PhD in Materials Science Admission Requirements
A master of science in materials science or closely related field (physics, metallurgy, engineering, chemistry) is usually required for admission. Admission with only a bachelor of science degree in these fields is also possible in limited cases, but students with only a BS degree are strongly encouraged to first enroll in either the MSME (structure and behavior of materials specialization) or the MSEE (electromagnetics, quantum optics, semiconductors specialization). Applicants must submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. Normally, a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required.
Students whose background differs significantly from that ordinarily expected of materials science students can be admitted on a provisional basis. They will usually be required to complete preparatory courses that are prerequisites for the materials science core courses on which the qualifying exam is based (see below). Such courses are not considered part of the 90-quarter hour requirement for the degree.