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Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering

Department of Physics and Materials Science

Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering

The Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering program prepares students for careers in industry, federal or private research laboratories, and academia. The program transitions students from physical sciences, engineering, and related fields into the discipline of materials science and engineering while broadening their professional opportunities.  All students are required to complete a total of 75 credit hours, including research and thesis preparation credits.

First Year:

During your first year, you will complete core courses that provide a foundation in materials, mathematics, and instrumentation. These courses serve as prerequisites for advanced electives and form the basis of the Doctoral Qualifying Examination. You will also meet with faculty in the College of Science, Engineering, and Technology (CSET) to explore available research opportunities and potential projects for your doctoral dissertation.

Fall   Spring
MSE 530   Materials Science
     
MSE 535   Electronic and Photonic Materials 
PHY 580   Quantum Mechanics for Materials Sci. I 
  
PHY 653    Solid State Physics I
CHM 545  Math Methods for Materials Science
 
MSE 575    Instrumentation for Materials Sci.
 
MSE 600   Materials Science Seminar I
MSE 601     Materials Science Seminar II

second Year:

In the fall of your second year, you will take the Doctoral Qualifying Examination, which evaluates your mastery of the first-year core material. After passing the exam, you will select a research advisor and dissertation committee, and begin taking elective courses in consultation with your advisor. Regular attendance at department research seminars and activities will help you stay current with the latest developments in physics and materials science.

third Year and beyond:

Once you begin your dissertation research in your second year, you will devote most of your time to advancing your research project, collaborating with fellow students and faculty at NSU as well as with our external research partners, presenting your work at conferences worldwide, and taking elective courses that support and deepen your understanding of your research goals.

In addition to the required core courses, students must complete at least twelve (12) credit hours of approved technical electives. Some of the courses are listed below.

  • PHY 680 Quantum Mechanics for Materials Science II
  • MSE 635 Optical Materials
  • MSE 607 Materials for Nanotechnology
  • MSE 660 Organic Optoelectronic Materials and Devices
  • MSE 704 Thin Film Phenomena
  • CHM 573 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry
  • CHM 633 Molecular Dynamics
  • CHM 663 Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy
  • PHY 675 Electricity and Magnetism
  • EEN 650 Microelectromechanical Systems
  • MSE 703 Materials and Devices for Solar Energy Conversion

You will meet regularly with your dissertation committee, composed of the your advisor, three graduate faculty members from CSET, and a fifth committee member outside of NSU who is typically a collaborator from another university, industry, or national laboratory. They will closely monitor your progress and provide advise the work. Once you compose a dissertation on the research results, you will defend the work in an open forum as the Final Dissertation Defense. After the delivery and approval of a finalized dissertation manuscript, the Ph.D. degree will be awarded.

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