Materials Science & Engineering Ph.D

Montana Technological University (Montana Tech) in conjunction with Montana State University (MSU) offers the collaborative Montana University System (MUS) Ph.D. program in Materials Science and Engineering. The program includes faculty, students, and resources in multiple departments on both campuses.

Within the broad intellectual footprint of materials science and engineering, the program concentrates on five overlapping and interacting areas important to Montana’s economic interests: biomaterials; materials for energy storage, conversion and conservation; electronic, photonic, and magnetic (EPM) materials; environmental materials, and materials synthesis, processing and fabrication.

The Ph.D. program requirements specify a minimum of 60 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. Of these 60 credits, at least 32 credits must be earned for coursework, and at least 18 credits must be obtained for dissertation research. As many as 24 semester credits from a relevant master’s degree may be applied toward the minimum degree requirements; their acceptance is subject to the review and approval of the student’s advisor, committee, and the program Leadership Council. At least nine of the elective credits must feature engineering content and skill, and no more than six credits maybe from 400-level courses. To ensure students benefit from the collaborative, dual-campus nature of the program, nine credits are earned from core courses offered at the away campus. Students are generally expected to complete the 20-credit core curriculum and pass the qualifying examination during the summer following their first year. The qualifying examination is a comprehensive examination that covers the subject matter presented in the core courses, and is typically scheduled to take place during the third week in August. Students also must pass the candidacy examination, which is typically scheduled at least two semesters prior to the anticipated defense date. The program culminates with the student’s defense of a dissertation based on their original research and contributions to the field of Materials Science and Engineering. Students are also expected to participate each spring and present their research at least one time in the program’s annual Materials under the Big Sky Symposium.