MEMS Department

Graduate Program in Materials Science and Graduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)Engineering (MSE)

MEMS Department

The University of Pittsburgh

Founded in 1787 Over 32,000 students Top-25 public research university in USAWell-known Swanson School of Engineering with six departments and nine programsGlobal recognition –37th ~ 116th in global university rankings (TimesHigher-QS World University, Jiao Tong University, Newsweek, etc.)

MEMS Department

Our Location …

MEMS Department

Cathedral of Learning at Pitt

It is the mission of the Swanson School of Engineering to produce highly qualified engineers and useful creative research and technology through academic excellence.

Five priorities support this mission - 1. Quality in undergraduate education; 2. Quality in graduate education; 3. Innovative research; 4. Revenue generation and 5. Diversity.

MEMS Department

Oakland -…cultural center and site of the main campus of University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Skyline & Golden Triangle at Sunset

Pittsburgh -A friendly and beautiful place to study, work and live.

MEMS Department

Fortune 500 CorporationsAlcoa Inc.Allegheny TechnologiesH.J. Heinz CompanyMellon Financial CorporationPNC FinancialPPG IndustriesWESCO InternationalUS Steel

Fortune 1000 CorporationsAllegheny EnergyAmerican Eagle OutfittersConsol EnergyDick’s Sporting GoodsKennametalWheeling-Pittsburgh Steel

Other Major Employers include

Alcoa Technical CenterNorth American HQ’s of Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline, LanxessNortheast US regional HQ’s of Nova Chemicals, FedEx Ground, Ariba, Rand, National City

…84 Lumber, Giant Eagle, Highmark, Rue21, Genco, Mylan Laboratories, GNC, CNX Gas, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, The Bettis Bechtel Laboratory (Home of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program); DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center… & University of Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH --- some data…

MEMS Department

Materials Science & Engineering ProgramUniversity of Pittsburgh

Job Titles:Materials Engineer

MetallurgistGlass Scientist

Technical Sales EngineerProcessing Engineer

Polymer ScientistProject Engineer

Who employs our graduates?

MEMS Department

• 29 full-time faculty and many adjunct and research faculty; • All faculty active in research (~$7M external support);• The largest department in the Swanson School of Engineering• ≥ 400 undergraduates, ~ 200 graduate students• Graduate Certificate Program in Nuclear Power Engineering,

focusing on nuclear reactor operation and safety

Result of merging Departments of Mechanical Engineering

and Materials Science and Engineering

Since September 2006

MEMS Department

Materials Faculty Tenure/Tenure Stream ~12…･ Prof. John Barnard･ Prof. Anthony DeArdo･ Prof. Pradeep Fulay･ Prof. Brian Gleeson･ Ass. Prof. Jennifer Gray･ Ass. Prof. Jung-Kun Lee･ Prof. Scott Mao･ Prof. Gerald Meier･ Assoc. Prof. Ian Nettleship･ Ass. Prof. Guofeng Wang･ Prof. Qing-Ming Wang･ Assoc. Prof. Jörg Wiezorek

… Expertise and research activities span theprocessing/synthesis/fabrication, simulation, structure/property characterizations of thin films, bulk and particulate systems based on metallic, ceramic and polymeric materials and device structures used in Energy, Information Technology, BioTech, Transportation and Chemical Industry sectors.

… also Adjunct Faculty, Research Faculty and Emeritus Faculty participate in research and educational activities in MSE.

MEMS Department

Medicine & the Human Environment

Pitt-MSEMaterials

Development and Discovery

Energy Advanced Materials Manufacturing

Nanotechnology

Energy Materials

Efficiency

Sustainability

Multi-FunctionalNanoparticles

Patterned Nanostructures

Metals and Alloys

Powder Processing

Chemical Synthesis

Regenerative Medicine

Disinfection

Materials Science & Engineering ProgramUniversity of Pittsburgh

MEMS Department

Materials Science & Engineering ProgramUniversity of Pittsburgh

New Materials needed forSustainable, Secure Energy Generation, Distribution, Storage ... and for more efficient utilization!

Massive capacity Batteries Low Cost Solar Cells Corrosion-Resistant Alloys for High-T Power Conversion Light-Weight & Strong Composites for Wind-Turbines … more energy efficient ground, air TRANSPORTATION

Energy…& Materials

… define and limit human social, technological and political

aspirations

MEMS Department

Solar-Thermal & Photovoltaics

Materials advances needed …• identify non-toxic, low-cost materials;• nano-surface designs to extend capture to full solar spectrum• materials aging & degradation in photovoltaic systems;• more durability, low-cost reflector and absorber materials;• improved molten-salt corrosion resistance;

MEMS Department

Reducing the environmental impact of power generation from fossil fuels…e.g.

• Advanced High-T materials & coatings to enhance operating temperatures and pressures to increase efficiency (Ultra-Supercritical plants…)

• Carbon capture and sequestration, gas-separation membrane technologies

• High-Strength, corrosion resistant pipe materials

MEMS Department

Materials Science & Engineering ProgramUniversity of Pittsburgh

Materials are key to more Energy Efficient Transportation

Reducing vehicle mass & changing from petroleum based fuels to alternative (electricity, hydrogen…)fuels;

• Implement use of Advanced High Strength Steels; Light Metal (Al, Mg, Ti) Alloys; Carbon Composites;

• Develop High Performance Magnets; Electrical motors; Batteries for Energy Storage; Fuels Cell Catalysts and Membranes;

MEMS Department

Faculty and Staff for MSE Program

• Department Chair: Professor Minking Chyumkchyu@pitt.edu

• Director of Materials Science : Professor Gerald Meier ghmeier@pitt.edu

• Graduate Student Affairs and Curriculum:Ass. Professor Jung-Kun Leejul37@pitt.edu

• Graduate Student Admission: Ass. Professor Guofeng Wangguw8@pitt.edu

• Graduate Administrator, MSE: Ms. Carolyn Chuhacac90@pitt.edu

MEMS Department

Most FT PhD students are supported by assistantships as GSR, TA/TF or other fellowships.

~ 57 graduate students (31FT & 20PT) in MSE program currentlyMS Students in Materials Science & Engineering 26

Part/Full Time Students 20/6Women Students 4

PhD Students in Materials Science & Engineering 31 Part/Full Time 1/30Women Students 7

Graduate Students in MSE

MEMS Department

Academic Information

Master Degrees (≥ 30 credits):1) Master Degree (Thesis): Typically for Full-Time Students2) Professional Master Degree (Non-Thesis) Part-Time Students only

PhD Degree (≥ 72 credits)Research & Dissertation (Thesis) based degree: Typically for Full-Time Students

cf) Special Notes Dual Degree MS-MSE / MBA… offered by Swanson School of Engineering and Katz School of Business

Graduate Nuclear Engineering Certificate Program– Complete ≥ 5 of the 7 courses currently offered as part of NECP (≥ 15 credits)– NECP fully compatible with MS and PhD in MSE

MEMS Department

Master Degrees (30 credits):

Professional Master Degree (Non-Thesis): Part-Time only≥ 30 credits ~ 10 courses;≤ 9 credits (3 courses) non-MSE technical courses (math, science, engineering);≤ 9 credits (3 courses) in transfer credits;

Master Degree (Thesis): Typically for Full-Time ≥ 21 course credits (7 courses) plus research (3 credits) & thesis (6 credits);≤ 9 credits (3 courses) non-MSE technical courses (math, science, engineering);≤ 6 credits (2 courses) in transfer credits;

MEMS Department

TIMELINE => MS-Degree Thesis Option (Full-Time):

The MS-level research must at least be a thesis type report and discussion of independently conducted student research.MS degree typically completed in 2 years (4 terms plus one summer) and must be completed within 4 years (Thesis option) and 5 years (Professional Option).

What? When?Choose Advisor => During 1st term;

Plan of Study (courses), => by END of 1st term;consult w. advisor

Begin Research => During 1st term (no later then 2ndterm)Complete Independent Research => During 2nd, 3rd, 4th terms and summer;

& Thesis

Apply for Graduation and => During Final term (typically 4th or summer);Defend Thesis

MEMS Department

=> Interdisciplinary options via numerous Cross-listed courses in ME/MSE and between MSE

and the Nuclear Engineering Certificate Program, e.g.

ME 2003/MSE 2036 Continuum Mechanics

ME 2010/MSE 2037 Nanomechanics, Materials & DevicesME 2033 Fracture Mechanics for Product Design / MSE 2032 Failure of MaterialsME 2022/MSE 2038 Applied Solid Mechanics

ME/MSE2110 Nuclear MaterialsME/MSE2115 Nuclear Plant Heat and Mass Transfer

Can obtain MS or PhD MSE & Graduate Certificate in Nuclear Engineering without additional course-load.

Compatibility between Programs

MEMS Department

Some Logistics for PhD.Doctoral Students: Submit plan of study: (first term)Minimum of 72 credits beyond BS level, of which at least 36 course credits beyond BS level.Minimum Course Requirements (≥36 course credits, with ≥3.3 GPA)– Materials core courses (six required courses students must take in the first year of enrollment)

1) MSE 2067: Elements of Materials Science and Engineering 1 (Fall),2) MSE 2003: Structure of Materials (Fall),3) MSE 2011: Thermodynamics of Materials/Energetics (Fall),4) MSE 2013: Kinetics in Materials Science (Spring),5) MSE 2015: Electromagnetic Properties of Materials (Spring),6) MSE 2030: Mechanical Behavior of Materials (Spring).

Students must score at least a B (3.0) in each of these six classes. If a student does not get at least a letter grade of B, the class must be taken a second time. These classes must be successfully completed before the student can apply for admission to PhD Candidacy.

MEMS Department

– Advanced and Technical Elective Courses (≥12 credits): a group of courses tailored for each student's research and as required technical broadening beyond the MSE focus

– Courses to address mathematical/numerical skills:six (6) credits beyond those required for the materials science and engineering Bachelor of Science degree. This requirement may bewaived if it was met in a previous program.

– PhD Research and Dissertation credits: each student must have at least six (6) credits of MSE 3997 (PhD Research);at least 12 credits of MSE 3999 (PhD Dissertation);

Registration for MSE 3999 is allowed only after the student has passed the Comprehensive Examination and defended the PhD Proposal, which qualifies the student for the status of PhD Candidacy.

MEMS Department

To advance towards preparation for the PhD dissertation proposal and the Comprehensive exam the student has to(i) Achieve academic excellence in the six (6) MSE core course sequence (grades of letter grade of B (3.0) or better in each of them, see above)AND(ii) Pass the PhD qualifying examination.

Preliminary Qualifying ExamA literature review based mini-proposal in a general topic area suited to each student’s anticipated research project. : Writing a paper + Oral presentation (30 minute presentation) to the committee.

Appropriate topic descriptions should be developed by the advisor and submitted to the Qualifying Exam committee for review in advance.

MEMS Department

Written document: The written document must be submitted two (2) weeks prior to the oral presentation. The written document should be no more than 15 pages long (1 inch margins, single spaced, including any necessary figures).

Motivational section + Background/Introduction section + Remaining Questions section (describing the major issues that still need to be addressed + a Research Plan (describing experiments and methods of interpretation that can be used to address these open questions) + A list of References

Oral exam: The examining committee consists of 3 faculty, 1 of whom is the coordinator for the entire qualifier process for that year – this person sits on all the committees. The other two members are independent faculty (not to include the advisor).

MEMS Department

Timing: The qualifier will be given once per year at the end of the spring term – all new PhD degree students must take the exam in the first year. Special students (less prepared) may delay until the second year if the advisor petitions the graduation committee.

Second attempts:If the student does not pass the exam, a retake is allowed if the advisor petitions the graduate committee and commits to continuing to support the student for the 2nd year. The second attempt can occur the following spring semester or earlier in the fall.

MEMS Department

Comprehensive Exam and Thesis Proposal, including Public Seminar => Ph.D. CANDIDACY Thesis document preparation and Thesis Defense, including Public Seminar

• Comprehensive Exam (held at same time as Dissertation Proposal):- Part of the PhD Dissertation Proposal Conference- Tests students command of specialized knowledge required to successfully complete the proposed

doctoral degree research;- Completed after courses finished with ≥3.3 GPA, typically two to three terms after passing the

preliminary qualifying exam;

• Dissertation Proposal (held at same time as Comprehensive Exam):- Apply for PhD Candidacy (chose committee by one term after passing the Preliminary Qualifying

Exam and at least one month prior to proposal meeting);- Includes Public Seminar based on Proposal Presentation;- Students may not take MSE 3999 until passing the proposal stage and admission to PhD candidacy;

• Dissertation Defense:- Typically, at least one term must elapse between successful completion of Dissertation Proposal and

the Dissertation Defense;- PhD committee meeting to assess quality of scholarship, research and originality (Private part); - Public Seminar Presentation of Thesis and Defense (Public Part);- Apply for Graduation in final term;

MEMS Department

TIMELINE to a PhD-Degree:

What? When?Choose Advisor; During 1st term;

a) Plan of Study (courses), by END of 1st term;consult w. advisor;

Begin Research During 1st term (no later then 2ndterm)

b1) Complete Prelim-Qualifying Exam At the end of 1st year

b2) Form/Convene Dissertation Committee Within one (max. two) term(s) of passing Preliminary Qualifying Exam

c) Complete PhD Dissertation Proposal End 2nd Year or in 3rd Year /Comprehensive Exam => Progress to PhD Candidacy!

PhD Committee Meetings? Depends on advisor/project

Complete Research and Dissertation Within 3 to 4 years

d) Apply for Graduation and Defend Thesis During Final term

Graduate Degrees in Materials Science and Engineering offered in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science of the School

of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science (MEMS) offers advanced degrees in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), including Master of Science (MS) and Philosophical Doctor (PhD). MS Degrees The Master of Science (MS) degree in materials science and engineering (MSE) may be pursued as either a professional MS track program (course based) or a research MS track (thesis based). Students can tailor their individual MS programs to emphasize different aspects of materials science and engineering (e.g., ceramics, metallurgy). Professional MS Track The professional MS track is primarily oriented toward part-time students currently working in industry. Professional MS Track Requirements The professional track consists of a minimum of 30 course credits (equivalent to 10 courses). There are no thesis or comprehensive examination requirements for this degree. Up to nine (9) credits of coursework counting towards the 30 course credits requirement may consist of non-MSE courses in other Engineering, Science or Mathematics disciplines that are approved by a student's advisor. No more than six credits may be granted to a student as transfer credit for work done at another accredited graduate institution. At least 21 course credits must be obtained from MSE 2000 and 3000 courses, not including Graduate Seminar (MSE 3023 and 3024), MS Research (MSE 2997), and MS Thesis (MSE 2999). An independent graduate project (MSE 2998) can be conducted after consultation with the student’s faculty advisor and may account for 3 of the 21 required MSE credits. Students with non-MSE backgrounds are strongly encouraged to take for credit introductory courses (e.g. MSE 2067, MSE 2068 or equivalent). MS degrees are conferred only on those students who have completed all course requirements with at least a 3.00 (B) GPA. General Requirements The minimum requirements detailed above are specific to the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science. For general requirements for the MS program, visit the School of Engineering Graduate Programs section and/or consult relevant general guidelines and resources provided by the University.

Research MS Track The research track is primarily for full-time students who have the intention to pursue a PhD or are strongly oriented toward a research career. The University transcript will include an entry indicating that a student is in the research MS track. Research MS Track Requirements The Research Track MS degree requires a minimum of 30 credits of course and research based graduate study, including at least 21 course credits. At most up to nine (9) credits of coursework counting towards the required minimum of 21 course credits may consist of technical courses in other non-MSE Engineering, Science or Mathematics disciplines that are approved by a student's advisor. No more than six (6) credits may be granted toward completion of the requirements for the Research Track MS for work completed at another accredited graduate institution. A minimum of 12 course credits must be derived from 2000- and 3000-level MSE courses, not including credits associated with Graduate Seminar (MSE 3023 and 3024), MS Research (MSE 2997), and MS Thesis (MSE 2999). Students with non-MSE backgrounds are strongly encouraged to take for credit introductory courses (e.g. MSE 2067, MSE 2068 or equivalent). The student's advisor must approve the course sequence selection. In addition to coursework requirements a minimum of 3 credits of MS research (MSE 2997) and six (6) credits of MS Thesis (MSE 2999) are required. Master's degrees are conferred only on those students who have completed all courses required for the degree with an average grade of least a 3.00 (B) GPA. MS Thesis An MS student should initiate research work as early as possible and then register for MS research (MSE 2997). Once thesis preparation has begun, a student must register for thesis credits (MSE 2999) in each succeeding term until successful completion of the thesis and a final oral defense and comprehensive exam. The MS thesis document is at least expected to be a report on independently conducted research and must adhere to the School of Engineering defined style and format. A Style and Form Manual for a thesis is available in the Engineering Office of Administration. The purpose of an MS thesis oral defense is to evaluate an MS thesis and the student's command of the research subject. The successful completion of a defense is a requirement for the MS degree. The thesis examining committee consists of at least three members of the MSE faculty who are recommended by the student's advisor and approved by the department chair. After successfully completing a defense, a student must deposit a electronic and/or hardcopies of the approved thesis in accordance with the current guidelines (New guidelines) for thesis submissions available from the Office of Administration of the School of Engineering or the MSE Program Office.

Part-time students may pursue the research MS track. However, they must recognize that, although their thesis topics may be related to the broad technical area of their employment, results of work-related routine technical activities, analysis, surveys, or studies conducted for employers are not acceptable for inclusion in MS theses. Furthermore, part-time students should become aware of the University Intellectual Property Ownership Policy before undertaking theses. Prospective students must clarify all of these issues before contemplating a research-based MS degree. General Requirements The previous requirements are specific to the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science. For general requirements for the MS program, visit the School of Engineering Graduate Programs section.

Graduate Degrees in Materials Science and Engineering offered in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science of the School

of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science (MEMS) offers advanced degrees in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), including Master of Science (MS) and Philosophical Doctor (PhD). Doctor of Philosophy Program The doctor of philosophy (PhD) program in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science is a research degree leading largely to careers in teaching and research in academia, government and industry. The program is designed for excellent students. Students develop an understanding at the highest level in their areas of specialization and their research must lead to an original contribution to the field in the PhD dissertation. PhD studies are a demanding (and rewarding) experience that requires a strong interest in research in the selected area of specialization. The PhD program has been designed to optimize the fundamental education of students in materials science and engineering, at the same time providing much required advanced specialization. The program is designed to develop the student's ability to think about materials science and engineering at a high level in order to provide the foundation necessary to cross into other materials-related interdisciplinary areas, as required by future career developments. Please view the current graduate course listings. Application Requirements A bachelor's or master's degree holder applying to the program must have a QPA equal to or higher than 3.3 (B+) or equivalent. Students who do not meet this requirement may be able to enter the program based on experience demonstrating their excellence, as evaluated by the Graduate Committee. In some cases, depending on previous background and QPA, students may be admitted initially on a provisional basis. This usually requires students to secure grades of 3.3 (B+) or better in courses that are required to obtain a better background in materials science and engineering and/or other graduate-level courses as deemed necessary by the Graduate Admissions Committee. PhD Program Requirements A minimum of 72 credits beyond the BS level is required for the PhD. No more than 30 credits may be accepted for a master's degree awarded by another institution to meet the minimum credit requirement. In recognition of graduate study beyond the master's degree successfully completed elsewhere, no more than 12 additional

credits may be accepted at the time of admission to meet the minimum credit requirement. No more than 30 credits may be accepted for a previously earned PhD degree in recognition of master's degree work. Fulfilling the minimum requirements of the PhD program in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science involves a) Completion of course work, b) Passing the Qualifying Examination (can be attempted twice), c) Preparing a PhD Dissertation Proposal and Passing a Comprehensive Exam, d) Execution of PhD level Original Research, e) Preparation and Defense of the Doctoral Thesis. Residency Requirement Students seeking the PhD degree are required to engage in a minimum of one term of full-time doctoral study, which excludes any other employment except as approved by their departments. Required Coursework Of the total of 72 credits required for the PhD degree a minimum of 36 credits must be coursework beyond the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. PhD students must maintain a minimum QPA of 3.3 (B+) in this coursework. The coursework consists of (I) a materials core (six required courses students must take in the first year of enrollment), (II) a group of courses tailored for each student's research and as required technical broadening beyond the MSE focus, (III) courses to address mathematical/numerical skills, and (IV) PhD Research and Dissertation credits. Information on and listings of Materials Science and Engineering graduate courses can be found here. The student's advisor must approve the course sequence selection. The 18 credits core course component must be taken within the first year of the program. Typically, PhD students will carry a course load of three courses per term until their coursework is completed. Not all of the advanced MSE courses can be offered each year. If a student's background is insufficient for a given graduate course, the student must prepare by attending appropriate undergraduate courses or through independent study. This should be arranged in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor and the lecturing faculty of the relevant course(s). (I) MSE Core Courses (18 credits)

As part of the MSE core a student must take the following six MSE courses (18 credits) within the first fall and spring term after admission: 1) MSE 2067: Elements of Materials Science and Engineering 1 (Fall),

2) MSE 2003: Structure of Materials (Fall),

3) MSE 2011: Thermodynamics of Materials/Energetics (Fall),

4) MSE 2013: Kinetics in Materials Science (Spring),

5) MSE 2015: Electromagnetic Properties of Materials (Spring),

6) MSE 2030: Mechanical Behavior of Materials (Spring).

Students must score at least a B (3.0) in each of these six classes. If a student does not get at least a letter grade of B, the class must be taken a second time. These classes must be successfully completed before the student can apply for admission to PhD Candidacy.

(II) Advanced and Technical Elective Courses (≥12 credits)

A student must take advanced courses and technical electives. These are comprised of at least two courses (6 credits) selected by the student and his or her advisor as the best advanced preparation for research in the area of the dissertation, and two courses, as a broadening experience, to complement the student's PhD specialization and contribute significantly to career preparation. (III) Mathematical/Numerical Courses

The student is required to take two mathematics/numerical courses for six (6) credits beyond those required for the materials science and engineering Bachelor of Science degree. They can be satisfied by many courses. This requirement may be waived if it was met in a previous program. (IV) PhD Research and Dissertation Credits Each student must also have: At least six (6) credits of MSE 3997 (PhD Research); At least 12 credits of MSE 3999 (PhD Dissertation); Please note that registration for MSE 3999 is allowed only after the student has passed the Comprehensive Examination and defended the PhD Proposal, which qualifies the student for the status of PhD Candidacy. A total of up to twelve (12) credits may be taken in relevant science, math, engineering disciplines outside of the MSE designation of graduate level courses and in different departments than MEMS. The selection of courses, in general, must be acceptable to the student's advisor. The course requirements described in these guidelines are a minimum requirement. The minimum requirement of 72 credits of graduate work must be satisfied by combinations of research, course work and transfer credits for the award of a PhD degree. Students are allowed to take additional courses with the

agreement of their advisors. In some cases, these courses may be suggested by the PhD Committee for better preparation for a given research area. Note that completion of the PhD degree and admission PhD candidacy require a GPA of B+ or better (≥3.3) Qualifying Examination The qualifying examination is a multi-component examination to assess the student’s academic foundations, the ability to synthesize and analyze basic materials science and engineering concepts, and the students aptitude for the successful execution of PhD level original research. To to advance towards preparation for the PhD dissertation proposal and the Comprehensive exam the student has to

(i) Achieve academic excellence in the six (6) MSE core course sequence (grades of letter grade of B (3.0) or better in each of them, see above)

and

(ii) Pass the PhD qualifying examination.

Format of the PhD Qualifying Examination: The PhD qualifying examination is based on a literature review combined with a related mini-proposal in a general topic area suited to each student’s anticipated research project. The student will write a paper and then present the paper orally (30 minute presentation) to the examining committee and then be examined orally on the topic area and related core course material. Topic: The topic for the paper should be in the same general field as the student’s research but not exactly the same as their specific research topic. Appropriate topic descriptions should be developed by the advisor and submitted to the Qualifying Exam committee for review in advance. Written document: The written document must be submitted two (2) weeks prior to the oral presentation. The written document should be no more than 15 pages long (1 inch margins, single spaced, including any necessary figures). It should include a Motivational section describing why the topic is of general importance, a Background/Introduction section that summarizes what is known (“state-of-the-art”), a Remaining Questions section that describes the major issues that still need to be addressed, and a Research Plan that describes experiments and methods of interpretation that can be used to address these open questions. An appropriate list of References should be included at the end.

Oral exam: The examining committee consists of 3 faculty, 1 of whom is the coordinator for the entire qualifier process for that year – this person sits on all the committees. The other two members are independent faculty (not to include the advisor). Timing: The qualifier will be given once per year at the end of the spring term – all new PhD degree students must take the exam in the first year. Special students (less prepared) may delay until the second year if the advisor petitions the graduation committee. Second attempts: If the student does not pass the exam, a retake is allowed if the advisor petitions the graduate committee and commits to continuing to support the student for the 2nd year. The second attempt can occur the following spring semester or earlier in the fall, if the advisor and student can arrange for 3 committee members (which includes the previous year’s examining committee chair) to be present and administer the exam. However, this will only be done in the fall for retakes. First time exams will not be given in the fall. Comprehensive Examination The dissertation proposal conference is the comprehensive examination in the research area of the dissertation. This is an oral examination, and the PhD Dissertation Committee administers it. To be eligible for this, a student must have: i) Passed the preliminary (qualifying) examination. ii) Met with the Dissertation Committee at least six months earlier. iii) Completed or be close to completion of the coursework of the common core,

the advanced courses, and the math courses with a minimum QPA of 3.3 (B+). The student should present the proposal for the thesis research as a public seminar shortly after approval by the dissertation committee has been obtained. DISSERTATION COMMITTEE As soon as possible after passing successfully the Qualifying Exam a request to appoint a Dissertation Committee must be submitted by the student’s major advisor and within about six months a first meeting of the committee is to be held to guide the student in his or her final specialization. This meeting is not an examination. Only a broad definition of the PhD dissertation and the area of specialization are necessary in order to appoint the Dissertation Committee and hold the first meeting. The Dissertation Committee administers the PhD dissertation proposal conference and is required to meet with the student at least once a year after the dissertation proposal to monitor the student's progress. A Dissertation Committee consists of four or more persons, including at least one from another department in the University of Pittsburgh or from an appropriate graduate program at another academic institution. At least three members or the

majority of the committee, including the major advisor, must be full or adjunct members of the Graduate Faculty in the Department of MEMS. Qualified individuals with non-academic affiliations, e.g. in industry or government research laboratories, may be committee members in addition to the minimum required four academic members. This committee must review and approve the proposed research project before the student may be admitted to candidacy. A published Graduate Faculty Membership Roster is updated three times a year.

This doctoral committee has the responsibility to advise the student during the progress of the candidate's research and has the authority to require high-quality research and/or the rewriting of any portion of the dissertation. It conducts the final oral examination and determines whether the dissertation meets accepted standards.

Membership of the doctoral committee may be changed whenever it is appropriate or necessary, subject to the approval of the department chair and the dean. Comprehensive Examination In the comprehensive examination, the student must demonstrate excellent knowledge and understanding of the literature and the fundamentals of the selected subject area of the dissertation. In a well-designed course of study the coursework provides much of this foundation. In the dissertation proposal, the student presents a plan of research that develops logically and leads to the anticipated original contributions, which must be clearly stated. A clear presentation of professional quality not exceeding reasonable limits of time (≈45 minutes) is expected in the dissertation proposal. The student must submit a written dissertation outline to the members of the Dissertation Committee at least a week before the examination. This comprehensive examination is designed to ascertain whether the student is prepared satisfactorily for the dissertation and to perform research in the selected area of specialization. From a broader perspective, it promotes skills necessary for oral presentations and demonstrates the ability of the student to "think on his or her feet". The student will be asked questions on the proposed research designed to gauge originality and feasibility of the proposed plan of work, and the student's command of the relevant literature. Questions typically relate to the fundamentals of the proposed research and the advanced courses taken by the student. As a result of their first meeting with the student the Dissertation Committee may have defined additional areas of responsibility in preparation for this Comprehensive Examination not listed here in these general guidelines. Public Seminar Shortly (typically two to six weeks) after completing successfully the closed-door, private presentation of the PhD proposal to the Dissertation Committee, the student will present his or her dissertation proposal to the department and the community in a public seminar. The student will have included the retained suggestions made during the private, closed-door dissertation proposal. This seminar must emphasize

the plans for the proposed study and their justification, methods selected, anticipated difficulties, sources of error, etc. Preliminary results should be used only to illustrate and support the pertinent points of the proposal. The audience is encouraged to ask questions and make suggestions. The Dissertation Committee will review the presentation and the answers to the questions as the final step of the Comprehensive Examination. The final decision is made by a unanimous decision of the committee. The PhD proposal examination can be attempted only twice. Successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination and PhD-Dissertation Proposal entitles the student to transition to the status of PhD Candidacy. The Dissertation Committee must complete the Application for Admission to Candidacy for Doctoral Degree and the student’s faculty advisor must complete the relevant sections of a new Graduate Engineering Action Form. Time Limit Only considering Fall and Spring terms, it is expected that all previous requirements, which lead to the status of Candidacy for the Doctoral Degree will be attained within four to five academic terms after initial enrollment for students with an MSE background and within six or fewer terms for students with a non-MSE background. Students who do not meet this time limit must petition the Graduate Committee and Chair of the Department for a time extension. If the petition is rejected, the student will lose his or her financial support. Role of the PhD Advisor Every graduate student working toward a PhD must have a PhD advisor. In some cases, the graduate student coordinator could serve as the student's advisor for an initial period of one semester. This arrangement would be for an interim time period only, and the student must find a regular advisor for his or her PhD program before commencing the second semester of his or her program of study. The student's advisor plays a central role in planning with the student an appropriate course work selection that may be more specific than these guidelines. Registration for appropriate courses must be done in consultation with the advisor. If the student desires to follow a coursework program that does not fit within these guidelines, the approval of the MSE graduate faculty must be obtained. The advisor also plays an important role in guiding the PhD dissertation research and is responsible for organizing and conducting as chair the comprehensive examination and dissertation proposal conference and the dissertation defense. Defending a PhD Dissertation PhD Dissertation Preparation The PhD dissertation reports and discusses original contributions to the field of specialization and should contain results that are suitable for publication in appropriate archival journals. The PhD dissertation generally involves extensive research (experimental or theoretical) that is usually carried out on campus. In all cases, the research work must be unclassified and available for publication. The

PhD dissertation must be based on the research performed personally and independently by the student and must constitute an original contribution to the field. It is the responsibility of the student to keep his or her advisor informed of the progress of the dissertation research and thesis preparation on a regular basis. It is also recommended that the student updates the PhD-Dissertation Committee on progress but somewhat less frequently than for the more closely involved faculty advisor. Assessing the originality of the PhD candidate’s research is a particular focus of the faculty advisor and committee members. PhD Dissertation Private Presentation In order to produce research of the highest caliber, it is necessary that adequate time be given for the review to a dissertation before it is accepted. After a first review of the dissertation by at least the MSE members of the PhD-Dissertation Committee the oral dissertation defense is held in public. Once it has been determined by the dissertation advisor that the student may begin to write up his or her dissertation in the form of a PhD thesis document, he or she writes a rough draft. The rough draft must contain all parts of the dissertation, including figures and graphs, bibliography, etc., in legible form. The School of Engineering through the Office of Administration strictly enforces the format requirements for the written PhD thesis document. Hence, it is strongly recommended and proven best practice to prepare even the rough draft to conform as much as possible to these requirements. This facilitates a more efficient preparation of the final copy of the dissertation document, which must be filed both in hardcopy and electronically. Read guidelines on preparing a dissertation. A Style and Form Manual for a thesis is available in the Engineering Office of Administration. A copy of the rough draft of the dissertation must be available to the Dissertation Committee at least two weeks before the closed-door meeting of the Dissertation Committee to conduct the private part of the PhD defense. In the closed-door meeting the student answers any questions deemed pertinent by the members of the committee in order to assess the suitability of the dissertation for fulfillment of the relevant requirements of the PhD degree. PhD Dissertation: Public Presentation After a closed-door review of the dissertation by the committee the dissertation is defended publicly in the presence of the full Dissertation Committee. With the guidance of his or her advisor, the student modifies the dissertation draft to satisfy the committee. After the dissertation has been reviewed in this manner, it will be prepared in its final form. The student must supply at least three print-copies of the PhD dissertation, one each for the advisor, the MEMS department, and the library. One copy is to be made available in the department office for consultation by any member of the industrial or academic community for two weeks prior to the public presentation and final defense.

An announcement of the oral presentation of the dissertation defense is posted and distributed in the same way as departmental seminar presentations are announced at least two weeks prior to the date of the seminar. Best effort should be made to place an announcement in the University Times newspaper. Ideally, this oral PhD presentation and defense seminar will be held during the day and time (usually Thursday at 3 p.m.) allocated for the Departmental MSE Graduate Seminar series. The graduate seminar coordinator must be contacted well ahead of time to ensure availability of such a seminar date. After a seminar-type presentation of the PhD dissertation the student answers any questions from the audience and the Doctoral Committee. Exam Decision The final decision on the examination is made by the Dissertation Committee considering the performance of the student in all parts of the examination. If the vote of the committee is not unanimous, it will be referred to the Department Chair. Following the PhD public presentation, the advisor must complete any change-of-grade forms, as needed, and also complete the appropriate sections of a new Graduate Engineering Action Form. The final thesis document must be submitted and satisfy the New guidelines of the School of Engineering.

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MSE GRADUATE PROGRAM - Course Descriptions

MSE 2001 Statistical Physics of Materials (3 credits) Quantum theory of matter; wave mechanics; kinetic theory; statistical mechanics; statistical thermodynamics; phase space and ensembles; canonical and microcanonical ensembles; fluctuations; statistical mechanics of crystals; free electron theory of metals; cooperative phenomena; statistical mechanical theory of rate processes.

MSE 2002 Solid-State Theory in Materials Science (3 credits) Diffraction by crystals; symmetry; lattice waves; lattice vibrations and thermal properties; band theory of solids; theory of the metallic state; transition metals; semiconductors; optical properties; electronic structure of solids; ferromagnetism; magnetic properties of matter; magnetic materials and technical magnetics; domain theory; superconductivity.

MSE 2003 Structure of Materials (3 credits) Basic crystallography of materials; symmetry; point groups and space groups; tensor properties of crystals; diffraction methods in materials science; atomic packing and structures; glassy state, polycrystalline aggregates; grain boundaries and interfaces in materials; textures; multiphase materials; quantitative stereology and microstructural characterization; thin films.

MSE 2004 Advanced Dislocation Theory (3 credits) Origin, geometric aspects, and types of dislocations; experimental evidence; theoretical strength of crystals; elastic properties, stress field, and strain energy of dislocations, interaction with other dislocations and lattice imperfections; dislocations in particular crystal structures; dislocation reactions, the structure of crystal boundaries; applications.

MSE 2005 Point Defects in Crystalline Solids (3 credits) This course is concerned with point defects in metals, alloys, elemental semiconductors and inorganic compounds. The various types of point defects in such materials are described and are effects of different parameters, such as temperature and impurities, on defect concentrations are examined. Examples of defect dependent processes, such as diffusion, ionic and electronic conductivity, oxidation, and sintering are described. Surface and interface effects on defect concentrations are then discussed. Finally, technical applications of solid electrolytes and solid-state ionics as sensors, batteries and fuel cells are discussed.

MSE 2009 Computer Applications in Materials (3 credits) A variety of numerical techniques are discussed, including solution of transcendental equations, integration, matrix manipulation, solution of simultaneous equations, and use of finite difference and finite element methods for solution of partial differential equations. Specific computer topics demonstrated include graphics modeling and use of the digitizer. Materials applications covered include heat and fluid flow analyses for metals and polymers, diffusion, and metalworking die and perform design.

MSE 2011 Energetics (3 credits) Advanced classical thermodynamics; chemical

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equilibrium solution thermodynamics; quasichemical model; electrochemical cells; surface tension; thermodynamics of interfaces; introduction to thermodynamics of irreversible processes.

MSE 2013 Kinetics in Materials Science (3 credits) Basic concepts in the theory of rate processes; activation energy; chemical reaction kinetics; temperature dependence of reaction rates; statistical mechanical basis for the theory of rate phenomena; absolute reaction rate theory; thermodynamics of irreversible processes; diffusion in materials; mechanisms of atomic migration; gas-solid reactions; kinetics of phase transformations; interface migration kinetics; thermally activated deformation processes.

MSE 2014 Phase Transformations (3 credits) Energetics of transformations; stability criteria; classification of transformations; theory of rate processes; classical nucleation theory; liquid-solid transformations; precipitation from solid solution; spinodal decomposition; metastable phases; transition phases and GP zones; growth of phases; interfacial stability; eutectoid decomposition; massive transformations; martensitic transformations; order-disorder phenomena; nucleation in glass-forming systems; phase separation in glasses; metastability in glass; and glass-ceramics.

MSE 2015 Electromagnetic Properties of Materials (3 credits) Basic principles governing the electrical, magnetic, and optical properties of engineering materials; semiconductor devices; dielectrics; ferroelectrics; technical magnetic properties; hysteresis behavior; applications of hard and soft magnetic materials; superconductivity; high temperature ceramic superconductors; electro-optical materials and devices.

MSE 2030 Mechanical Behavior of Materials (3 credits) Continuum mechanics concepts; stress, strain, tensor notation, and equations of equilibrium; comparison of materials behavior: bonding, structure and properties of metals, ceramics, and polymers; constitutive relations: linear and non-linear elasticity, and plasticity; time-dependent deformation: visco-elasticity, mechanical analogs, vibrations and damping, anelasticity, creep, stress-rupture, and deformation mechanism maps; fracture under monotonic loading conditions: brittle, ductile, ductile-to-brittle transition, role of structure, role of stress state, fracture mechanisms, fractography, fracture mechanics, notched-bar impact test, methods of increasing resistance to brittle and ductile fracture; fracture under cyclic loading conditions: fatigue testing, statistical treatment of failure data, S-N curves, strain-life diagrams, low and high-cycle fatigue, and materials/component design concepts for increased resistance to fatigue failure.

MSE 2031 Metal-Forming Processes (3 credits) Mechanical fundamentals: stress, strain, strain-rate, yield criteria, stress-strain relations, strain energy, friction, limit analysis; metal-forming processes considered with respect to practices, analyses, and interrelationships between practice and theory; metal-forming processes covered include forging, rolling, wire drawing, extrusion (direct and hydrostatic), and sheet-forming operations.

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MSE 2032 Failure of Materials (3 credits) Principles of continuum mechanics and physical metallurgy are applied in the fundamental description of failure in metals, ceramics, and polymers. After a brief review of the concepts of stress, strain, modes of failure, and fractography, in-depth study is made of fracture mechanics, fatigue failure, fretting, wear, creep, shock loading, and corrosion-assisted failures. Case studies are given throughout to illustrate the methods of load and stress analysis combined with fractography.

MSE 2033 Magnetic Properties of Materials (3 credits) Magnetic properties of matter; ferro-, ferri-, and anti-ferromagnetism; diamagnetic and paramagnetic substances; magnetostatics; the fundamental quantities in the description magnetic behavior; measurement of magnetic quantities; hysteresis; magnetic domains; magnetic anisotropy; magnetostriction; permeability; coercivity; and hard and soft magnetic materials for engineering applications; thin film and fine-particle behavior.

MSE 2035 Advanced Physics of Materials (3 credits) Diffraction by crystals; crystal symmetry; lattice waves; lattice vibrations and thermal properties; free electron theory of metals; band theory of solids; transition metals; insulators and semiconductors; superconductivity; ferroelectrics; optical properties of solids.

MSE 2036 Introduction to Continuum Mechanics (3 credits) The fundamental concepts of continuum mechanics necessary for studying the mechanical behavior of solids and fluids. Included a review of vectors and tensors; stress; strain and deformation; general principles in the form of balance laws; constitutive equations and their restrictions; and specialization tot he theories of linearized elasticity and fluid mechanics.

MSE 2037 Nanomechanics, Materials and Device�(3 credits) This course is an introduction for current nanotechnology and fundamentals for nanoengineering. It mainly contains three areas: nanomechanics, nanomaterials and nanoscaled devices. In nanomechanics, it covers nanoindentation mechanics, thin film mechanics and one dimensional nanowire mechanics, nanocrack mechanics, deformation in nanomaterials. Nanomechanical model will be emphasized in nanomaterials, it covers carbon nanotube, one dimensional semiconducting nanowires and nanomultilayers as well as nanostructured composites. Novel property/phenomena reviewed.

MSE 2038 Applied Solid Mechanics (3 credits) Stress and strain transformations; applied elasticity problems in torsion and plane problems; thermal stresses and elementary plasticity; energy methods; fundamentals of finite element methods.

MSE 2041 Advanced Physical Metallurgy 1 (3 credits) The cold-worked state: point defects, dislocations, crystal plasticity, work hardening, stored energy; dynamic restoration processes: dynamic recovery, dynamic recrystallization, and postdynamic recrystallization; static restoration processes: static recovery, static primary recrystallization; deformation and restoration of two-phase alloys; grain coarsening behavior: normal, abnormal (secondary recrystallization), and tertiary recrystallization; genesis of preferred orientation: inverse and full pole figures,

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crystallite orientation distribution functions, deformation textures, and recrystallization textures.

MSE 2042 Advanced Physical Metallurgy 2 (3 credits) Strengthening mechanisms in metals and alloys; theoretical strength of crystals; particle strengthening; dislocation-particle interactions; grain size strengthening; strengthening by presence of grain boundaries; Hall-Petch expression; theories of discontinuous yielding; solid-solution strengthening; fiber strengthening and the design of high-strength microstructures.

MSE 2043 Electron Microscopy in Materials Science (3 credits) Electron optics, lens aberrations, depth of field, depth of focus, resolution, contrast, bright and dark field microscopy, selected area diffraction, calibration, specimen preparation, electron scattering, electron diffraction, Bragg's law, Laue conditions, structure factor, Ewald construction, double diffraction, twinning, Kikuchi lines, contrast theory, kinematical theory of diffraction by perfect and imperfect crystals, limitations, column approximation, extinction contours, dynamical theory, special techniques, high voltage microscopy, applications.

MSE 2044 Scanning Electron Microscopy & EPMA (3 credits) This course is designed to introduce the students to the SEM and associated techniques in particular electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). It will also give an understanding of SEM and EPMA so that users can make the most of these techniques. The course will include demonstrations on a state of the art field emission microscope. Major topics are: Interaction of electrons with solids, Electron optics, Image formation in the SEM, X-ray microanalysis (qualitative and quantitative), Introduction to other techniques, Applications, Special techniques of imaging, Electron backscattering diffraction.

MSE 2045 Advanced Ferrous Physical Metallurgy (3 credits) The first part of the course reviews the basic concepts of the physical metallurgy of plain carbon steels, including the phase diagram and the various phase transformations that can occur. The second part of the course discusses high-strength, low-alloy steels along with their processing and heat treatment. The third part of the course reviews sheet steels for high formability applications. The fourth part of the course discusses specialty steels such as stainless steels and tool steels. Throughout this course, the relationship that exists among composition, processing, microstructure and properties will be emphasized.

MSE 2046 Physical Metallurgy of Engineering Alloys (3 credits) Property requirements of engineering alloys are discussed: strength, toughness, formability, weldability, fatigue resistance, corrosion/oxidation resistance. Review is made of pertinent phase diagrams, transformations and microstructures in the Fe-Fe3C and other alloy systems. Composition, processing, microstructure and properties of important structural steels, sheet steels, stainless steels, tool steels, aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, as well as nickel-based and copper-based alloys will be presented. Case studies, design problems and selection criteria are discussed.

MSE 2047 Analysis and Characterization at the Nano-Scale (3 credits) This

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course offers a survey of micro-analytical, microscopy and diffraction methods that are widely used for the analysis of composition, chemistry, structure, scale and morphology of advanced materials. It introduces the most basic concepts required to understand experimental data obtained with these modern techniques. The main objectives of the course are to enable students to interpret and evaluate relevant data sets presented in the research literature and to identify experimental tools to solve a given nano-research characterization problem. Some prerequisite basic knowledge of the structure of solid matter (E.G. crystals and amorphous materials), diffraction methods (E.G. x-ray diffraction) and processing-property-structure relationships in materials is expected.

MSE 2050 Gas-Metal Reactions (3 credits) This course will cover the fundamental and applied aspects of gas-metal reactions, particularly with regard to high temperature oxidation and corrosion. The basic aspects of thermodynamics of gas-solid reactions and diffusion in alloys and inorganic compounds will be reviewed. The growth of reaction product layers on pure metals will be described followed by an extensive treatment of alloy oxidation with particular emphasis on the development of protective layers by "selective oxidation". The principles will be illustrated using various technologically important systems including ferrous alloys, Ni-base superalloys, intermetallic compounds, and refractory metals. The following special topics will then be discussed: stresses in oxide films and film adhesion, mixed oxidant corrosion, hot corrosion, corrosion of ceramics, and the use of metallic coatings and thermal barrier coatings for the protection of high-temperature components.

MSE 2055 Principles of Solidification Engineering (3 credits) Study of fundamental phenomenon during the formation of crystalline materials. Delineation of the processing parameters that control crystal perfection, solidification substructure, grain size and shape, microsegregation, macrosegregation, microporosity, inclusions, mechanical properties, and physical properties. Application of fundamental principles to the processing of single crystals, ingots, castings, and composites.

MSE 2067 Elements of Materials Science and Engineering 1 (3 credits) Course is primarily designed for graduate students entering the program without a degree in a field of materials engineering. Bonding and structure of materials; thermodynamics and phase diagrams; imperfections in crystals; and rate processes.

MSE 2068 Elements of Materials Science and Engineering 2 (3 credits) Course is primarily designed for graduate students entering the program without a degree in a field of materials. Mechanical properties: plastic deformation, mechanical properties and microstructure control; high-temperature deformation; deformation of amorphous materials. Electromagnetic properties; electrons in solids; electronic transport; junctions; magnetic properties; dielectric and optical properties.

MSE 2069 Materials Science of Nanostructures (3 credits) A graduate level course that reviews the theories and phenomena associated with solid structures

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that lie in the nano- (or meso-) scale regime from 1 to 1000 nm. Engineered structures of these dimensions have unique properties due to their size, including 1) surface and interface-dominated energy considerations governing shape and phase formation, 2) optical interactions due to confinement effects, 3) unique electronic/quantum effects due to confinement. The course will survey the issues associated with creation, analysis, and theoretical modeling of these structures-with a materials science (kinetics-thermodynamics) perspective. Some topics may vary from semester to semester.

MSE 2071 Properties of Ceramics (3 credits) Microstructure of ceramics; principles and application to ceramic products; thermal properties; mechanical properties; elasticity and strength, plastic deformation, and creep.

MSE 2072 Ceramic Processing (3 credits) This course concentrates on the processing of ceramics from powders. It follows the stages common to all powder processing of materials including: powder synthesis, powder characterization, powder forming and sintering. In each stage, emphasis will be placed on the underlying physical principles and the ways in which these principles can be used to describe and control the process. New techniques such as sol-gel processing of thin films, fibbers and monoliths will also be described. Finally, the basic steps in the processing of glass will be reviewed.

MSE 2073 MSE Ceramic Materials (3 credits) This course involves a comprehensive treatment of the structure-property relationships of ceramic materials for students with a background in materials science and engineering. Topics include: crystal structures of ceramics and their effect on physical and chemical properties, the structure and properties of oxide glasses and glass ceramics, defects and transport properties in oxides, ceramic phase diagrams and microstructure-property relationships, sintering and crystallization.

MSE 2074 Surfaces and Colloids (3 credits) Concepts from physical chemistry and transport phenomena are extended to study surface and colloidal phenomena, and related applications to materials processing and separations technology. Topics include: molecular theory of surface tension, surface energy surface thermodynamics, adsorption, electrostatic double layer, interparticle forces in aqueous and non-aqueous dispersions, dominant forces on the colloidal and meso-length scale, colloid stability, electrokinetic phenomena, and suspension rheology, surface probes.

MSE 2077 Thin Film Processes and Characterization (3 credits) This course will be an overview of the major thin film processing methods and the primary techniques to characterize thin surfaces and interfaces. Topics to be included in the first part of the course include: vacuum science and technology, thin-film deposition techniques, such as physical vapor deposition (PVD), molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), and chemical vapor deposition (CVD), as well as the fundamental surface processes of epitaxial growth. In the second part of the course, the principles and applications of modern structural and analytical techniques will be presented that use electrons, photons, ions, etc. to probe the surface, near surface and interface regions. Some of the techniques that will be covered include electron microscopy

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(including situ), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM).

MSE 2078 Nanoparticles: Science and Technology (3 credits) This interdisciplinary course introduces students to the science and technology of nanoparticles. Synthesis of nanoparticles will be discussed. Applications of nanoparticles for advanced electronic, magnetic, biomedical, catalysis and other areas will be presented.

MSE 2094 Special Advanced Seminar (1 to 3 credits)

MSE 2110 Nuclear Materials (3 credits) This course presumes that students have the knowledge base needed to understand materials issues associated with the design and operation of nuclear power plants, such as basic concepts of physical metallurgy, a mechanistic and microstructural-based view of material properties, and basic metallurgical principles. This course will cover the metallurgy and phase diagrams of alloy systems important in the design of commercial nuclear power plants. The micro-structural changes that result from reactor exposure (including radiation damage and defect cluster evolution) are discussed in detail. The aim is to create a linkage between changes in the material microstructure and changes in the macroscopic behavior of the material. Irradiation on corrosion performance, as well as the effects of primary and secondary coolant chemistry on corrosion. Both mathematical methods and experimental techniques are emphasized so that theoretical modeling is guided by experimental data. Materials issues in current commercial nuclear reactors and materials issues in future core and plant designs are covered.

MSE 2111 Materials for Energy Generation and Storage (3credits) The objective of this course is to provide an overview of the important renewable energy resources and the modern technologies to harness and store them. After taking MSE 2111, students are expected to develop a solid scientific and technological understanding of new alternative energy technologies. This course will give an overview on harnessing renewable energy resources and storing collected energy. In each topic, issues relevant to basic principle and technological barriers limiting the use of non-fossil energy will be discussed.

MSE 2112 Nanoscale Modeling and Simulation: Molecular Dynamics (3 credits) This course teaches the essentials of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. It covers topics on classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, and continuum mechanics, and their role in atomistic scale modeling and simulation. Atomic structure, bonding, and defects in materials as well as techniques for modeling them are also discussed.

MSE 2113 Nanoscale Modeling and Simulation: Density Functional Theory (3 credits) The course covers both the fundamentals and the applications of density functional theory (DFT) for predicting the electronic structure and material properties of condensed matters. Topics include electronic structure of atoms and crystals, atomic pseudopotentials, plane wave based DFT method, localized orbital

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DFT method, augmented function DFT method, and various applications related to determining properties of nanomaterials. Students gain hands-on experience using state-of-the-art DFT computation software.

MSE 2115 Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow in Nuclear Plants (3 credits) This course provides advanced knowledge to promote understanding and application of thermal and hydraulic tools and procedures used in reactor plant design and analysis. It assumes that the student has a fundamental knowledge base in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer and reactor thermal analysis. The focus of the course is on physical and mathematical concepts useful for design and analysis of light water nuclear reactor plants. Applications of mass, momentum, and energy balances are combined with use of water properties to analyze the entire reactor plant complex as a whole. Principles are applied through the application of major industry codes to specific cases.

MSE 2997 MS Research (1 to 12 credits)

MSE 2998 Graduate Projects (1 to 3 credits)

MSE 2999 MS Thesis (1 to 12 credits)

MSE 3001 Practicum (1 to 12 credits) Provide in curriculum practical training in an area related to advanced materials related research.

MSE 3023 Graduate Seminar (1 credit) Speakers from academia and industry review their current research on broad areas of interest with materials engineers.

MSE 3024 Graduate Seminar (1 credit) Speakers from academia and industry review their current research on broad areas of interest with materials engineers.

MSE 3997 PhD Research (1 to 12 credits)

MSE 3998 Independent Study (1 to 3 credits)

MSE 3999 PhD Dissertation (1 to 12 credits)