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2023-2024 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Materials Science Ph.D
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Montana Tech has joined with the University of Montana and Montana State University to offer the Montana Ph.D. program in Materials Science. This multi-campus program involves faculty, students, and resources on all three campuses.
Within the broad intellectual footprint of materials science and engineering, the proposed Montana University System (MUS) program concentrates on four overlapping and interacting areas, which are important to Montana’s economic interests: biomaterials; materials for energy storage, conversion and conservation; electronic, photonic, and magnetic (EPM) materials; and materials synthesis, processing and fabrication.
The program requires a minimum of 60 semester credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. Of the 60 credits, at least 18 credits must be obtained for dissertation research, and at least 32 credits must be earned for coursework. Up to 24 semester-credits of coursework from a master’s degree may be accepted toward the minimum degree requirements, but they must be applicable to the Materials Science Ph.D. curriculum, and their acceptance is subject to the review and approval. The 20-credit core curriculum, required of all students, would typically be completed during the first year, and be followed by the Qualifying Exam. The core curriculum consists of Survey of Materials Science and Engineering (2 credits: 1 credit/semester), Advanced Materials Science I (Bonding, Structure, and Defects, 4 credits), Advanced Materials Science II (Function and Application, 3 credits), Thermodynamics of Materials (3 credits), Kinetics and Phase Transformations (3 credits), and Advanced Materials Characterization Techniques I & II (2 credits 1st semester; 3 credits 2nd semester). Students also must pass the candidacy examination, complete and defend a dissertation of original research, and participate in the program’s annual summer symposium.
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Note(s):
Electives
Elective courses will be available, allowing students to deepen their understanding and research skills in the program’s focus areas: (1) biomaterials; (2) materials for energy storage, conversion, and conservation; (3) electronic, magnetic, and photonic materials; and (4) materials synthesis, processing, and fabrication.
Some electives will be developed specifically for the MatSci Ph.D. program, others would be graduate courses from other related graduate programs at the three campuses. Courses in mathematics, statistics, and numerical modeling would be recommended for students with special interests in theory and simulation.
Summary of Degree Requirements
Courses. The MUS MatSci Ph.D. will require a minimum of 60 semester credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. Of the 60 credits, at least 18 credits must be obtained for dissertation research, and at least 32 credits must be earned for coursework. Up to 24 semester-credits from a master’s degree may be accepted toward the minimum degree requirements, but they must be applicable to the MatSci curriculum, and their acceptance is subject to the review and approval of the student’s committee and the MatSci program’s Leadership Council. No more than 6 credits may be from 400-level courses. To ensure that students benefit from the collaborative, three-campus nature of the program, at least 9 credits must be earned from courses offered away from the home campus. Students are expected to complete the20-credit core curriculum and pass the qualifying examination within the first year. Appendix III summarizes the new courses.
In addition to the core curriculum, each student must earn at least 12 credits of electives within or related to the chosen specialty. Typically, this coursework would be completed by the end of the student’s second year. Additional elective courses intended to provide a student with specialized expertise and/or skills relevant to their dissertation research may be recommended by the individual student’s advisor and committee.
Other Requirements. Other requirements include the qualifying exam, the candidacy exam, the dissertation, participation in the program’s annual summer symposium, annual meetings with a student’s advisory committee, and an optional internship.
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