MS non-thesis degree requirements, MSE

The master's degree program is designed to give students the opportunity to gain additional knowledge and necessary skills in a specific area of Materials Science. A non-thesis option master's primarily involves academic course work followed by the defense of a written document, such as critical literature review, during the final term of enrollment. The structured research component of the MS with Thesis is not present in the non-thesis option. The requirements for the MS non-thesis degree, as established by the MSE Graduate Studies Committee, are as follows:

Degree requirements effective AU19

For graduate students who entered the graduate program in or after AU19 and for those admitted prior to AU19 choosing to follow this curriculum.

MATSCEN MS Non-Thesis Requirements Worksheet (PDF)

I 30 total graduate credit hours are required for an MS degree

A Of these 30 hours, at least 18 credit hours must be graded graduate level courses.

1. Of these 18 hours, at least 12 credit hours must be taken in MSE at the 6000-level or greater.
2. Of these 18 hours, 6 credit hours may come from 5000-level or greater MSE course work or course work outside MSE. If taken outside MSE, it is understood that any credit hours are at the 5000-level or greater and are related to the student's area of materials study (i.e., from the hard sciences and/or engineering) unless previously approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.

B At least 12 credit hours of the 30 credit hours may come from other courses, besides those listed in A1&2, to bring the total graduate credit hours to 30 or greater.

1. Of these 12 credit hours, at least 3 and no more than 4 credit hours of MSE 7895 (Graduate Seminar and Colloquium, 1 credit hours), all with Satisfactory grade, will count toward the requirement.
2. Credit for MSE 6193.01 (Individual Study) may be earned toward fulfillment of this 12 credit hour minimum during completion of the written document (see II below).

II Master’s Examination

The master’s examination is taken after submitting the Application to Graduate form and during the autumn or spring semester or summer term in which the student plans to graduate.

The master’s examination for a student pursuing the non-thesis option includes a written portion (Final Document) and may include an oral portion if the Master’s Examination Committee decides so.

A Master’s Examination Committee

The master’s examination is administered under the auspices of the Graduate Studies Committee. The responsibility for the examination rests with the student’s master’s examination committee. The master’s examination committee is composed of at least two Graduate Faculty members including the student’s advisor. The advisor of a master’s student must hold membership at the category M level or higher in the student’s graduate program (MSE). Non-Graduate Faculty members may be appointed to the master’s examination committee by approval of the Graduate Studies Committee and by petition to the Graduate School. Non-Graduate Faculty members are in addition to the required two current Ohio State Graduate Faculty members.

B Final Document

The written portion of the non-thesis master’s exam consists of submission to the student’s MS examination committee of a written document comprising, for example, a critical review of a technical topic, description of a design exercise, or a report on data analysis work. MSE 6193.01 credit is earned during its preparation. Prior approval of the topic by the advisor is required through an email to the Graduate Studies Coordinator. Approval of the topic should take place before the end of the second semester of study in the program. The written portion of the exam is considered completed once the Master’s Exam Committee finds the document of Satisfactory quality.

C Oral Portion

If the committee decides that the non-thesis master’s examination should include an oral portion, it
must take place on Campus during announced university business hours, Monday through Friday
8 am – 5 pm. The advisor serves as chair. The exam should focus on the contents of the Final
Document and should be limited to less than 2 hours. Except when video conferencing is involved,
all members of the master’s examination committee must be present during the entire examination
and are expected to participate fully in questioning during the course of the examination and in the
discussion and decision on the result.

D Video Conferencing

All master’s examinations involving video conferencing must adhere to the Graduate School’s
guidelines for video conferencing.

Ref: Graduate School Handbook sec 6
https://gradsch.osu.edu/handbook/6-masters-degree

 

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Degree requirements--SU12-SU19

For graduate students who entered the graduate program in or after SU12 through SU19.

I 30 total graduate credit hours are required for an MS degree

A Of these 30 hours, at least 21 credit hours must be graded graduate level courses.

1. Of these 21 hours, at least 12 credit hours must be taken in MSE, 5000-level or greater.
   • Of these 12 hours, at least 4 credit hours must be taken at the 6000 level or above in MSE.
2. Of these 21 hours, 9 credit hours may come from additional MSE course work or course work outside MSE. If taken outside MSE, it is understood that any credit hours are to be related to the student's area of materials study (hard sciences and/or engineering) unless previously approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.

B At least 9 credit hours of the 30 credit hours may come from other courses, besides those listed in A1&2, to bring the total graduate credit hours to 30 or greater.

1. Autumn and Spring enrollment in MSE 7895 (Graduate Seminar and Colloquium, 1 credit) is required of all MSE graduate students. Credits earned while enrolled in 7895 will apply towards the 30 credit hour total for the Master's degree. A student may petition the GSC for a waiver of this requirement prior to the term if s/he works off-campus and attendance would be problematic.
2. Credit for MSE 6193.01 (Individual Study) may be earned toward fulfillment of these 9 credit hours during completion of the written document (see II below).
3. Presentation of an oral seminar on a technical topic set by the student and the student's MS examination committee. The subject of the talk may match that of the written document (below), though this is not required. The talk is to be given in the final term of enrollment. Remote presentation--by such means as Skype, etc.--is permitted.

II Submission of a written document

The written portion of the MS non-thesis examination is satisfied by the submission of a technical report on a topic agreed upon by the student and the MS exam committee. This document may be, for example, a critical review of the public literature on a technical topic. The document and the oral presentation (I B 3 above) may be on the same subject, if desired. MSE 6193.01 credit is earned during its preparation. PRIOR approval of the topic by the examining committee is REQUIRED. Approval of the topic is to take place before the end of the first term of study in the program.

Courses that apply toward the degree:

• MSE courses at the 5000 level or above that may be taken for graduate credit.
• Non-MSE courses at the 5000 level or greater in the hard-sciences, math, and engineering that may be taken for graduate credit.

Rev SU12 & AU13

I 30 total graduate credit hours are required for an MS degree

A Of these 30 hours, at least 21 credit hours must be graded graduate level courses.

1. Of these 21 hours, at least 12 credit hours must be taken in MSE, 5000-level or greater.
   • Of these 12 hours, at least 6 credit hours must be taken at the 6000 level or above in MSE.
2. Of these 21 hours, 9 credit hours may come from additional MSE course work or course work outside MSE. If taken outside MSE, it is understood that any credit hours are to be related to the student's area of materials study (hard sciences and/or engineering) unless previously approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.

B At least 9 credit hours of the 30 credit hours may come from other courses, besides those listed in A1&2, to bring the total graduate credit hours to 30 or greater.

1. Autumn and Spring enrollment in MSE 7895 (Graduate Seminar and Colloquium, 1 credit) is required of all MSE graduate students. Credits earned while enrolled in 7895 will apply towards the 30 credit hour total for the Master's degree. A student may petition the GSC for a waiver of this requirement prior to the term if s/he works off-campus and attendance would be problematic.
2. Credit for MSE 6193.01 (Individual Study) may be earned toward fulfillment of these 9 credit hours during completion of the written document (see II below).

II Submission of a written document

This document may be, for example, a critical review of a technical topic, presented to the examining committee for an oral defense. MSE 6193.01 credit is earned during its preparation. PRIOR approval of the topic by the examining committee is REQUIRED. Approval of the topic is to take place before the end of the second term of study in the program.

Courses that apply toward the degree:

• MSE courses at the 5000 level or above that may be taken for graduate credit.
• Non-MSE courses at the 5000 level or greater in the hard-sciences, math, and engineering that may be taken for graduate credit.

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Quarter-based degree requirements

For graduate students who entered the graduate program prior to Summer term 2012.

I 45 total graduate credit hours are required for an MS degree

A Of these 45 hours, at least 33 credit hours must be graded graduate level courses.

1. Of these 33 credit hours, at least 18 credit hours must be taken in MSE.
   • Of these 18 hours, at least 6 credit hours must be taken at the 700 level or above in MSE.
2. Of these 33 credit hours, at least 15 credit hours in addition to the 18 listed in A1. These 15 hours may be taken in MSE or outside MSE--if taken outside MSE, it is understood that any credit hours are to be related to the student's area of materials study unless previously approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.

B At least 12 hours of the 45 credit hours should come from other courses, besides those listed in A1 and A2, to bring the total graduate credit hours to 45 or greater.

1. Of these 12 hours, no more than 6 credit hours of MSE 795 (Graduate Seminar and Colloquium) may apply towards this 12 hour total (though registration in MSE 795 is required for AU, WI, & SP quarters, regardless of the total number of 795 credits a student has earned, unless the student normally works off-campus).
2. Credit for MSE 793 (Individual Study) may be earned toward fulfillment of this 12 hour minimum during completion of the written document (see II below).

II Submission of a written document

This document may be, for example, a critical review of a technical topic, presented to the examining committee for an oral defense. MSE 793 credit is earned during its preparation. PRIOR approval of the topic by the examining committee is REQUIRED. Approval of the topic is to take place before the end of the second quarter of study in the program.

Courses that apply toward the degree:

• MSE courses at the 600 level or above that may be taken for graduate credit.
• Non-MSE courses at the 500 level or greater in the hard-sciences, math, and engineering that may be taken for graduate credit.

rev 4/98