Area of Study and Degrees
Materials Science and Engineering
M.S., M.Engr., Ph.D.

Master's Degree Plans
Thesis (M.S.), Thesis Substitute (M.Engr.) and Non-Thesis (M.Engr.)

Director
Ronald L. Elsenbaumer
325 Woolf Hall, 817-272-2398
elsenbaumer@uta.edu

Graduate Advisor
Pranesh B. Aswath
325D Woolf Hall, 817-272-2008
aswath@uta.edu

Graduate Faculty
Professors
Chan, Elsenbaumer, Goolsby, Johnson

Associate Professor
Aswath

Assistant Professor
Kim

Professor Emeritus
Wiseman

Graduate faculty from participating departments and programs in the
College of Engineering and the College of Science are involved in teaching
and supervising materials science and engineering graduate students' research. Specific faculty contacts within these areas include:

Aerospace Engineering: Professor Joshi, 215 Woolf Hall, 817-272-3746
Biomedical Engineering: Professor Eberhart, 220 Engineering Lab,
817-272-2053
Chemistry: Professor Elsenbaumer, 219 Science, 817-272-3171
Civil Engineering: Professor Yuan, 408 Nedderman Hall, 817-272-2550
Electrical Engineering: Professor Alavi, 540 Nedderman Hall, 817-272-5633
Mechanical Engineering: Professor Chan, 325G Woolf Hall, 817-272-5638
Physics: Professor Weiss, 107D Science, 817-272-2459

Participating faculty of the colleges of Engineering and Science
Aerospace Engineering: Joshi
Biomedical Engineering: Eberhart, Nelson
Chemistry: Dias, Marynick, McDowell, Pomerantz, Rajeshwar, Schelly, Timmons
Civil Engineering: Yuan
Electrical Engineering: Alavi, Carter, Davis, Magnusson, Maldonado
Mechanical Engineering: Chan, Haji-Sheikh, Nomura, Wang
Physics: Black, Fry, Koymen, Ray, Sharma, Weiss, West

Objective

The graduate program in materials science and engineering is designed to provide students with a fundamental understanding of phenomena occurring in materials and their associated chemical, electrical, mechanical, and physical properties. The master's program prepares students for professional careers in materials science and engineering or for additional studies at the doctoral level.

Candidates for a master's or doctoral degree may elect programs emphasizing metals, polymers, ceramics, composite materials, or electronic materials, as well as a number of other areas. Although the program is administered through the College of Engineering, it is broadly interdisciplinary, actively involving faculty in both the College of Science and the College of Engineering. In addition to materials science and engineering courses, applicable courses are in the disciplines of aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, computer science engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics, mechanical engineering, and physics.

Admission

Master's Degree
Applicants for the master's degree who hold a baccalaureate in engineering or science must meet the general requirements of the Graduate School as stated in the section of this catalog entitled "Admission Requirements and Procedures." Applicants not meeting all criteria may be admitted on a provisional or probationary basis.

For applicants with no prior training in engineering or with insufficient undergraduate materials coursework, the same minimum criteria will apply. Additionally, their records will be reviewed in relation to their materials backgrounds, and probationary status with specific remedial work required may be a basis for acceptance of such applicants.

The acceptance of applicants who hold a master's degree in engineering will be based on the above-mentioned minimum criteria and results of graduate work, including the master's thesis.

Doctoral Degree
Applicants for the doctoral degree must have either a baccalaureate or master's degree in engineering or science and meet all requirements stated above in both graduate and undergraduate work. Students without a master's degree will enter the program as master's candidates and must complete a minimum of 30 graduate semester hours (at least 24 hours of which must be coursework) with distinction prior to advancement to doctoral candidacy. Doctoral candidates shall also demonstrate through previous academic preparation the potential to carry out independent research in materials science and engineering.

Continuation

The Materials Science and Engineering Graduate Program, in fulfillment of its responsibility to graduate highly qualified professional engineers and scientists, has established certain policies and procedures. In addition to the requirements of the Graduate School listed elsewhere in this catalog, to continue in the program each materials science and engineering graduate student must:

1. Maintain at least a B (3.0) overall GPA in all coursework, and
2. Demonstrate suitability for professional practice.

At such time as questions are raised by materials science and engineering graduate faculty regarding either of the above, the student will be notified and will be given the opportunity to respond to the Committee on Graduate Studies for Materials Science and Engineering. The Committee on Graduate Studies will review the student's performance and make a recommendation concerning the student's eligibility to continue in the program. Appeal of a decision on continuation may be made through normal procedures outlined in the section of this catalog entitled "Grievances Other Than Grades."

Degree Requirements

Master's Degrees
Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering: The Master of Science degree is a research-oriented degree in which completion of a thesis is mandatory. The program consists of a minimum of 24 credit hours of coursework and an acceptable thesis (minimum of six credit hours).

Master of Engineering in Materials Science and Engineering: The Master of Engineering degree is an engineering practice-oriented program requiring a minimum of 36 credit hours. A maximum of six hours may be a special project. A final program examination is required of all master's degree candidates. Non-thesis degree candidates will fulfill the program examination requirement upon the successful completion of MSE 5192, Master's Comprehensive Examination. Candidates must enroll in MSE 5192 in the semester they intend to graduate.

Doctor of Philosophy
The Ph.D. degree program involves an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approach which requires students to complete a set of Materials Science and Engineering core courses augmented by elective offerings in aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, electrical engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering and physics. The degree is a research degree which requires the candidate successfully to carry out independent research in an area acceptable to the Committee on Graduate Studies for Materials Science and Engineering. A student's research is directed by a faculty member from any of the departments or programs participating in the Materials Science and Engineering Program.
The Ph.D. degree program requires successful completion of the following curriculum components:

1. A minimum of 24 semester hours of graduate coursework is expected for students entering with an appropriate master's degree or, for highly qualified students, a minimum of 42 semester hours of graduate coursework is expected for student's entering with a bachelor's degree, as approved by the Committee on Graduate Studies for Materials Science and Engineering. Additional coursework may be required by the student's doctoral dissertation committee.
2. Six core courses or their equivalent are required for all doctoral students:

MSE 5301 Physics of Engineering Materials (PHYS 5301)
MSE 5302 Fundamentals of Materials Science and Engineering I
MSE 5303 Fundamentals of Materials Science and Engineering II
MSE 5304 Analysis of Materials
MSE 5312 Mechanical Behavior of Materials
MSE 5320 Thermodynamics of Materials (CHEM 5333)

3. Three of the following supplemental courses must be taken by all doctoral students, as approved by the Committee on Graduate Studies for Materials Science and Engineering.

MSE 5310 Dislocation Theory
MSE 5314 Fracture Mechanics
MSE 5315 Fatigue of Engineering Materials
MSE 5321 Phase Transformations of Materials
MSE 5335 Integrated Circuit Materials and Processing
MSE 5336 Electrical Properties of Materials
MSE 5337 Magnetic and Optical Properties of Materials
MSE 5344 Electrical and Bioceramics
MSE 5345 Ceramic Materials
MSE 5346 Contemporary Polymer Chemistry
MSE 5347 Polymer Materials Science
MSE 5348 Fundamentals of Composites
MSE 5349 Applied Composites
BME 5335 Biological Materials, Mechanics and Processes
BME 5361D Biomaterials and Blood Compatibility
CHEM 5309 Organic Chemistry I
CHEM 5350 Advanced Polymer Chemistry
CHEM 5461 Analytical Instrumentation
CHEM 6305 Special Topics in Applied Chemistry
EE 5340 Semiconductor Device Theory I
EE 5343 Integrated Circuit Techniques
EE 5349 Topics in Integrated Circuit Technology
EE 6342 Advanced Quantum Devices
EM 5311 Theory of Elasticity
ME 5312 Continuum Mechanics
ME 5314 Fracture Mechanics in Structural Design
ME 5339 Structural Aspects of Design
PHYS 5316 Solid State II
PHYS 6302 Methods of Applied Physics II

4. Elective courses will be taken by all doctoral students which will allow specialization within a particular academic discipline. Graduate courses in chemistry, physics and engineering will be selected for this purpose in consultation with the student's research advisor, subject to approval by the Committee on Graduate Studies for Materials Science and Engineering.

After completion of the first year's coursework (i.e., core courses), students must satisfactorily complete diagnostic examinations which may be written or oral or written and oral with a supplemental interview with faculty members, as determined by the Committee on Graduate Studies in Materials Science and Engineering.
Upon completion of all or nearly all of the coursework requirements and after having demonstrated research ability through partial completion of dissertation research, a student must satisfactorily complete a comprehensive examination.
The dissertation research will be formulated in conjunction with the student's faculty research advisor who may be associated with any of the following academic disciplines participating in the Materials Science and Engineering Program: aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, electrical engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, and physics. The dissertation research represents the culmination of the student's academic efforts and is expected to demonstrate original and independent research activity and be a significant contribution to knowledge in the field.

The grade of R (research in progress) is a permanent grade; it cannot be changed by completing course requirements in a later semester. To receive credit for an R-graded course, the student must continue to enroll in the course until a passing grade is received.
An incomplete grade (the grade of X) cannot be given in a course that is graded R, nor can the grade of R be given in a course that is graded X. To receive credit for a course in which the student earned an X, the student must complete the course requirements no later than mid-semester of the next semester (excluding summer). A grade of X cannot be changed by enrolling again in the course in which an X was earned. An incomplete grade that is not removed by the specified deadline will be automatically converted to an F. (See the Graduate School calendar for specific deadlines.)
Three-hour thesis courses and three- and six-hour dissertation courses are graded R/F/W only (except social work thesis courses). The grade of P (required for degree completion for students enrolled in thesis or dissertation programs) can be earned only in six- or nine-hour thesis courses and nine-hour dissertation courses. In the course listings below, R-graded courses are designated either "Graded P/F/R" or "Graded R." Occasionally, the valid grades for a course change. Students should consult the appropriate Graduate Advisor or instructor for valid grade information for particular courses. (See also the sections titled "R" Grade, Credit for Research, Internship, Thesis or Dissertation Courses and Incomplete Grade in this catalog.)

Materials Science and Engineering (MSE)

5301. PHYSICS OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS (3-0). Crystal structure, lattice vibrations, and band theory of electrons as they relate to the understanding of the electrical, magnetic, and mechanical properties of materials. Also offered as PHYS 5301. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

5302. FUNDAMENTALS OF MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING I (3-0). Interatomic and intermolecular forces, crystal structures, x-ray diffraction, electron theories of metals, defects and imperfections, dislocation and slip phenomena, solid solutions, diffusion, phase diagrams, precipitation. Prerequisite: ME 2321 or permission of instructor.

5303. FUNDAMENTALS OF MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING II (3-0). Ferrous metals systems, solidification, ceramic materials and processing, polymeric materials and processing, electrical conduction, semiconductors, magnetic properties, martensitic reactions, composite materials. Prerequisite: MSE 5302 or permission of instructor.

5304. ANALYSIS OF MATERIALS (3-0). Theoretical foundations and the practical applications of materials' analysis techniques are discussed. Topics and equipment covered include x-ray and electron diffraction and spectroscopy, optical and electron microscopy, magnetic resonance, thermal and surface analysis. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

5310. DISLOCATION THEORY (3-0). Theory of dislocations and their reactions and interactions in crystalline materials developed and extended into a basic understanding of mechanical properties of crystalline materials. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

5312. MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF MATERIALS (3-0). Concepts of stress and strain, theory of plasticity. Elementary dislocation theory. Deformation of single crystals. Strengthening mechanisms like solid solution strengthening, precipitation hardening, etc. Elementary concepts in fracture mechanics. Microscopic aspects of fracture, fatigue, and creep of materials. Prerequisite: ME 3321 or permission of instructor.

5314. FRACTURE MECHANICS (3-0). Theory and applications of linear elastic fracture mechanics. Topics include stress analysis of cracks, crack-tip plasticity, fatigue and stress corrosion. Applicability to materials selection, failure analysis and structural reliability reviewed. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

5315. FATIGUE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS (3-0). Cyclic deformation, fatigue crack initiation and growth in ductile solids. Application of fracture mechanics to fatigue. Mechanisms of crack closure. Variable and multiaxial fatigue and corrosion fatigue. Fatigue of brittle solids. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

5320. THERMODYNAMICS OF MATERIALS (3-0). Applications of thermodynamics to the study of materials, thermodynamic properties of liquid and solid solutions and their relationships to surfaces and crystalline defects. Also offered as CHEM 5333. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

5321. PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS OF MATERIALS (3-0). The theory of homogeneous and heterogeneous transformations, nucleation and growth, martensitic transformations, heat treatment and control of microstructure. Prerequisite: MSE 5320, CHEM 5333, or permission of instructor.

5330. CORROSION (3-0). Quantitative application of electrochemical principles to corrosion reactions. Effects of metallurgical factors and environmental conditions on oxidation, erosion, and cracking discussed along with materials selection. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

5335. INTEGRATED CIRCUIT MATERIALS AND PROCESSING (3-0). Fundamental properties of conductors, semiconductors, insulators, and polymers. Basic device operating principles for the pn junction, MOSFET, and Schottky diode. Materials processing for oxidation, annealing, thin film deposition, wet chemical etching, reactive ion etching, ion implantation, planarization, and photolithography. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

5336. ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS (3-0). Advanced discussion of electronic structure, transport mechanisms in metals, semiconductors and superconductors, with applications to materials used in various electronic devices. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

5337. MAGNETIC AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS (3-0). Classical and quantum mechanical understandings of magnetic and optical properties and phase transition phenomena. Specific applications of these properties to various devices are discussed. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

5341. TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY IN MATERIALS SCIENCE (3-0). Crystallography, stereographic projections, and reciprocal lattice. Specimen preparation in transmission electron microscopy. Dynamical and kinematical theories of electron diffraction. Interpretation of diffraction patterns and transmission electron micrographs. Use of the transmission electron microscope. Prerequisites: MSE 5302, MSE 5304 or permission of instructor. $15 lab fee. $25 course specific fee.

5344. ELECTRICAL AND BIOCERAMICS (3-0). Processing of ceramics. Electric, dielectric and piezoelectric properties of ceramics. Superconductivity. Requirements of bioceramics. Types and applications of bioceramics. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

5345. CERAMIC MATERIALS (3-0). Crystal structure of ceramic materials. Phase equilibria in ceramic materials. The processing of ceramics and ceramic matrix composites. Strengthening mechanisms and mechanical properties of ceramics and ceramic matrix composites including flexure, tensile, fracture toughness, fatigue, and creep. Prerequisites: MSE 5302 and 5303 or permission of instructor.

5346. CONTEMPORARY POLYMER CHEMISTRY (3-0). Polymer synthesis and reactions. Principles of polymerization including thermodynamics and kinetic considerations. Physical characterizations including determinations of absolute and relative molecular weights, morphology, and glass transitions. Relationships between macromolecular structure, properties, and uses of polymeric materials. Also offered as CHEM 5350. Prerequisites: CHEM 2321 and CHEM 2322 or permission of instructor.

5347. POLYMER MATERIALS SCIENCE (3-0). Intermolecular forces of attraction in high polymers, polymer synthesis, morphology and order in crystalline polymers, mechanics of amorphous polymers, time-dependent mechanical behavior, transitional phenomena, mechanical behavior of semicrystalline polymers. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

5348. FUNDAMENTALS OF COMPOSITES (3-0). Fundamental mechanics concepts of fiber-reinforced composites; relationships between the properties of the constituents and those of the unit composite ply; lamina and laminate anisotropic behavior; structural characteristics of A, B, and D matrices; lamination theory; strength criteria; hygrothermal analysis; interlaminar stress analysis. Also offered as ME 5348 and EM 5333. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

5349. APPLIED COMPOSITES (3-0). Review of current state-of-the-art applications of composites; structural properties including section property; laminate sizing in preliminary design; notched sensitivity; delamination; fatigue characteristics; composite material testing; characteristics of composite joints. Also offered as ME 5349. Prerequisite: MSE 5348, ME 5348, or EM 5333.

5350. EXPERIMENTAL CHARACTERIZATION OF COMPOSITES (2-3). Laminate processing, NDI, and physical characterization procedures; thermal analysis methods for composites; composite materials tensile, compressive, shear, flexure, thermoelastic, and interlaminar fracture characterizations. Prerequisite: MSE 5348, ME 5348, or EM 5333 or concurrent enrollment or permission of instructor. $15 lab fee.

5141. TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY LAB (0-1). Specimen preparation. Operation of the Transmission Electron Microscope. Beam alignment and rotation calibration. Bright field and dark field imaging. Weak beam imaging. Examination of defects. Prerequisites: MSE 5302 and MSE 5304. Co-requisite: MSE 5341. $30 course specific fee.

5190, 5290, 5390. SPECIAL TOPICS IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. May be repeated for credit when topic changes. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

5191, 5291, 5391. ADVANCED STUDIES IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. Topics selected from various areas of materials science and engineering. Work performed as a thesis substitute normally will be accomplished under the course number 5391, with prior approval of the Committee on Graduate Studies. Graded R.

5192. MASTER'S COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION. Directed study, consultation, and comprehensive examination over coursework leading to the Master of Engineering degree in Materials Science and Engineering. Required of all Master of Engineering students in the semester they plan to graduate. Graded P/F/R.

5193. SEMINAR IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (1-0). Selected topics in materials science and engineering presented by faculty, students, and invited lecturers.

5398, 5698, 5998. THESIS. 5398 graded R/F only; 5698 and 5998 graded P/F/R. Prerequisite: approval of Graduate Advisor.

6301. ADVANCED PHYSICAL METALLURGY (3-0). Theory of phase stability in crystalline solids with special topics such as Long Period Superlattice formation and superplasticity. Prerequisites: MSE 5303 or permission of instructor.

6302. ADVANCED DISLOCATION THEORY (3-0). Development of the theories of work hardening, fatigue, and creep of crystalline materials based on the generation, movement, and interactions of dislocations with themselves and other crystalline defects. Prerequisites: MSE 5310 and permission of instructor.

6390. ADVANCED TOPICS IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (3-0). Topics of special interest in the field of materials science and engineering. The subject title listed in class schedule and in student record. May be repeated for credit when topic changes. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

6197, 6397. ADVANCED STUDIES IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: approval of Graduate Advisor. Graded R.

6198-6998. RESEARCH IN MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. Individually approved research projects in materials science and engineering. May be repeated for credit. Graded P/F/R.

6399, 6699, 6999. DISSERTATION. 6399 and 6699 graded R/F only; 6999 graded P/F/R.