Materials PhD Curriculum

The Materials program offers students a mixture of high-quality education and cutting-edge research. Faculty members carry out research in many different areas including polymers, thin films, soft actuators, battery materials, laser ultrasonics, flash sintering, nanomaterials for energy, heat transfer and meta materials. Graduate students have ample opportunities to choose to specialize in various aspects of materials science and engineering.

Course Guidance

In addition to PhD requirements, no specific course is required for this research area. The courses below are intended to provide guidance on typical course options for students interested in Materials.

Strongly Recommended

  • MCEN 5024 Materials Chemistry & Structure
  • MCEN 5044 Mechanical Behavior of Materials
  • MCEN 5034 Thermodynamics & Kinetics of Materials
  • MCEN 5228 Introduction to Polymers
  • MCEN 5023 Solid Mechanics or CVEN 5131 Continuum Mechanics & Elasticity

Specialized Courses/Electives: Biomaterials Interest

  • MCEN 5044 Mechanical Behavior of Materials
  • MCEN 5228 Biomechanics
  • MCEN 5228 Materials in Medicine
  • MCEN 5228 Biocolloids/Biomembranes
  • MCEN 5228 Micro/Nano/Bio
  • MCEN 6184 Structure & Properties of Polymers
  • CHEN 5710 Molecular Basis of Biological Behavior
  • CHEN 5450 Polymer Chemistry
  • PHYS 5130 Biological Electron Microscopy: Principles & Recent Advances

Specialized Courses/Electives: Mechanics of Materials Interest

  • MCEN 5044 Mechanical Behavior of Materials
  • MCEN 5228 Introduction to Polymers
  • MCEN 5228 Mechanics of Soft Materials
  • MCEN 5228 Mechanical Failure of Materials
  • MCEN 5228 Thin Film Materials
  • MCEN 6184 Structure & Properties of Polymers
  • ASEN 5519 Advances in Materials Processing

Specialized Courses/Electives: Energy Materials Interest

  • MCEN 5154 Energy Conversion & Storage
  • MCEN 6228 Microfluidics for Biomedical Applications

Specialized Courses/Electives: Nanomaterials Interest

  • PHYS 3220 Quantum Mechanics 1
  • MCEN 5115 Mechatronics & Robotics
  • MCEN 5228 Intro to Nanoscience
  • MCEN 5528 Nanomaterials

Specialized Courses/Electives: Electrical/Optical Materials Interest

  • ECEN 5345 Introduction to Solid State
  • ECEN 5365 Semiconductor Materials & Devices 1
  • ECEN 6365 Semiconductor Materials & Devices 2
  • ECEN 5385 Optical Properties of Materials
  • MCEN 5636 MEMS 1
  • MCEN 5010 Microsystems Integration
  • MCEN 5228 Intro to Nanoscience
  • MCEN 5228 Nanomaterials