesis Option

1. Satisfactory performance on a comprehensive oral examination administered by the faculty committee; (2) Completion of a written MS thesis.

• Project Option
  • Any candidate may apply for a Project non-thesis option. Upon acceptance, a supervisory committee of three will be appointed. At least two members of the committee will be from the faculty in the major area. Students are not required to take a comprehensive exam as part of the degree requirements.

 

Five-Year BS/MS Program – Materials Science and Engineering Major, MS

The department offers a 5-year BS/MS program with a BS (major in materials science and engineering) and an MS (major in materials science and engineering) for qualified students. The primary component of the program is a qualified student may take up to 9 credit hours of approved graduate courses for their senior undergraduate electives and have them count toward both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees at UT. This program is designed for students attending UT for their Master of Science degree because other universities may not accept these courses for graduate credit since they were used to satisfy requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree. Significant components of the program are:

• Students must have an overall GPA of 3.40 in required course work. Conditional admission to the 5-year program may be granted after completion of 65 credit hours of required course work, while full admission may be granted after the completion of 96 credit hours of required course work with a minimum GPA of 3.40.
• Admission must be approved by the department and the Graduate School.
• Students must at least be conditionally admitted to the program prior to taking courses that receive credit for both the BS and MS degrees.
• All courses taken for graduate credit must be approved by the director of graduate studies. Students admitted to the program must request permission from the Graduate School to take approved courses for graduate credit. Students admitted to the program must also follow the normal procedure for admission to the Graduate School.
• Students will not be eligible for graduate assistantships until they are enrolled as graduate-level students in the Graduate School.