This is a named option within the Materials Science and Engineering M.S.
The Research named option in the Materials Science and Engineering M.S. is designed for students wishing to conduct research during their program. This program takes approximately two years to complete and a thesis is required.
Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.
Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.
| Fall Deadline | December 15 |
| Spring Deadline | September 1 |
| Summer Deadline | December 15 |
| GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) | Not required. |
| English Proficiency Test | Every applicant whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English must provide an English proficiency test score and meet the Graduate School minimum requirements (https://grad.wisc.edu/apply/requirements/#english-proficiency). |
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
Applicants normally are expected to have a B.S. in the physical sciences or engineering. Undergraduate studies normally would include mathematics through differential equations, at least one year each of general physics and chemistry, a course in physical chemistry or modern physics, and an elementary course in properties of materials. Applicants may be admitted with deficiencies. These must be made up as soon as possible after entering the program.
Important Application information
Required Application Materials:
- Academic transcripts
- English proficiency scores, if applicable
- Three letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
- Resume
Admission to the University of Wisconsin–Madison Graduate School is a prerequisite for admission to study materials science. A minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 is required. Admission is highly selective. Most admitted students have an undergraduate GPA above 3.5. However, full consideration will be given to all students meeting the UW–Madison graduate school requirements.
International students must submit satisfactory results on the TOEFL or another acceptable English Language Test. Please use institution code: 1846; no department code is necessary. Information about these exams can be obtained from the Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 or Berkeley, California 94704.
Please use the online application to begin your application. To be considered for fellowships, all application materials are due by December 15. If you have questions about the application or admissions process, please do not hesitate to email msaegradadmission@engr.wisc.edu.
The graduate school offers a limited number of application fee grants (covers all or part of the application fee) that are available in a few specific circumstances. Further information is available here.
►Submit only the documents requested.
NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT SEND DOCUMENTS TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL. ALL DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE UPLOADED WITH YOUR APPLICATION.
Application deadlines:
Spring semester: September 1
Fall semester: December 15
Summer: December 15
QUESTIONS?
Contact us at msaegradadmission@engr.wisc.edu.
Graduate School Resources
Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.
PROGRAM RESOURCES
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Please note that most funding is available for Ph.D. students and there are limited resources for M.S. students.
Various types of financial assistance are available for entering graduate students, including research assistantships, teaching assistantships, fellowships and special grants. Decisions regarding financial support are made on the basis of letters of recommendation, grades, GRE general test scores, and, for research assistantships, the matching of the interests or experience of the applicant to the research programs of individual faculty members. December 15th is the deadline for receipt of fellowship applications. International students are generally not eligible for university fellowships. Applications for other types of support are accepted until mid-February.
RESEARCH AND TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS
Research assistantships (RAs) are available in any materials science area. These appointments are under the supervision of the major professor directing the research. Students interested in research assistantships in a particular area are encouraged to contact professors whose work is of special interest. The faculty’s research interests are given in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering faculty section. An RA permits the most rapid progress toward a degree. Research assistantships in materials science graduate students are comparable to similar stipends from other institutions. Information about stipends can be obtained from the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies, acgs@mse.wisc.edu.
Teaching assistantships involve teaching rather than research experience. They pay approximately the same as research assistantships. Teaching experience is especially desirable for students considering an academic career. The Department of Materials Science and Engineering supports a limited number of teaching assistantships, which are allocated after admissions.
FELLOWSHIPS
Herb Fellowships in Materials Science are given out each year. The Herb Fellowship is a one-year full-ride fellowship for incoming graduate students. It is intended to provide especially strong students extra flexibility and independence in formulating their graduate research program.
Fellowships supporting graduate education are also offered on a competitive basis by organizations such as the National Science Foundation, the Hertz Foundation, UW–Madison Graduate School, the U.S. Department of Defense and a number of industries and foundations. Because some of these fellowships have fall application deadlines, early application is necessary. GRE scores for the General Test are required for fellowship applications.
OTHER FUNDING INFORMATION
If you choose to attend UW-Madison and plan to pursue funding on your own, the following sites could be very helpful:
Minimum Graduate School Requirements
Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements, in addition to the program requirements listed below.
Named Option Requirements
MODE OF INSTRUCTION
| Face to Face | Evening/Weekend | Online | Hybrid | Accelerated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | No | No | No |
Mode of Instruction Definitions
Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.
Evening/Weekend: Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules. Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.
Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.
Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats. Contact the program for more specific information.
Online: These programs are offered 100% online. Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.
CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS
| Minimum Credit Requirement | 30 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 16 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 15 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Details can be found in the Graduate School’s Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) policy (https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244). |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. This program follows the Graduate School's GPA Requirement policy (https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203). |
| Other Grade Requirements | n/a |
| Assessments and Examinations | Students must prepare a Master's thesis, present it in a public seminar, and defend it in closed examination by their Master's committee. The format and procedures must conform to the Graduate School rules for a Master’s thesis, currently found at https://grad.wisc.edu/current-students/masters-guide/. |
| Language Requirements | None. |
Required COURSES
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Materials Research Seminar 1 | 2 | |
| Materials Research Seminar | ||
| Materials Core Courses | 9 | |
| Select three courses: | ||
| Advanced Polymeric Materials | ||
| Thermodynamics of Solids | ||
| Structure of Materials | ||
| Advanced Materials Science: Phase Transformations | ||
Graduate-level Math Course (students may only count one of the following as a Materials Core Course) | ||
| Engineering Analysis I | ||
| Intermediate Problems in Chemical Engineering | ||
| Methods of Applied Mathematics 1 | ||
| Methods of Applied Mathematics-2 | ||
| Theoretical Physics-Electrodynamics | ||
| Materials Elective Courses | 6 | |
Electives must be selected from the list of Materials Elective Courses below. | ||
| Research | 13 | |
| Master's Research or Thesis | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Take two consecutive semesters for 1 credit each semester.
Materials Elective Courses:
The same course may not satisfy more than one requirement. For example, if M S & E 530 Thermodynamics of Solids is taken as a Materials Core Course, it could not be used as a Materials Elective Course. In addition, only one mathematics course may be counted as a materials core or materials elective course. Students or faculty may request that a course be added to the list by submitting a letter to the department graduate secretary including the course syllabus and explaining why the course is a materials-centric course.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| M S & E 401 | Special Topics in Materials Science and Engineering | 1-3 |
| M S & E/CHEM 421 | Polymeric Materials | 3 |
| M S & E/N E 423 | Nuclear Engineering Materials | 3 |
| M S & E/N E 433 | Principles of Corrosion | 3 |
| M S & E 434 | Introduction to Thin-Film Deposition Processes | 3 |
| M S & E 441 | Deformation of Solids | 3 |
| M S & E 448 | Crystallography and X-Ray Diffraction | 3 |
| M S & E 451 | Introduction to Ceramic Materials | 3 |
| M S & E 456 | Electronic, Optical, and Magnetic Properties of Materials | 3 |
| M S & E 460 | Introduction to Computational Materials Science and Engineering | 3 |
| M S & E 461 | Advanced Metal Casting | 3 |
| M S & E/M E 462 | Welding Metallurgy | 3 |
| M S & E 463 | Materials for Elevated Temperature Service | 3 |
| M S & E 465 | Fundamentals of Heat Treatment | 3 |
| M S & E/CIV ENGR/G L E/GEOSCI 474 | Rock Mechanics | 3 |
| M S & E 521 | Advanced Polymeric Materials | 3 |
| M S & E 530 | Thermodynamics of Solids | 3 |
| M S & E/E M A 541 | Heterogeneous and Multiphase Materials | 3 |
| M S & E 550 | Materials Fundamentals | 3 |
| M S & E 551 | Structure of Materials | 3 |
| M S & E 553 | Nanomaterials & Nanotechnology | 3 |
| M S & E 560 | Fundamentals of Atomistic Modeling | 3 |
| M S & E 570 | Properties of Solid Surfaces | 3 |
| M S & E 648 | Advanced X-ray Scattering Methods in Materials Science and Engineering | 3 |
| M S & E 660 | Mesoscale Modeling of Materials | 3 |
| M S & E 748 | Structural Analysis of Materials | 3 |
| M S & E 750 | Imperfections and Mechanical Properties | 3 |
| M S & E 752 | Advanced Materials Science: Phase Transformations | 3 |
| M S & E 756 | Structure and Properties of Advanced Electronic Materials | 3 |
| M S & E 760 | Molecular Modeling of Materials | 3 |
| M S & E 803 | Special Topics in Materials Science | 1-3 |
| B M E/PHM SCI 430 | Biological Interactions with Materials | 3 |
| B M E/M E 615 | Tissue Mechanics | 3 |
| BIOCHEM/CHEM 704 | Chemical Biology | 3 |
| CBE 540 | Polymer Science and Technology | 3 |
| CBE 747 | Advanced Colloid and Interface Science | 3 |
| CHEM 652 | Chemistry of Inorganic Materials | 3 |
| CHEM 653 | Chemistry of Nanoscale Materials | 3 |
| CHEM 654 | Materials Chemistry of Polymers | 2-3 |
| CHEM 664 | Physical Chemistry of Macromolecules | 2-3 |
| CHEM 721 | Instrumental Analysis | 3-4 |
| E C E 745 | Solid State Electronics | 3 |
| GEOSCI 765 | Crystal Chemistry | 3 |
| PHYSICS 415 | Thermal Physics | 3 |
| PHYSICS 551 | Solid State Physics | 3 |
| PHYSICS 715 | Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYSICS 751 | Advanced Solid State Physics | 3 |
Graduate School Policies
The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.
Named Option-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Work from Other Institutions
Typically, no graduate work from other institutions may be counted toward graduate program requirements. Under unusual circumstances and with program approval, students are allowed to count graduate coursework from other institutions toward the minimum graduate degree credit requirement and the minimum graduate coursework (50%) requirement. No credits from other institutions can be counted toward the minimum graduate residence credit requirement.
UW–Madison Undergraduate
Typically, no credits from undergraduate coursework may be counted toward graduate program requirements. However, with program approval, students are allowed to count up to 7 credits numbered 300 or above toward the minimum graduate degree credit requirement when taken in excess of the undergraduate degree requirements; if that coursework is numbered 700 or above it may be used to satisfy the minimum graduate coursework (50%) requirement. No credits can be counted toward the minimum graduate residence credit requirement.
UW–Madison University Special
Typically, no UW–Madison University Special student credits may be counted toward graduate program requirements. However, with program approval, students are allowed to count up to 15 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as a UW–Madison Special student toward the minimum graduate residence credit requirement, and the minimum graduate degree credit requirement; if that coursework is numbered 700 or above it may satisfy the minimum graduate coursework (50%) requirement.
ProbatioN
This program follows the Graduate School's Probation policy.
ADVISOR / COMMITTEE
This program follows the Graduate School’s Advisor policy and the Graduate School’s Committees policy.
Students without an advisor at the end of their first year enrolled are in danger of failing to make adequate progress towards their degree. Students can be suspended from the Graduate School if they do not have an advisor.
CREDITS PER TERM ALLOWED
15 credits
Time Limits
The Master’s degree is typically completed within three years.
This program follows the Graduate School's Time Limits policy.
Grievances and Appeals
These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:
- Bias or Hate Reporting
- Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
- Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
- Dean of Students Office (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
- Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
- Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
- Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
- Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
- Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
- Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)
MS&E Grievance Procedures
Students who feel they have been unfairly treated or otherwise have a grievance related to the policies and procedures for graduate study in the Materials Science and Engineering Department may choose to submit a formal grievance to the department. Before taking this step, however, students are encouraged to discuss their grievance directly with the person or persons involved. Respectful, professional, direct communication can often reach a more satisfactory resolution to an issue more quickly than a formal grievance procedure.
To pursue a formal grievance, the student should submit a letter describing the issue in detail to the department Associate Chair of Graduate Studies within 60 days of the precipitating incident. (Should the grievance involve the Director of Graduate Studies, the letter should be submitted to the department Chair.) The Director (or Chair) will convene a committee of not fewer than three department faculty. The committee will obtain a written response from the person or persons who are the subject of the complaint. The committee will then decide a course of action in response to the grievance. The response from the subject of the complaint and the committee course of action will be communicated in writing to the student within 15 working days of submission of the grievance. The course of action will be implemented no later than 10 working days of the communication.
If the departmental procedure does not resolve the grievance, the student may appeal to the College of Engineering or the Graduate School. The College grievance procedures are currently available at https://engineering.wisc.edu/report-an-incident/academic-grievances-and-complaints/, and the Graduate School procedures are available at http://grad.wisc.edu/acadpolicy/.
The Assistant Dean for Graduate Affairs (engr-dean-graduateaffairs@engr.wisc.edu) provides overall leadership for graduate education in the College of Engineering (CoE), and is a point of contact for graduate students who have concerns about education, mentoring, research, or other difficulties.
Other
n/a
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
PROGRAM RESOURCES
Find information about professional development from the College of Engineering at the following webpage: https://interpro.wisc.edu.
Professors:
Michael Arnold, Sue Babcock, Chang-Beom Eom, Paul Evans, Padma Gopalan, Sindo Kou, Rod Lakes, Dane Morgan, John Perepezko, Kumar Sridharan, Donald Stone, Izabela Szlufarska, Dan Thoma, Paul Voyles, and Xudong Wang
Associate Professors:
Jason Kawasaki
Assistant Professors:
Dawei Feng, Jiamian Hu, Fang Liu, Hyunseok Oh, Daniel Rhodes, and Jun Xiao
Assistant Teaching Professors:
Franklin Hobbs
See also Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Directory.