Master of Science (Course Option)

Specific requirements for the M.S. (Course Option) degree in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering follow:

1. The 96 satisfactorily completed units that are offered for the degree shall be subject to the following distribution requirements:
    
   • At least 60 units must be graduate courses (700 series).
   • At least 40 units must be graduate courses in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (27-700 series).
   • Not more than 18 units may be advanced undergraduate courses in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
   • Individualized study is permitted, but not required. Not more than 36 units may be Masters Project (27-756) or Materials Problems (27-755).
   • All full-time students must enroll, attend and actively participate in the Graduate Seminar course, 27-774, each semester in which they are registered. Completion of each semester is a formal degree requirement for all full-time students.
   • Students are required to take 24 units of the departmental common core courses: 27-779 , Structure and Bonding in Crystalline Materials 27-780 Thermodynamics, 27-766 Diffusion in Materials and 27-788 Defects in Materials . However, all three courses are recommended. These courses provide a broad range of fundamental principles for subsequent departmental graduate courses, and also serve as the basis for part of the Comprehensive Examination for the degree of Master of Science.
   • Graduate course units with a grade lower than a "C" are not acceptable towards satisfying degree requirements.
      
2. All Course Option students must pass the Master's Comprehensive Examination. This currently is an oral examination, one to one-and-one-half hours in duration, which usually is scheduled near the end of the spring semester. This examination tests for an integrated understanding of, and ability to apply, the material learned in courses. Students who fail this examination on their first attempt will be allowed one additional attempt at a later date. It is possible to complete the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in one year of full-time study, or three years of part-time study. More time often is needed, however, if the student's background is in areas other than metallurgical engineering and/or materials science.
    
3. All students must maintain a B average (3.0) in order to graduate. Course units with a grade lower than "C" are not acceptable toward the degree requirements for the M.S. degrees. The average grade of course work shall be at least a "B," and the student may choose any 60 to 96 units of the first 120 units attempted to compute the average course grade. Project grades may not be used in calculation of the "B" average for the M.S. coursework degree but can be used towards the unit calculation. Project grades must be "B" or above to count towards graduation.

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