Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Materials Science and Engineering

FAMU—FSU College of Engineering

Website: https://materials.fsu.edu

Director: Eric Hellstrom

Materials Science and Engineering is an interdisciplinary graduate program that leads to the degrees of Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Materials Science and Engineering. Students interested in this program have a wide variety of backgrounds: engineering disciplines (including: biomedical, civil, chemical, computer, engineering physics, environmental, industrial, manufacturing, materials science, mechanical), applied mathematics, biology, chemistry, geology, and physics. Participating faculty hold appointments in Biological Science, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, and Scientific Computing.

The curriculum requires core and specialization courses, plus a thesis or dissertation. The core courses are designed to give students from the various disciplines a common background in materials. The courses for the degrees are taught within the participating departments.

Admission Requirements — MS and PhD

Students apply to Materials Science and Engineering through the program's Website at https://materials.fsu.edu, where there are links to the online admission system for the Florida State University Office of Admissions. Complete applications including all supporting documents must be received by December 15th to be considered for financial aid for the following Fall semester. Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

  • 3.0 undergraduate GPA (4.0 scale) as an upper-level undergraduate
  • GRE scores of at least the 75th percentile for the Quantitative section and the 55th percentile for the Verbal section
  • MS applicants are not required to take the GRE exam.
  • Three recent letters of recommendation from individuals who are able to assess the applicant's academic and research potential
  • Transcripts—International applicants or degrees earned from international institutions must submit official transcripts through a NACES approved evaluator. We recommend using SpanTran for your course-by-course evaluation. We are unable to review applications with unofficial transcripts from international institutions. The University will not waive this requirement.
  • Test of English for applicants whose native language is not English—International applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination and obtain a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based or 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL examination. International students expecting to receive appointments as teaching assistants are required to pass a test of spoken English administered by the FSU Center for Intensive English Studies (https://cies.fsu.edu) when they arrive at Florida State University.

Degree Requirements — MS (Thesis)

Overall requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering are:

  1. Admission to Materials Science and Engineering
  2. A minimum of 30 credit hours as follows:
    1. Twelve credits of letter graded core courses—three required courses, one elective core course
    2. Twelve credits of letter graded specialization courses
    3. Six credits of thesis research
    4. Interdisciplinary seminar series all semesters
  3. Complete master's research in materials science and engineering
  4. Submit and successfully defend an acceptable master's thesis

A list of the core and specialization courses can be found at https://materials.fsu.edu.

Degree Requirements — MS (Coursework Only)

Overall requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering are:

  1. Admission to Materials Science and Engineering
  2. A minimum of 30 credit hours as follows:
    1. Twelve credits of letter graded core courses - three required courses, one elective core course
    2. Fifteen credits of letter graded specialization courses
    3. Three additional credits of letter graded specialization courses or S/U graded Directed Independent Study
    4. Interdisciplinary seminar series all semesters
  3. Give an oral presentation in the Materials Science and Engineering seminar series

A list of the core and specialization courses can be found at https://materials.fsu.edu.

Doctoral Degree Requirements

Overall requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Materials Science and Engineering for students entering with a BS degree are:

  1. Admission to Materials Science and Engineering
  2. A minimum of fifty-four credits with the following minimum requirements:
    1. Twelve credits of letter graded core courses - three required courses, one elective core course
    2. Fifteen credits of letter graded specialization courses (five specialization courses)
    3. Twenty-four credits of dissertation research
    4. Interdisciplinary seminar series all semesters
  3. Successfully pass a qualifying examination
  4. Successfully pass a preliminary exam, which includes presenting and defending a prospectus
  5. Complete PhD research in materials science and engineering
  6. Submit and successfully defend an acceptable PhD dissertation

A list of the core and specialization courses can be found at https://materials.fsu.edu.

Definition of Prefix

ISC—Interdisciplinary Sciences

Graduate Courses

ISC 5905r. Directed Independent Study - MS&E (1–12). (S/U grade only). This course involves study on a selected topic as designated by the student and the directing professor. May be repeated to a maximum of fifty-four (54) semester hours.

ISC 5937r. Interdisciplinary Seminar Series - MS&E (0). (S/U grade only). This course is a seminar series for Materials Science and Engineering students. It is required every Fall and Spring semester through graduation. May be repeated; repeatable within the same term.

ISC 6970r. Thesis Research - MS&E (1–12). (S/U grade only). A minimum of six semester hours are required for the MS degree. May be repeated to a maximum of twenty-four (24) semester hours; repeatable within the same term.

ISC 6976r. Master's Thesis Defense - MS&E (0). (P/F grade only.) May be repeated with instructor permission.

ISC 8960r. PhD Preliminary Exam - MS&E (0). (P/F grade only.) May be repeated with instructor permission; repeatable within the same term.

ISC 8980r. Dissertation Research - MS&E (1–12). (S/U grade only). A minimum of twenty-four semester hours are required for the PhD degree. May be repeated to a maximum of eighty-one (81) semester hours.

ISC 8983r. PhD Dissertation Defense - MS&E (0). (P/F grade only.) May be repeated with instructor permission; repeatable within the same term.