Program Overview

MSc in Materials Science and Engineering

The MSc in Materials Science and Engineering is a postgraduate program that focuses on the investigation of the relationships between material structures and properties, as well as designing or engineering the structure of a material to produce a predetermined set of properties.

Overview

The program is hosted by the faculty of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and builds around the interest and expertise of a team of faculty in materials science and engineering. The degree of Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering (MSc in MSEN) is awarded for successfully completing the requirements of a program of study, which includes taught courses as well as a thesis.

Objectives

The educational goals of the MSc in MSEN program are to produce graduates who will:

• Identify and address current and future needs in various aspects of materials and devices for all sorts of applications towards a sustainable and improved human well-being.
• Apply a multi-disciplinary approach to conceive, plan, design, and implement innovations and solutions to problems and challenges that involve materials and their properties and applications.
• Determine the potential impact of materials-based technologies and innovations on the social, economic, environmental aspects.
• Promote science-based engineering, technical scholarship, service to society, leadership, best practice, and life-long learning.

Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with the MSc in MSEN will be able to:

• Apply advanced concepts of fundamental sciences and engineering to identify, formulate and solve complex materials and devices problems.
• Design and develop materials, devices, systems, and processes to meet desired needs of society professionally and ethically.
• Design and conduct experiments in the area of materials and/or devices and to analyze and interpret data.
• Be continuously aware of contemporary issues and research opportunities/challenges in the field of materials engineering as related to energy and sustainability and engage in life-long learning in the field and in the fundamentals of other related disciplines.
• Deploy advanced materials characterization techniques, skills, and modern scientific and engineering tools.
• Communicate effectively in written and oral form, both, individually and as a member of a multidisciplinary team.

Structure and Requirements

The MSc MSEN consists of a minimum 30 credit hours, distributed as follows: 12 credit hours of Program Core courses, 9 credit hours of Elective courses, 9 credit hours of Master's Thesis, and a zero credit Research Methods course.

Program Component

• Seminar in Research Methods: 0 credit hours
• Program Core: 12 credit hours
• Program Electives: 9 credit hours
• Master's Thesis: 9 credit hours
• Total: 30 credit hours

Program Requirements

Students seeking the degree of MSc in Materials Science and Engineering must successfully complete a minimum 30 credit hours as specified in the program requirements detailed below, with a minimum CGPA of 3.0.

Program Core (12 Credit Hours)

Students must complete the core courses listed below:

• ENGR 695: Seminar in Research Methods (0 credit hours)
• MEEN 630: Advanced Engineering Mathematics (3 credit hours)
• MSEN 607: Thermodynamics of Materials (3 credit hours)
• MSEN 608: Kinetics of Materials (3 credit hours)
• MSEN 623: Electrical, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Crystalline Materials (3 credit hours)

Program Electives and Concentrations (9 credit hours)

Students must select three courses from the list below:

• MSEN 605: Structure and Properties of Polymers (3 credit hours)
• MSEN 606: Materials Processing and Manufacturing Technologies (3 credit hours)
• MSEN 611: Photovoltaic Technologies: Materials, Devices and Systems (3 credit hours)
• MSEN 612: Physics for Solid-State Application (3 credit hours)
• MSEN 619: Crystallography and Diffraction (3 credit hours)
• MSEN 621: Mechanical Properties of Materials (3 credit hours)
• MSEN 622: Electrical, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Amorphous Materials (3 credit hours)
• MSEN 624: Thermal Properties of Materials (3 credit hours)
• MSEN 694: Selected Topics in Material Science and Engineering (3 credit hours)

Concentration in Space Systems and Technology

The program offers an optional concentration in Space Systems and Technology. Students choosing this concentration are expected to attain the following concentration-specific learning outcomes:

1. Demonstrate proficiency in space systems analysis and design.
2. Acquire skills in advanced satellite development, assembly, integration, and testing.

Master's Thesis (minimum 9 credit hours)

Students must complete a Master's Thesis that involves creative, research-oriented work within the broad field of MSEN, under the direct supervision of a full-time faculty advisor from the Mechanical Engineering Department, and at least one other full-time faculty who acts as a co-advisor.

Career Opportunities

The MSc in Materials Science and Engineering at KU is a transdisciplinary program that provides graduates with a unique niche in a bustling and rapidly emerging area of science and engineering. Graduates can be employed in various industries, including high-tech petro-chemical, construction, metal, and aluminum, as well as renewable energy and shipping. Career opportunities for students with a graduate degree in Materials Science and Engineering are endless, covering material synthesis & characterization and materials for sustainable energy, clean water, photovoltaics, optical, catalysis, metallurgy, graphene, carbon nanotubes, composites, and polymers.