Materials Science and Engineering, PhD
Materials science is a highly versatile discipline that enables innovations across a wide variety of technologies from cell phones to solar energy to bioimplants to airplanes. Applying insights from the basic sciences, this discipline designs new materials and fabrication methods to continually expand the scope and combination of mechanical, electrical, optical and transport properties available in materials. The newer fields of nanotechnology, biomaterials and quantum materials are providing materials scientists with an entirely new palette of atomic, molecular, organic, biological and inorganic building blocks to engineer materials with unique functionalities. The research and academic programs in the MSE Department and the broader MSE Graduate Group at Penn reflect these exciting new developments and our goal is to provide students enrolling in our program with a broad and multidisciplinary training so that they can be part of this materials revolution and contribute to solving the 21st century challenges.
For more information: http://www.mse.seas.upenn.edu/current-students/masters/doctoral-degree.php
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.
Required Courses
The Materials Science and Engineering Degree requires 16 course units (CU's). Students are required to take 8 CU's of graduate level courses, including courses outside of their research area to gain a broader understanding of materials science and engineering. Students are also required to take 8 CU's total of Independent Research Study (MSE 9999), with 2 CU's being in their first year.
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 3 | |
| Structure of Materials | ||
| Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria | ||
| Kinetics of Materials | ||
| Additional Coursework | ||
| Select 3 CU's non-core courses 1 | 3 | |
| Failure Analysis of Engineering Materials | ||
or MEAM 5060 | Failure Analysis of Engineering Materials | |
| Fundamentals of Materials | ||
or MEAM 5070 | Fundamentals of Materials | |
| Mathematical Methods for Engineering Applications | ||
| Structure and Function of Biological Materials | ||
| Structure of Materials | ||
| Nanoscale Science and Engineering | ||
or ESE 5250 | Nanoscale Science and Engineering | |
| Optical Information Processing for Materials Characterization | ||
| Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria | ||
| Electronic Properties of Materials | ||
| Nanotribology | ||
or MEAM 5370 | Nanotribology | |
| Phase Transformations | ||
| Kinetics of Materials | ||
| Computational Science of Energy and Chemical Transformations | ||
or BE 5440 | Computational Science of Energy and Chemical Transformations | |
or CBE 5440 | Computational Science of Energy and Chemical Transformations | |
| Materials for Energy and Environmental Sustainability | ||
| Materials Science and Market Signals in Clean Energy Supply Chains | ||
| Elasticity and Micromechanics of Materials | ||
or MEAM 5190 | Elasticity and Micromechanics of Materials | |
| Thermodynamics: Foundations, Energy, Materials | ||
or MEAM 5530 | Atomic Modeling in Materials Science | |
| Physics of Materials I | ||
| Statistical Mechanics | ||
| Machine Learning and Its Applications in Materials Science | ||
| Materials for Bioelectronics | ||
or BE 5850 | Materials for Bioelectronics | |
| Transmission Electron Microscopy | ||
| Advanced Synchrotron and Electron Characterization of Materials | ||
| Optical Materials | ||
| Mechanics of Soft and Biomaterials | ||
or MEAM 6500 | Mechanics of Soft and Biomaterials | |
| Selected Topics in Materials Science and Engineering | ||
| Independent Study: Special Research | ||
PHYS 5000-9999 | ||
CHEM 5000-9999 | ||
ESE 5000-9999 | ||
MEAM 5000-9999 | ||
BE 5000-9999 | ||
CBE 5000-9999 | ||
CIS 5000-9999 | ||
Wharton courses 5000-9999 | ||
| Select 2 CU's elective courses 2 | 2 | |
| Seminar | ||
| MSE 6990 | MSE Seminar (taken each semester) 5 | 0 |
| Responsible Conduct of Research Requirement | ||
| EAS 9000 | Responsible Conduct for Research (RCR), Engineering | 0 |
| Dissertation/Research | 8 | |
| Independent Study Research | ||
| Dissertation | ||
| Total Course Units | 16 | |
University PhD Benchmarks
In addition to Program requirements, the following milestones must be completed:
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying Evaluation | ||
| Candidacy Examination | ||
| Dissertation Defense/Oral Exam | ||
| Dissertation Deposit | ||
For more information view the University’s Academic Rules for PhD Programs.
- 1
Non-core courses may be selected from offerings within MSE and other departments in Engineering, as well as the physical, biological, and mathematical sciences. All courses must be graduate level (5000+).
- 2
Elective courses must be at the 5000 level or greater.
- 3
CPT courses cannot count towards degree: EAS 8980
- 4
Doctoral students are expected to maintain full-time status and to enroll in MSE 9999 Independent Study Research while conducting research, in year one and two in consultation with their advisor. A student should enroll in MSE 9950 (0 CU's) in year three and beyond once they advance to candidacy. A student must be in MSE 9950 in their final semester.
- 5
All active MSE P.hD. students are required to enroll and participate in MSE 6990 (MSE Seminar) for a minimum of six semesters. Enrollment is mandatory during the first six semesters of study. Ph.D. students are strongly encouraged to attend the seminars beyond the first six semesters to enhance their intellectual life in the graduate program, and fulfill seminar attendance requirements throughout the duration of doctoral study. Exceptions due to course scheduling conflicts or other extenuating circumstances may be granted only with prior approval from the Graduate Group Chair.
Sample Plan of Study
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| First Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MSE 5200 | Structure of Materials | 1 |
| MSE 5300 | Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria | 1 |
| MSE 9999 | Independent Study Research | 1 |
| MSE 6990 | MSE Seminar | 0 |
| EAS 9000 | Responsible Conduct for Research (RCR), Engineering | 0 |
| Spring | ||
| MSE 5400 | Kinetics of Materials | 1 |
| MSE 9999 | Independent Study Research | 1 |
| 2 CU's non-core courses 1 | 2 | |
| MSE 6990 | MSE Seminar | 0 |
| Qualifying Exam 3 | ||
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| 1 CU elective course 2 | 1 | |
| 1 CU non-core course | 1 | |
| MSE 9999 | Independent Study Research | 1 |
| MSE 6990 | MSE Seminar | 0 |
| Spring | ||
| 1 CU elective course | 1 | |
| MSE 9999 | Independent Study Research | 2 |
| MSE 6990 | MSE Seminar | 0 |
| Third Year and Beyond | ||
| Fall | ||
| MSE 9999 | Independent Study Research | 3 |
| MSE 6990 | MSE Seminar | 0 |
| Spring | ||
| MSE 9950 | Dissertation | 0 |
| or MSE 9999 | Independent Study Research | |
| MSE 6990 | MSE Seminar | 0 |
| Candidacy exam 3 | ||
| Total Course Units | 16 | |
- 1
Non-core courses may be selected from offerings within MSE and other departments in Engineering, as well as the physical, biological, and mathematical sciences. All courses must be graduate level (5000+).
- 2
Elective courses must be at the 5000 level or greater.
- 3
The Qualifying Examination will be held at the end of Spring after the second semester. Dissertation Committee assignments are required for second year PhD students by December 1 (third semester). The Candidacy exam is required in the student's third year in the Spring term (sixth semester). The Dissertation Defense/Oral Exam is typically held at the end of a PHD student's fifth year.