Ph.D. degree requirements, MSE

The doctoral degree program provides students the opportunity to achieve a high level of scholarly competence and develop the capacity to contribute to the knowledge of their field.

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 Ph.D. Requirement Worksheet (PDF)

I 80 total graduate credit hours are required for a PhD degree

80 total graduate credit hours are required for a Ph.D. degree, at least 50 of which must be completed beyond the master’s degree. Of the 50 post-master’s hours, at least 24 graduate hours must be taken at OSU. The student's advisor is to agree upon all coursework taken by the student.

A Of these 80 hours, at least 18 must be graded graduate level courses

  1. Of these 18 credit hours, three “Core Courses” are required (MATSCEN 6730, 6737, and 6747). They must be taken within three academic terms of the student joining the MSE department (the “academic terms” are Autumn and Spring). The Core Courses are worth a total of 9 credit hours.
    • To be eligible to take the PhD Candidacy Exam, a student must address the Core requirement--MSE 6730, 6737, and 6747--by taking the courses and/or transferring credit from a previous institution.
  2. The remaining 9 graded graduate level credit hours must come from MATSCEN courses at the 6000 level or above. If it can be documented that suitable courses are not available within MSE, the student and advisor can petition the MSE GSC to accept a suitable out-of-department course instead. This petition must occur prior to the course being taken.

B 62 graduate credit hours may come from other courses

At least 62 graduate credit hours may come from other courses at the 5000 level or above, besides those listed in A1, to bring the total graduate credit hours to 80. It is understood that any out-of-department courses are to be 5000 or higher level Science, Math, or Engineer­ing courses, although other courses may be approved for credit by prior petition of the GSC.

  1. MATSCEN 5605--Of these 62 credit hours, if the student has no previous degree in Materials Science and Engineering, MATSCEN 5605 (Quantitative Introduction to Materials Science) must be taken no later than the first academic term it is offered after the student has joined the MSE department.  MATSCEN 5605 can be taken concurrently with other courses, including Core Courses. For students within OSU’s Graduate School Bridge Program, MSE 5605 can be taken in the term before full acceptance into the program under conditional admission.
  2. MATSCEN 7895--At least 3 (2 of them to be completed before the Candidacy Exam) and up to 8 credit hours of MSE 7895 (Graduate Seminar and Colloquium, 1 credit hours), count towards this 62 credit hour minimum, provided they are completed with Satisfactory grade.
  3. Instructional Assistant service--Of these 62 hours, credit is required for at least 2 semesters of Instructional Assistant service earned while assisting in the instruction of the undergraduate studies program. Students earn 2 credits per term of service as an Instructional Assistant. Students will attend a university training workshop in support of this curricular requirement. [More about IA service credits]
  4. Research credit--At least 10 credit hours are to be from MSE 6/8999 (Research in Materials Science and Engineering). All thesis / dissertation work (MSE 6/8999) and research plans are to be approved by the student's advisor.
  5. Other--Graded graduate course work, beyond that in section A1 & 2, may count toward the 80 credit total for a Ph.D. degree. Relevant S/U-graded graduate level credit may also count toward the 80 required credits.

Ph.D. Candidacy process in Materials Science and Engineering

To qualify to take the MSE Candidacy Exam a student must earn a B or greater in each of the PhD Core Courses (MATSCEN 6730, 6737, and 6747). Additionally, the student must have earned two Satisfactory grades in MATSCEN 7895 and, if the student does not have a previous degree in MSE, completion of MATSCEN 5605, Quantitative Introduction to Materials Science.

 

path_to_candidacy.gif

II Successful completion of the Qualifying Examination

MSE Qualifying Examination procedures

To assure a student is prepared to take the Candidacy Exam a Qualifying Examination is required. Students will be examined in each of the three Core Course topics.

The need for a Qualifying Exam is waived, however, if the student has earned a grade of B or greater in any Core Course. If a student earns a B or greater in each of the Core Courses the student has satisfied the qualifying requirement and may proceed to Candidacy.

Transferred credit--Students who receive transfer credit for a Core Course are required to take the Qualifying Exam for that Core Course.   

  1. Admission to the Qualifying Exam requires completion of the three MSE Core Courses (MSE 6730, 6737, and 6747) and, when required, MSE 5605.
  2. The Qualifying Exam must be taken within four academic terms of the student joining the MSE department.

III Successful completion of the Candidacy Examination

MSE Candidacy Examination procedures

The candidacy examination is a single examination consisting of two portions, written and oral, administered under the auspices of the Graduate Studies Committee in conjunction with the student’s candidacy examination committee and the Graduate School.

The purpose of the candidacy examination is to test a student’s comprehension of the field, allied areas of study, capacity to undertake independent research, and ability to think and express ideas clearly. 

  1. The student is admitted to the Candidacy Examination after successful completion of the Qualifying Exam and completion of at least 2 semesters of MSE 7895 (Graduate Seminar and Colloquium) with a Satisfactory grade.
  2. The Candidacy Examination must be taken within five academic terms of the student joining the MSE department.
  3. Members of the student’s Candidacy Committee will later form their Dissertation Committee, unless circumstances dictate otherwise.
  4. A student who passes the exam may petition the GSC for an MS without Thesis degree after satisfying the MS without Thesis requirements.

See also Graduate School Handbook Sec 7.3-7.7

IV Dissertation Overview exercise

MSE Dissertation Overview procedures

Public presentation of the student's research progress to his/her Dissertation Committee.

  • The Overview is to take place before the end of the student's fourth year of study, and at least six months before dissertation defense.
  • The student’s Dissertation Committee provides advice throughout the completion of the dissertation.
  • The Dissertation Overview must be announced to the public at least one week before the Overview takes place.

V Presentation of an acceptable dissertation

The dissertation is a scholarly contribution to knowledge in the student's area of specialization. Through it, the student is to demonstrate a high level of knowledge and the capacity to function as an independent scholar.

Graduate School information on Dissertations and Theses
Includes information on document preparation, access and distribution, and submission.

VI Successful completion of the Final Oral Exam

The Final Oral Exam tests originality, independence of thought, the ability to synthesize and interpret, and the quality of research presented.

  • The Oral Examination must be announced to the public at least one week before the oral defense is to take place.
  • Please use this form to provide the information needed by the Grad Studies Coordinator to make this announcement: Ph.D. Dissertation Defense Announcement
  • The student must register for at least 3 graduate credit hours during the semester in which the Final Oral Exam is taken and be in good academic standing with the Graduate School (see Graduate School Handbook for details).

The summaries on this page are intended to convey general information regarding Ph.D. requirements in the department. For further details, please e-mail the MSE Graduate Studies Coordinator and/or see the Graduate School Handbook.

Degree requirements--SU12-SU19

For graduate students who entered the graduate program in or after Summer term 2012 through Summer term 2019.

I 80 total graduate credit hours are required for a PhD degree

The student's advisor is to agree upon all course work taken by the student.

A Of these 80 hours, at least 30 must be graded graduate level courses

  1. Of these 30 credit hours, 15 credits must come from six of the seven Ph.D. Core Courses. The Core is split in two groups, the Primary Core--MSE 6730, 6737, 6747--and the Secondary Core--MSE 6715, 6756, 6765, and 6777.
    • To be eligible to take the PhD Candidacy Exam, a student must take at minimum the three Primary Core Courses--MSE 6730, 6737, and 6747--as well as one Secondary Core Course--MSE 6715, 6756, 6765, or 6777.
      The student may, however, choose to complete all 15 credits of PhD Core course work before taking the Candidacy Exam. This decision is made with the student's advisor.
    • Following completion of the Candidacy Exam, the student is to complete any remaining Secondary Core Courses, if necessary, to bring the total to three Primary Core and three Secondary Core.
    • While students must take Secondary Core Courses MSE 6765 and 6777, a student may choose between 6715 or 6756. Thus the minimum number of Secondary Core Courses is three: 6765, 6777, & 6715 or 6765, 6777, & 6756.
  2. Of these 30 credit hours, a minimum of 9 additional graded graduate level hours at the 5000 level or above in MSE.
  3. Of these 30 credit hours, up to 6 credit hours may be any graded graduate credit, in or out of MSE, 5000 level or above.
    • The course should relate to the student's field of study unless prior approval for enrollment has been given by the MSE Graduate Studies Committee (GSC).

B 50 graduate credit hours may come from other courses

Besides those credits listed in A1, 2, & 3, an additional 50 credit hours are to be earned bringing the total graduate credit hours to 80. It is understood that any out-of-department courses are to be graduate level Science, Math, and/or Engineering courses, though other courses may be approved for credit by prior petition of the GSC.

  1. Autumn and Spring enrollment in MSE 7895 (Graduate Seminar and Colloquium, 1 credit) are required of all MSE graduate students. Credits earned while enrolled in 7895 will apply towards the 80 credit hour total for the Ph.D. degree.
  2. Instructional Assistant service. Of these 50 hours, at least 6 credit hours are to be from MSE 6193.01 earned while assisting faculty with instruction of MSE courses. Students earn 2 credits per term of service as an Instructional Assistant. Students will attend a university training workshop in support of this curricular requirement. [More about IA service credits]
  3. Of these 50 hours, at least 10 credit hours are to be from MSE 6/8999 (Research in Materials Science and Engineering). All dissertation work (MSE 6/8999) and research plans are to be approved by the student's advisor.

II Successful completion of the Candidacy Examination

MSE Candidacy Examination procedures

  • To be eligible to take the PhD Candidacy Exam, a student must take the three Primary Core Courses--MSE 6730, 6737, and 6747--as well as at least one Secondary Core Course--MSE 6715, 6756, 6765, or 6777.
  • The Candidacy Examination is to take place within five academic semesters (i.e., AU & SP) of the student's arrival in the MSE department.
  • This exam may be preceded by an optional Qualifier Committee exercise (See Candidacy Examination procedures for further details).
  • A student who passes the exam may petition the Graduate Studies Committee for an MS non-Thesis degree. Satisfactory completion of the Candidacy Examination is accepted in place of passing the MS non-thesis Master's Examination. To receive an MS non-thesis degree, students must fulfill all course-related requirements of the degree.

III Dissertation Overview exercise

MSE Dissertation Overview instructions

Public presentation of the student's research progress to his/her Dissertation Committee.

  • The Overview is to take place during the student's fourth year of study, and at least six months before dissertation defense.
  • This is designed so that the Dissertation Committee will be able to give the student advice throughout the completion of the dissertation.
  • The Dissertation Overview must be announced to the public at least one week before the Overview takes place.

IV Presentation of an acceptable dissertation

The dissertation is a scholarly contribution to knowledge in the student's area of specialization. Through it, the student is to demonstrate a high level of knowledge and the capacity to function as an independent scholar.

V Successful completion of the Final Oral Exam

The Final Oral Exam tests originality, independence of thought, the ability to synthesize and interpret, and the quality of research presented.

  • The Oral Examination must be announced to the public at least one week before the oral defense is to take place.
  • The student must register for at least 3 graduate credit hours during the semester in which the Final Oral Exam is taken and be in good academic standing with the Graduate School (see Graduate School Handbook for details).

The summaries on this page are intended to convey general information regarding Ph.D. requirements in the department. For further details, please e-mail the MSE Graduate Studies Coordinator and/or see the Graduate School Handbook.

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.

Quarter-based degree requirements

For graduate students who entered the graduate program prior to Summer term 2012.
[view Ph.D. curriculum prior to AU08]

I 120 total graduate credit hours are required for a PhD degree

The student's advisor is to agree upon all course work taken by the student.

A Of these 120 hours, at least 45 must be graded graduate level courses

  1. Of these 45 hours, 21 credits must come from six of the seven Ph.D. Core Courses. The Core is split in two groups, the Primary Core--MSE 730, 737, 747--and the Secondary Core--MSE 715, 756, 765, and 777.
    • To be eligible to take the PhD Candidacy Exam, a student must take at minimum the three Primary Core Courses--MSE 730, 737, and 747--as well as one Secondary Core Course--MSE 715, 756, 765, or 777. The student may, however, choose to complete all 21 credits of PhD Core course work before taking the Candidacy Exam. This decision is made with the student's advisor.
    • Following completion of the Candidacy Exam, the student is to complete any remaining Secondary Core Courses, if necessary, to bring the total to three Primary Core and three Secondary Core.
    • While students must take Secondary Core Courses MSE 765 and 777, a student may choose between 715 or 756. Thus the minimum number of Secondary Core Courses is three: 765, 777, & 715 or 765, 777, & 756.
  2. Of these 45 hours, a minimum of 12 additional graded graduate level hours at the 600 level or above in MSE.
  3. Of these 45 hours, 12 hours may be any graded graduate credit, in or outside MSE. These courses must meet the following stipulations:
    • 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.
    • The course should relate to the student's field of study unless prior approval for enrollment has been given by the MSE Graduate Studies Committee.

B At least 75 graduate credit hours may come from other courses

Besides those credits listed in A1, 2, & 3, an additional 75 credit hours are to be earned bringing the total graduate credit hours to 120. It is understood that any out-of-department courses are to be graduate level Science, Math, and/or Engineering courses, though other courses may be approved for credit by prior petition of the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC).

  1. Of these 75 hours, no more than 12 credit hours of MSE 795 (Graduate Seminar and Colloquium) may apply towards this 90 hour minimum (registration in MSE 795 is required in every AU, WI, & SP quarter that the student is on campus, regardless of the total number of 795 credits a student has earned).
  2. Instructional Assistant service. Of these 75 hours, at least 6 credit hours are to be from MSE 893 earned while assisting faculty with instruction of MSE courses. Students earn two credits per term of service as an Instructional Assistant. Students will attend a university training workshop in support of this curricular requirement.
  3. Of these 75 hours, at least 15 credit hours are to be from MSE 999 (Research in Materials Science and Engineering). All dissertation work (MSE 999) and research plans are to be approved by the student's advisor.

II Successful completion of the Candidacy Examination

MSE Candidacy Examination procedures

  • To be eligible to take the PhD Candidacy Exam, a student must take the three Primary Core Courses--MSE 730, 737, and 747--as well as at least one Secondary Core Course--MSE 715, 756, 765, or 777.
  • The Candidacy Examination is to take place within seven academic quarters (i.e., AU, WI, & SP) of the student's arrival in the MSE department.
  • This exam may be preceded by an optional Qualifier Committee exercise (See Candidacy Examination procedures for further details).
  • A student who passes the exam may petition the Graduate Studies Committee for an MS non-Thesis degree. Satisfactory completion of the Candidacy Examination is accepted in place of passing the MS non-thesis Master's Examination. To receive an MS non-thesis degree, students must fulfill all course-related requirements of the degree (i.e., section I, part A 1 and 2 as well as part B 1 of the MS non-thesis degree requirements).

III Dissertation Overview exercise

MSE Dissertation Overview instructions

Public presentation of the student's research progress to his/her Dissertation Committee.

  • The Dissertation Overview is to occur within six months of the student's successful completion of the Candidacy Exam.
  • This is designed so that the Dissertation Committee will be able to give the student advice throughout the completion of the dissertation.
  • This exercise must take place within six months of successful completion of the Candidacy Exam and at least 12 months before graduation.
  • The Dissertation Overview must be announced to the public at least one week before the Overview takes place.

IV Presentation of an acceptable dissertation

The dissertation is a scholarly contribution to knowledge in the student's area of specialization. Through it, the student is to demonstrate a high level of knowledge and the capacity to function as an independent scholar.

V Successful completion of the Final Oral Exam

The Final Oral Exam tests originality, independence of thought, the ability to synthesize and interpret, and the quality of research presented.

  • The Oral Examination must be announced to the public at least one week before the oral defense is to take place.
  • The student must register for at least 3 graduate credit hours during the quarter in which the Final Oral Exam is taken and be in good academic standing with the Graduate School (see Graduate School Handbook for details).

The summaries on this page are intended to convey general information regarding Ph.D. requirements in the department. For further details, please e-mail the MSE Graduate Studies Coordinator and/or see Section VII of the Graduate School Handbook.

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.

ARCHIVE:

PhD degree requirements prior to Autumn 2008 (quarter-based)

In Autumn 2008 the PhD degree requirements were updated as detailed above. The requirements in the section below are provided for reference.

I 135 total graduate credit hours are required for a PhD degree

The student's advisor is to agree upon all course work taken by the student.

A Of these 135 hours, at least 45 must be graded graduate level courses

  1. Of these 45 hours, 21 credits must come from the six Ph.D. Core Courses. The Core is made up of MSE 715, 730, 732, 745, 750, 765.
    • Students must earn a 3.0 or greater in these six courses to be eligible to take the Candidacy Exam.
  2. Of these 45 hours, a minimum of 12 additional graded graduate level hours at the 700 level or above in MSE.
  3. Of these 45 hours, 3 credits must come from outside the MSE department at the 700 level or greater.
  4. Of these 45 hours, 9 hours may be any graded graduate credit, in or outside MSE. These courses must meet the following stipulations:
    • 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.
    • The course should relate to the student's field of study unless prior approval for enrollment has been given by the MSE Graduate Studies Committee.

B At least 90 graduate credit hours may come from other courses

Besides those credits listed in A1, 2, & 3, an additional 90 credit hours are to be earned bringing the total graduate credit hours to 135. It is understood that any out-of-department courses are to be graduate level Science, Math, and/or Engineering courses, though other courses may be approved for credit by prior petition of the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC).

  1. Of these 90 hours, at least 15 credit hours are to be from MSE 999 (Research in Materials Science and Engineering). All dissertation work (MSE 999) and research plans are to be approved by the student's advisor.
  2. Of these 90 hours, at least 3 credit hours are to be from MSE 793 (Individual Studies) earned while assisting the undergraduate studies program.
  3. Of these 90 hours, no more than 12 credit hours of MSE 795 (Graduate Seminar and Colloquium) may apply towards this 90 hour minimum (registration in MSE 795 is required in every AU, WI, & SP quarter that the student is on campus, regardless of the total number of 795 credits a student has earned).

II Successful completion of the Candidacy Examination

  • To be eligible to take the PhD Candidacy Exam, a student must take the three Primary Core Courses--MSE 730, 737, and 747--as well as at least one Secondary Core Course--MSE 715, 756, 765, or 777.
  • The Candidacy Examination is to take place within seven academic quarters (i.e., AU, WI, & SP) of the student's arrival in the MSE department.
  • This exam may be preceded by an optional Qualifier Committee exercise (See Candidacy Examination procedures for further details).
  • A student who passes the exam may petition the Graduate Studies Committee for an MS non-Thesis degree. Satisfactory completion of the Candidacy Examination is accepted in place of passing the MS non-thesis Master's Examination. To receive an MS non-thesis degree, students must fulfill all course-related requirements of the degree (i.e., section I, part A 1 and 2 as well as part B 1 of the degree requirements).

III Dissertation Overview exercise

Public presentation of the student's research progress to his/her Dissertation Committee.

  • The Dissertation Overview is to occur within six months of the student's successful completion of the Candidacy Exam.
  • This is designed so that the Dissertation Committee will be able to give the student advice throughout the completion of the dissertation.
  • This exercise must take place within six months of successful completion of the Candidacy Exam and at least 12 months before graduation.
  • The Dissertation Overview must be announced to the public at least one week before the Overview takes place.

IV Presentation of an acceptable dissertation

The dissertation is a scholarly contribution to knowledge in the student's area of specialization. Through it, the student is to demonstrate a high level of knowledge and the capacity to function as an independent scholar.

V Successful completion of the Final Oral Exam

The Final Oral Exam tests originality, independence of thought, the ability to synthesize and interpret, and the quality of research presented.

  • The Oral Examination must be announced to the public at least one week before the oral defense is to take place.
  • The student must register for at least 3 graduate credit hours during the quarter in which the Final Oral Exam is taken and be in good academic standing with the Graduate School (see Graduate School Handbook for details).

 

The summaries on this page are intended to convey general information regarding Ph.D. requirements in the department. For further details, please e-mail the MSE Graduate Studies Coordinator and/or see Section VII of the Graduate School Handbook.

Updated 9/08
Updated 8/08
Updated 5/08
Updated 9/05
11/99 (no change from 4/96 revision)

 

 

Additional information

Questions?

Graduate School Handbook

MATSCEN Ph.D. Requirement Worksheet (PDF)