Meeting many of the most critical challenges facing modern society requires advances in the materials that underpin new technologies. Examples include providing carbon-free and renewable energy, clean water, advanced medical treatments and devices, and sustainable materials manufacturing. New materials are also required for continued economic growth in areas as diverse as aerospace, computing, and sensors.
Materials scientists and engineers at UW–Madison work toward solutions to these problems via research in a wide variety of areas. Research areas include ceramics, computational material science; composites; corrosion; electrical, optical, magnetic materials; growth and synthesis; joining; materials for energy; metals; materials characterization and microscopy; nanomaterials; phase transformations; photonics; polymers and biomaterials; materials for nuclear energy; quantum computing; self-assembly; semiconductors; structural materials and mechanical properties; surfaces and interfaces; sustainability; thin films; and wear.
More broadly, the field of materials science and engineering is in the middle of a revolution in how we design and deploy new materials. The old way is by trial and error, which involves laboratory testing of hundreds or thousands of candidate materials, which is costly and can take decades to develop new materials and deploy them in practical technologies. The emerging new method leverages advances in computational materials science; materials databases, data science, and machine learning; and high throughput materials synthesis and characterization to achieve true design of materials. The goal is to develop and deploy new materials much more quickly and at a much lower cost than ever before. Materials design is a major theme of materials research on campus, organized around the areas of materials design via atomically controlled thin film systems, modular design of nanomaterials, and integrated experimental and computational materials engineering. Materials design and these themes cut across the research and application areas listed above.
Materials research extends across campus, well beyond the boundaries of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, so graduate students in materials can pursue research with a large number of affiliate faculty. Faculty emphasize the cross-cutting, interdisciplinary nature of materials research, which is also reflected by the diverse undergraduate backgrounds of the student body, many of whom do not have undergraduate degrees in materials.
Materials research benefits from major campus facilities, including the Materials Science Center, the Wisconsin Microscopy and Characterization Center, Wisconsin Center for Applied Microelectronics, and the Soft Materials Laboratory. Research is supported by major centers, including the National Science Foundation Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and the Grainger Institute for Engineering.
Materials graduates from Wisconsin find long-term success in careers in private industry, national laboratories, and academia in the U.S. and around the world.
Admissions
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 exclusively in English, must provide an English proficiency test score earned within two years of the anticipated term of enrollment. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241. |
| Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) | n/a |
| Letters of Recommendation Required | 3 |
Applicants normally are expected to have a BS 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.
Application
Required application materials:
- Academic transcripts (unofficial)
- English proficiency scores, if applicable
- Three letters of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
- Resume
A minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 is required. Admission is highly selective. Most admitted applicants have an undergraduate GPA above 3.5. However, full consideration will be given to all applicants meeting the UW–Madison Graduate School requirements.
Use the online application to begin your application. To be considered for fellowships, all application materials are due by the fall deadline.
International Applicants
International degree-seeking applicants must prove English proficiency using the Graduate School's requirements.
Fee Grants
The Graduate School offers a limited number of application fee grants (covers of all or part of the application fee) that are available in a few specific circumstances. Further information is available here.
Questions
If you have questions about the application or admissions process, contact msaegradadmission@engr.wisc.edu.
Funding
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
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.
Major 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 | 51 credits |
| Minimum Residence Credit Requirement | 32 credits |
| Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement | 26 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244. |
| Overall Graduate GPA Requirement | 3.00 GPA required. Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203. |
| Other Grade Requirements | n/a |
| Assessments and Examinations | Qualifying Exam
Preliminary Exam
Doctoral Dissertation
|
| Language Requirements | None. |
| Graduate School Breadth Requirement | All doctoral students are required to complete a doctoral minor or graduate/professional certificate. Refer to the Graduate School: Breadth Requirement in Doctoral Training policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1200. If students choose a distributed minor (Option B), they must select a topic or theme and three courses around that theme. At least one course must be graduate level (numbered 700 or above or has graduate course attribute). There are no other restrictions on the course department or topic. |
Required Courses
All course requirements are subject to modification or substitution to better serve the research needs of the student. Refer to the "Policies" tab for information on course substitutions.
Before registering for the second semester, students must submit an advisor approved course plan to the graduate coordinator. Students are not restricted to this plan. Students and advisors are encouraged to update the plan. Updated versions are not required to be submitted.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Materials Research Seminar | 2 | |
| Students must complete at least 2 credits of the following course for two consecutive semesters. | ||
| Materials Research Seminar | ||
| Materials Core Courses | 9 | |
| Students must complete three core courses (9 credits) from the following list: | ||
| 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 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 | |
| Students must complete at least 6 credits from the "Materials Elective Courses" list. | ||
| Additional Coursework and/or Research (see below table) | 25 | |
| Breadth | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 51 | |
Additional Coursework and/or Research Requirement
- Before earning the master’s degree, students should register for M S & E 790 Master's Research or Thesis.
- After earning the master’s degree, students should register for M S & E 890 Pre-Dissertator's Research.
- Once in dissertator status, students should register for M S & E 990 Research and Thesis.
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". Only one mathematics course may fulfill a "Materials Core Course" or "Materials Elective Course". Refer to the "Policies" tab for information on how to enroll in a course outside of the list below.
| 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.
Major-Specific Policies
Prior Coursework
Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions
With program approval, students may transfer up to 9 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions in fulfillment of the minimum graduate degree credit requirement and the minimum graduate coursework (50%) requirement. No credits from other institutions can be transferred for the minimum graduate residence credit requirement.
To request graduate credits from other institutions be allowed to transfer in fulfillment of degree requirements, the student should submit a request to the department graduate coordinator describing (1) the course from a previous institution; (2) the UW-Madison course equivalent; (3) the Materials Science and Engineering course requirement that will be satisfied. The request must include sufficient information to determine if the course(s) are equivalent. Typically, a syllabus listing the course textbook and lecture topics is sufficient. A course catalog description is typically insufficient.
Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison
Typically, no UW-Madison undergraduate credits may transfer in fulfillment of degree requirements. For questions about exceptions, contact the graduate coordinator.
Courses taken while enrolled as an undergraduate student at other institutions will not be considered for substitution. This includes courses at the graduate level taken while the student is enrolled as an undergraduate.
Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)
Typically, no professional student credits may transfer in fulfillment of degree requirements. For questions about exceptions, contact the graduate coordinator.
Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW–Madison
Typically, no University Special student credits may transfer in fulfillment of degree requirements. For questions about exceptions, contact the graduate coordinator.
Probation
Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.
The Materials Science and Engineering graduate program is guided by expectations for the conduct of students and faculty that help to establish a safe, collegial, and productive environment facilitating scientific discovery and professional development. These expectations reflect professional guidelines provided by the UW-Madison College of Engineering and the UW-Madison Graduate School.
The specific expectations of the program are:
- Intellectual and professional integrity
- Materials Science and Engineering graduate students and their faculty mentors are expected to show respect for the profession and for those working in it. Research activities will be conducted without plagiarism, with proper attribution of work with collaborators, and with respect for applicable professional ethical considerations, such as those associated with the involvement of human subjects.
- Safe and environmentally responsible conduct of research
- Research in the Materials Science and Engineering graduate program is expected to be conducted with a high level of respect for the safety of the students, faculty, and other participants. Students and faculty must observe the requirements defined at the research group, department, college, and university for safe and environmentally responsible research. Faculty are expected to develop and maintain lab safety plans, to appoint a safety coordinator within their labs, and to advise students of the safety training required for work in their groups. Students are expected to seek and to obtain the required safety training, to remain up-to-date with required recurrent training, and to follow the safety guidelines at all times.
- Professional research environment
- Students and faculty are expected to contribute to a collegial professional research environment, practicing mutual respect for all students, faculty, and staff. The Materials Science and Engineering department strives to create an environment free from harassment, bias, and hostile and intimidating behavior. Students supported by teaching assistant appointments are expected to balance the time commitments to research and teaching after consultation with their advisor and the faculty member responsible for the course to which they are assigned. These arrangements may evolve during the course of the student’s PhD program.
- These expectations include responsiveness to communications, including (as applicable) a regular schedule of meetings and response to electronic communication during defined working hours. Students and faculty are expected (as required) to participate in group meetings and individual or small-group collaborative meetings, and lab activities such as those associated with mentoring other students and maintaining a safe working environment. Students are not expected to provide personal assistance for faculty advisors or to perform other duties outside of their university research, teaching and service commitments.
- Students and faculty are expected to be aware of issues in implicit bias, sexual harassment, and ethical conduct of research.
- Professional development and achievement in research
- Students are expected to develop and to maintain a set of research goals with the potential to lead to outputs such as research publications, the development of intellectual property, and scientific presentations. Research goals can include original research discoveries, contributions to the scientific literature, and other outputs as mutually agreed by the student and faculty advisor. These goals must be reached in agreement with the faculty mentors. Students are expected to conduct their research within the intellectual property guidelines associated with their source of financial support (e.g. the requirements of the Bayh-Dole act for federally supported research).
- Ongoing clear communications about expectations and feedback on student progress
- Students and faculty will have regular communications about the progress that students are making towards their degree requirements and expectations for the conduct of research. Students can offer feedback about faculty using the College of Engineering’s annual Graduate On-Line Assessment & Achievement Learning System (GOAALS) survey or through direct communication with the Materials Science and Engineering Chair, the Materials Science and Engineering Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, or the College of Engineering Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies. The Materials Science and Engineering department will include a discussion of these expectations as part of the required student orientation activities.
- Students can expect clear communications from faculty about their progress in the program, feedback on research and educational issues, and the progress towards the degree.
Advisor / Committee
Refer to the Graduate School: Advisor and Graduate School: Committees (Doctoral/Master’s/MFA) policies.
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.
The doctoral committee consists of five faculty. It must include the student's advisor, at least three members from the Materials Science and Engineering department (may include affiliate faculty), and members with tenure homes in at least two different departments. Up to one member may be from any of the following categories, as approved by the department Associate Chair of Graduate Studies: academic staff (including emeritus faculty), visiting faculty, faculty from other institutions, scientists, research associates, and other individuals deemed qualified by the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies. All members of the committee must be physically or virtually present for the exam, unless an exception is granted by the department Associate Chair for Graduate Studies.
Credits Per Term Allowed
15 credits
Time Limits
The PhD is typically completed within six years.
Qualifying Exam: Students must attempt the qualifying exam within 13 months of the start of their first semester enrolled (summer sessions do not count for this rule). The qualifying exam will be offered within one month of when the semester starts. A student who fails one or more subjects on a first attempt must retake the exam within four months of the first attempt. The student may retake the failed subjects, or may switch to a different subject or subjects. Students who fail one or more qualifying exams in the second attempt may not continue PhD-level study in Materials Science and Engineering. They may elect to complete a master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering or they may leave the Materials Science and Engineering graduate program without a degree.
Preliminary Exam: Students must complete the preliminary exam by the end of the fifth semester enrolled. If the committee feels the proposal or presentation are inadequate, they can request revisions to the document or require the student to retake the preliminary exam. The retake must occur within three months of the first exam.
PhD Defense: A candidate for a doctoral degree who fails to take the final oral examination and deposit the dissertation within five years after passing the preliminary examination may be required to take another preliminary examination and to be admitted to candidacy a second time.
Refer to the Graduate School: 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
- 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 Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
- 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
Course Substitution Request
To request an exception, submit a letter to the graduate coordinator signed by the student and advisor proposing a substitution. The letter must explain how the substitution better suits the student’s needs, especially as it pertains to their research. Course substitutions and other curriculum variances are decided by the department's director of graduate studies. These are subject to appeal to the department's Graduate Governance Committee and grievance procedure.
Materials Elective Course Request
Students or faculty may request a course be added to the "Materials Elective Courses" list by submitting a letter to the graduate coordinator. The request must include the course syllabus and explain why the course is a materials-centric course.
Professional Development
Graduate School Resources
Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an ability to synthesize knowledge from a subset of the biological, physical, and social sciences to help frame problems critical to the future of their discipline.
- Conduct original research.
- Demonstrate an ability to create new knowledge and communicate it to their peers.
- Fosters ethical and professional conduct.
People
Professors
Michael Arnold, Chang-Beom Eom, Paul Evans, Padma Gopalan, Sindo Kou, Dane Morgan, John Perepezko, Kumar Sridharan, Donald Stone, Izabela Szlufarska, Dan Thoma, Paul Voyles, and Xudong Wang
Associate Professors
Jason Kawasaki and Yuan Ping
Assistant Professors
Dawei Feng, Jiamian Hu, Sebastian Kube, Fang Liu, Hyunseok Oh, Daniel Rhodes, and Jun Xiao
Assistant Teaching Professors
Franklin Hobbs
See also Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Directory.