Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Thesis and Non-Thesis Options Are Available for Master of Science Degree Students in Materials Science and Engineering

Ohio State University's master's program in materials science and engineering (MSE) is tailored to provide students with the chance to obtain additional necessary skills and knowledge in a particular field of materials science. Through the study of materials science and engineering, students strives to understand the composition of materials, and then comprehend how to tailor-make those materials' desirable properties.

Ohio State University offers with-thesis and non-thesis paths for students working toward an M. S. degree in materials science and engineering. Programs that include a thesis take about two years to complete, if a student attends classes full time, including summers. A student holding a graduate research associateship (GRA) assists his or her adviser with about 20 hours of research work each week throughout this period. During a student's final one or two quarters, they develop a thesis document that must be defended in the presence of a two-member council of the program's faculty.

The program's non-thesis option essentially requires academic course work and defense of a written document (for example, a critical literature review) that is due during the last quarter of enrollment. Within the M.S. non-thesis degree program, students put heavy emphasis on academic study in place of performing the structured research required in the with-thesis degree program. The typical timeframe of completion for a M.S. non-thesis degree is between five and eight quarters.

At Ohio State, MSE Research Focuses on the Link Between the Structure and Chemistry of Materials and Their Properties

The faculty in the materials science and engineering department at Ohio State University recognizes there is a link between the physical structure and chemistry between materials and their deteriorative, magnetic, optical, thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties. It strives to help students understand these links by focusing on the relationships between the performance, properties, structure, and processing of six different key classes of distinct materials: biomaterials, semiconductors, composites, polymers, ceramics, and metals. This grouping allows students to study materials that have comparable atomic structure, engineering properties, and chemical makeup. The study of materials science and engineering has led to the advancement of technology with applications such as transducers, fuel cell components, high-temperature sensors, ferroelectric materials, and low-temperature superconductors.

The Center for Emergent Materials (CEM) at Ohio State University in Columbus is a National Science Foundation-supported Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC). CEM research and activities are focused on an innovative, groundbreaking study of electron-spin injection and transport, as well as the unification and utilization of multifunctional characteristics of double perovskite heterostructures. While research is of great importance at this facility, education is of equal importance. Programs on OSU's Columbus campus are interactive and address the cognitive cause in nature of materials science and engineering concepts.

Students at Ohio State University Find Much to Do In and Around Columbus, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio, is a metropolis that still provides the friendliness and convenience of a small town. Great shopping, a vibrant cultural scene, and easy transit make the city a great place for students of Ohio State University to live and learn.

The art and cultural scene in Columbus is quite lively. The city's downtown area, known as the Short North, provides the university's students with numerous galleries and museums, including the Wexner Center for the Arts, which is actually located right on campus; the Columbus Museum of Art; the Columbus Contemporary Theatre Company; the Shadow Box Cabaret; Broadway America; Opera Columbus; and Ballet Met. Other interesting sights include the Thurber House, German Village, Kelton House, and the Brewery District and Heritage Museum, to name just a few. Columbus also serves as home port for the sole existing reproduction of the Santa Maria, Christopher Columbus' flagship.

Outdoor activities abound and students of Ohio State University are never at a loss for places to amuse themselves. World renowned amusement parks such as Cedar Point, King's Island, and Geauga Lake's Wildwater Kingdom are just a gas tank away from the city. Animal lovers can spend the day in the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium or at Zoombezi Bay. Plant lovers take advantage of Franklin Park Conservatory. And music lovers have more than ample access to world-class performances at a myriad of venues, festivals, and events that take place all year.

Ohio State University is within minutes of Port Columbus International Airport and some of the best shopping and entertainment venues in the state of Ohio are about 30 minutes away.