Materials Science and Engineering, MSE

The master’s program in Materials Science and Engineering prepares students to be leaders, innovators, and visionaries in the materials revolution that is being driven by discoveries that cross the boundaries of physics, chemistry, engineering and biology, such as in the growing fields of nanobioscience, nanophotonics and optoelectronics.

Penn is one of the first universities to establish a center for materials research. By remaining at the forefront of technology innovations, this center, the Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM), has grown to be one of the largest in the nation. We are opening up new fields in materials science, preparing tomorrow’s leaders, and putting our knowledge to practical use in today’s high-tech society.  Our multidisciplinary program allows you to tailor your education to your own professional and career goals, from ceramics, polymers, and metals to non-structured and soft materials.  Our graduates can be found in positions in industries that range from electronics, manufacturing, and communications to transportation and energy, or pursuing doctoral degrees at Penn and other top-ranked research universities.

For more information: https://mse.seas.upenn.edu/

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2026 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.

Curriculum

10 course units are required for the MSE in Materials Science and Engineering.1-5

MSE Courses
Select 6 from the approved list: 16
MSE 5000
Experimental Methods in Materials Science
MSE 5020
Sustainability of Materials
MSE 5050
Mechanical Properties of Macro/Nanoscale Materials
MSE 5060
Failure Analysis of Engineering Materials
MSE 5070
Fundamentals of Materials
MSE 5080
Materials in Catalysis and Electrocatalysis
MSE 5150
Mathematical Methods for Engineering Applications
MSE 5180
Structure and Function of Biological Materials
MSE 5200
Structure of Materials
MSE 5250
Nanoscale Science and Engineering
MSE 5280
Optical Information Processing for Materials Characterization
MSE 5300
Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria
MSE 5360
Electronic Properties of Materials
MSE 5370
Nanotribology
MSE 5380
Phase Transformations
MSE 5400
Kinetics of Materials
MSE 5440
Computational Science of Energy and Chemical Transformations
MSE 5450
Materials for Energy and Environmental Sustainability
MSE 5460
Solid-State Materials Chemistry
MSE 5480
Materials Science and Market Signals in Clean Energy Supply Chains
MSE 5500
Elasticity and Micromechanics of Materials
MSE 5550
Electrochemical Engineering of Materials
MSE 5610
Atomic Modeling in Materials Science
MSE 5650
Fabrication and Characterization of Micro and Nanostructured Materials
MSE 5700
Physics of Materials I
MSE 5750
Statistical Mechanics
MSE 5760
Machine Learning and Its Applications in Materials Science
MSE 5800
Introduction to Polymers
MSE 5850
Materials for Bioelectronics
MSE 6100
Transmission Electron Microscopy
MSE 6110
Advanced Synchrotron and Electron Characterization of Materials
MSE 6400
Optical Materials
MSE 6500
Mechanics of Soft and Biomaterials
MSE 7900
Selected Topics in Materials Science and Engineering
Electives
Select 4 CU's of electives. A minimum of 2 CU's must be related to physical science; a sample list is provided below. 2 CU's may be 'free electives.' 44
CBE 5350
Interfacial Phenomena
CIT 5900
Programming Languages and Techniques
EAS 5450
Engineering Entrepreneurship I
ESE 5210
The Physics of Solid State Energy Devices
ESE 5360
Nanofabrication and Nanocharacterization
PHYS 5518
Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics
Seminar Requirement
MSE 6990MSE Seminar 50
Total Course Units10

Non-thesis or Thesis options:

  • Non-thesis course-based option: Students successfully complete 10 course units at the 5000 or higher level. Students must secure approval for all course selections from the Master's Program Director, and any changes to these course selections must be approved in writing. Students wishing to take courses not listed on the provided list are required to obtain written approval from the Master's Program Director. All non-elective courses should have technical/scientific content relevant to the student’s MSE degree program.
  • Non-thesis option with independent study: Students take 8 CU's at the 5000 or higher level and complete 2 CU's of 'MSE 5990: Master's Independent Study.' Independent Study requires a faculty advisor.6
  • Thesis option: Students take 7 CU's (5000 or higher) and complete 3 CU's of research with a faculty member by registering for two research credits (MSE 9990 Masters Thesis) and 1 Independent Study (MSE 5990).  Students must have their thesis approved by their thesis advisor and the Graduate Group Chair, as well as submit their thesis electronically. The thesis option requires a faculty advisor.6
1

6 CU's of MSE Courses (5000 level or higher) are required. However,it is strongly recommended to take 7 CU's of MSE (5000 level or higher) courses to obtain a solid background in materials science. Students must take only MSE graduate courses (3 or 4 CU's) in their first semester of study.

2

During the first semester, students are not permitted to take Independent Study or Master's Thesis and are required to enroll in only MSE lecture courses.

3

All Masters degree students must maintain a GPA of 2.7 or higher to be in good standing and for graduation. 

4

Select up to 2 Free Electives and choose 2 or more SEAS courses relevant to materials science. A maximum of two free electives (5000 level or higher) are permitted. Free electives can be selected from across the university, including SEAS, SAS and Wharton courses. Free electives are not permitted for students pursuing a dual degree at Penn. Only one Engineering Entrepreneurship course will count as a MSE related SEAS course. A second entrepreneurship course will be counted as a free elective. A student who takes two free electives outside of SEAS can only take one SEAS course on either policy, entrepreneurship, economics, sustainability, etc., and only after the completion of 6 CU's of MSE lecture courses. At least one SEAS course must contain content related to the Physical Sciences or based on computational methods.

5

All Master's students are required to register for MSE 6990 seminar each semester and attend the weekly MSE seminars as part of their education and exposure to latest scientific advances. In the second year, students may be granted an exemption if they are registered for a class that conflicts with the scheduled seminars. Students are required to request written exemption from the Program Director prior to the course selection deadline, explaining the course conflict. Students must register and successfully complete a minimum of two semesters.

6

Students interested in pursuing the non-thesis option with independent study or the thesis option are encouraged to meet with individual faculty and the Master’s Program Director to discuss their research interests.

Sample course plan, non-thesis option

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCourse Units
3 CU's of approved MSE Courses 3
MSE 6990 MSE Seminar 0
 Course Units3.00
Spring
3 CU's of approved MSE Courses 3
MSE 6990 MSE Seminar 0
 Course Units3.00
Second Year
Fall
3 CU's of approved elective courses 3
MSE 6990 MSE Seminar 0
 Course Units3.00
Spring
1 CU of approved elective courses 1
MSE 6990 MSE Seminar 0
 Course Units1.00
 Total Course Units10.00

Sample course plan, thesis option

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
FallCourse Units
3 CU's of approved MSE courses 3
MSE 6990 MSE Seminar 0
 Course Units3.00
Spring
2 CU's of approved MSE courses 2
MSE 5990 Master's Indep Study 1
MSE 6990 MSE Seminar 0
 Course Units3.00
Second Year
Fall
1 CU of approved MSE courses 1
1 CU of approved elective courses 1
MSE 9990 Master's Thesis 1
MSE 6990 MSE Seminar 0
 Course Units3.00
Spring
MSE 9990 Master's Thesis 1
MSE 6990 MSE Seminar 0
 Course Units1.00
 Total Course Units10.00