Program Overview

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Materials Science and Engineering (MSMSE)

The Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering program is primarily for students with bachelor's degrees in Materials Science and Engineering or a closely related discipline.

Program Description

The Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering at UCF is designed to advance your knowledge and skills in the development and discovery of materials. The degree, housed within the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, offers a wide variety of courses that provide state-of-the-art research opportunities working with faculty members who are active in various sponsored research funded by local and national industry partners.

Fields of Emphasis and Research

Fields of emphasis and research for materials science and engineering include:

• Crystal growth
• High temperature materials and coatings
• Multicomponent interdiffusion
• Material stability and degradation
• Shape memory alloys
• Mechanical behavior
• Magnetic and optical and electronic materials
• Thin films
• Solar cells
• Sensors
• Ceramics
• Powder metallurgy
• Non-equilibrium processing of materials
• Nano synthesis and consolidation
• Nanomaterials including quantum dots nanowires and nanocomposites
• Biomaterials
• Electrochemically active materials

Program Requirements

The Materials Science and Engineering MS program offers both thesis and nonthesis options with each requiring a minimum of 30 credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree. In general, the program includes 12-15 credit hours of required courses with the remaining courses being electives except for at least six credit hours of thesis work for students in the thesis option.

Total Credit Hours Required

• 30 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree

Program Prerequisites

A bachelor's degree in Materials Science and Engineering or a closely related discipline.

• Prerequisites (or equivalent):
  • Ordinary Differential Equations I (MAP 2302)
  • Structure and Properties of Materials (EGN 3365)
  • Mechanics of Materials (EGN 3331C) or Thermodynamics (EGN 3343)
  • Experimental Techniques in Materials I (EMA 3012C)

Application Requirements

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans.

Financial Information

For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances.

Fellowship Information

Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies.

Thesis and Nonthesis Options

• The thesis option is primarily for those students who can devote a full-time effort to completing an independent research project that leads to a thesis.
• The nonthesis option is primarily designed for part-time and online students and requires 30 credit hours of coursework.

Program of Study

All students are expected to identify an adviser and file an official degree program of study prior to the completion of 9 credit hours of study. All programs of study must consist of at least 24 credit hours of required and elective courses, exclusive of thesis and research.

Equipment Fee

Students in the Materials Science and Engineering MSMSE program pay $17 per semester for equipment each semester that they are enrolled. Part-time students pay $8.50 per semester.

Independent Learning

The Independent Learning Requirement is met by successful completion of a master's thesis or EMA 6096 - Research Methods in Materials Science and Engineering or EMA 6918 Directed Research for nonthesis students.