University of Michigan - Department of Materials Science and Engineering - Overview
Top Graduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering at UM
The University of Michigan (UM), located in Ann Arbor, is a public research university that is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan.
The university's Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) situated within the College of Engineering, is one of the oldest, largest, and most technically diverse graduate programs of its kind in the nation and throughout the world. The department offers two master's degrees and one doctoral program.
Highly ranked for its substantial levels of research funding, the depth and breadth of its faculty's expertise, and its diverse student body, the department offers students a challenging, well-rounded education at the forefront of materials research.
High Caliber Focus and Facilities Among Nation's Best
Core competencies of UM's MSE program include structural, electronic, and inorganic materials; organic and bio materials; and computational materials science. These continue to expand, keeping pace with advances in nanoscience, energy conversion and storage, photonics, and sensor design.
Computational materials science has more recently become part of the program's focus. It encompasses computer modeling and simulation to guide the design, development, and characterization of materials -- all identified as areas of national need by the National Science Foundation and other science organizations.
The University of Michigan has committed significant resources to improving the quality of its materials science laboratories, making them competitive with the best materials science centers in the nation. Students in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering work in high-caliber materials synthesis and characterization facilities.
For example, the Electron Microbeam Analysis Laboratory, or EMAL, includes a state-of-the-art electron microscope and focused ion beam machining equipment. Also, a new X-ray Micro Analysis Laboratory, or XMAL, provides nanoscale characterization capabilities.
Leading the Research Frontier in Materials Science
Materials research at the University of Michigan covers a broad range of material systems, technical approaches, and applications in biomedical, electronic, energy, nanotechnology, and structural fields.
Among UM's 8 centers of research dedicated to these studies are: the Center for Advanced Electronic Materials, the Center for Nanomaterials Science, and the Center for Solar and Thermal Conversion.
Research funding in the MSE department currently includes 3 multi-million-dollar, multi-investigator, interdisciplinary grants from the U.S. Department of Defense, the Department of Education, and the National Science Foundation.
Research expenditures in the MSE department are among the highest in the college, demonstrating its commitment to leading developments in the field. The department also has a training grant from the Department of Education, providing fellowships for research and studies in areas of national need.
Two Master of Science in Engineering Degree Tracks
The University of Michigan offers 2 different types of Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) degrees: one with a primary focus on coursework (coursework M.S.E.) and one with an emphasis on research (research M.S.E.).
Coursework M.S.E. Requirements
Requirements for the coursework M.S.E. degree involve 30 credit hours of courses, 15 of which must be MSE department courses. Students must also complete 2 cognate (elective) courses, which may include biochemistry, aerospace, applied physics, biophysics, astronomy, and others.
Up to 8 credit hours may be satisfied by MSE 690, Research Problems in Materials Science and Engineering, in which students work in groups or individually on problems of particular interest to them and submit a final report. The paper must be approved by the project supervisor and may also be used as a document for the Ph.D. oral candidacy exam.
Research M.S.E. Requirements
Requirements for the research M.S.E. degree involve a total of 30 credit hours of combined coursework and research. Twelve credit hours must be in MSE department courses and 9 must be in MSE 690.
Students must also complete 2 cognate courses (a minimum of 4 credit hours) and defend an oral master's thesis. The oral defense may also serve as the Ph.D. oral candidacy exam at the committee's discretion.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements
Candidates for the Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering must complete a total of 68 credit hours, 50 of which are beyond the relevant M.S.E. degree, as well as 2 cognate courses and a written exam.
One semester of teaching experience as a graduate student instructor is required, as is submission of a Ph.D. thesis and final defense.
Faculty Diversity and Experience Widely Recognized
Many students say the cutting-edge faculty was the reason they enrolled in the MSE graduate program. UM's College of Engineering faculty is widely known for its diversity, depth, enthusiasm, and breadth of expertise. Women comprise nearly a quarter of the MSE faculty, which is more than twice the national average.
The majority of the 20-member faculty hold joint appointments in other engineering and scientific disciplines, including macromolecular science and engineering; chemical, biomedical, and mechanical engineering; physics; biology; and chemistry.
Faculty members are distinguished not only for research accomplishments, but they also serve as leaders of, and hold fellowships in, many professional and technical societies. Most are editors or members of editorial boards of prestigious scientific journals and have filed patents; several have founded companies.
University of Michigan "Pedigree" Fuels Employment Opportunities
UM's MSE graduates say that the program's entrepreneurial spirit keeps them involved and engaged. The chance to work with faculty on cutting-edge laboratory research frequently spins off into start-up ventures, giving graduates an advantage when they enter the job market.
Alumni say the MSE program has prepared them well for a competitive, global workplace. Recruiters from top academic, governmental, and corporate institutions often consider the University of Michigan "pedigree" as a preferred status for job candidates.