Graduate Program

Brief summary of requirements for PhD program

• Base competency in core subject areas demonstrated by passing the qualifying examination prior to the second year of study
• Research rotations in first and second semester of study prior to choosing a permanent adviser
• Mentored teaching experience
• Minimum of 36 credits for coursework and minimum of 18 credits for PhD research; total of 72 credits to earn the PhD degree
• Defend a proposal by the 5^th semester
• Defend PhD dissertation by making an open oral seminar presentation, followed by questions from the dissertation committee members

Coursework

The doctoral degree requires a minimum of 72 credits beyond the bachelor's level, with a minimum of 36 consisting of course credits (including the core curriculum) and a minimum of 18 credits of doctoral dissertation research.

The core curriculum that must be satisfied by all PhD students consists of the following:

• MEMS 5610, Quantitative Materials Science & Engineering (3 units)
• MEMS 5619, Thermodynamics of Materials or EECE 502, Advanced Thermodynamics in EECE (3 units)
• MEMS 5620, Kinetics of Materials
• Chem 5620, Solid State and Materials Chemistry (3 units) or Physics 5072, Solid State Physics (3 units)
• IMSE 500, First Year Research Rotation (6 units)

Electives:

• A minimum of 9 credits from a preapproved list of Materials Science & Engineering electives
• A minimum of 9 credits of graduate-level technical elective courses in mathematics or any science or engineering department, to reach a total of at least 36 academic credits

Additional detailed information on course requirements can be found in the “IMSE Graduate Student Handbook.”

Advising

Each entering student is guided by the director of Doctoral Studies. The director will help in the selection of courses and in the selection of rotations with the aim of matching an individual's research interests with those of a research mentor.

As a student progresses through the doctoral program, the director's role is replaced by the dissertation mentor to reflect the increasing focus on an area of specialization. After passing the qualifying exam, the student in consultation with the dissertation adviser will select a mentoring committee involving, at least two more IMSE graduatefaculty besides the dissertation adviser. This committee meets once a year, or more frequently if needed, to assess progress on the dissertation research and provide guidance. The members of the mentoring committee may change as the research topic evolves.

By the time research is completed, this committee is amended with two more faculty members who form the dissertation committee.

Research rotations

Research rotations serve three important purposes:

• Materials Science and Engineering is a very diverse and interdisciplinary discipline. Research rotations provide an opportunity for each student to be exposed to different areas of materials research. This broadening experience, prior to the subsequent necessary specialization, should prove to be useful as their careers develop.
• Serve as an introduction for both students and potential research mentors for the long-term affiliation that is associated with a doctoral dissertation research.
• The area of research represented in one rotation report serves as the basis for the qualifying examination.

While also enrolled in classes, within the first year of matriculation, students are required to complete two research rotations — each typically lasting one semester — by the end of their first full year of enrollment. The rotations can be performed under the mentorship an IMSE graduate faculty member.  A written report, co-signed by the rotation mentor signifying completion of the rotation, is required at the end of each semester. The student may complete both rotations with the same mentor.

Available Fall 2024 Research Rotations

Qualifying exam and thesis proposal

No later than the end of the summer prior to the second year of enrollment in the doctoral program, students are required to take and pass both written and oral qualifying examinations. The written portion consists of one of the rotation reports, while the oral portion covers academic material from the core courses.

A written and oral thesis proposal should be completed by the fifth semester of enrollment. The mentoring committee must meet annually, however, so this committee must be formed within one semester of passing the qualifying exam.

Dissertation research

After the thesis proposal is approved, dissertation research occupies the bulk of the student's effort. Upon completion of the dissertation, students will defend the dissertation.

Performance review, probation and dismissal

All students in the PhD program are expected to satisfy the academic performance requirements of the McKelvey School of Engineering.

In addition, all doctoral students are expected to satisfy the department's additional academic performance requirements, which are described in the “IMSE Graduate Student Handbook" 

Students can use the PhD worksheet to keep track of their course requirements.

Seminars

All doctoral students are required to attend a weekly research seminar sponsored by the department. These seminars provide exposure to state-of-the-art materials research by scientists both within and outside of WashU. Regular attendance over the duration of a student's tenure provides an invaluable educational experience.