Materials Science and Engineering - Research Track, MSMSE

The research track is a thesis-based Master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) suitable for full-time students who have the intention to pursue a PhD or are strongly oriented toward a research career. The University transcript will include an entry indicating that a student is in the research MS track.

MS in MSE - Research Track Requirements

The Research Track MS degree requires a minimum of 30 credits of graduate-level course and research-based study, including at least 24 didactic course credits. A minimum of 15 didactic course credits must be derived from 2000- and 3000-level MSE courses, not including credits associated with Graduate Seminar (MSE 2185  or ME 2085 ), MS Research (MSE 2997 ), or MS Thesis (MSE 2999 ). At most up to nine (9) credits of coursework counting towards the required minimum of 24 course credits may consist of technical didactic courses in other non-MSE Engineering, Science or Mathematics disciplines that are approved by a student’s advisor. Students with non-MSE backgrounds are required to take for credit introductory courses (e.g. MSE 2067  or equivalent). The student’s advisor must approve the course sequence selection. In addition to coursework requirements, a minimum of six (6) credits of MS Thesis (MSE 2999 ) are required. Consistent with Regulations Governing Graduate Study (RGGS)  at the University of Pittsburgh, MS degrees in MSE are conferred only on those students who have completed all courses required for the degree with an average grade of least a 3.00 GPA.

MS Thesis

An MS student should initiate research work as early as possible. Once thesis preparation has begun, a student must register for thesis credits (MSE 2999 ) in each succeeding term until successful completion of the thesis and a final oral defense and comprehensive exam. The MS thesis document is at least expected to be a report on independently conducted research and must adhere to the School of Engineering defined style and format.

The purpose of an MS thesis oral defense is to evaluate an MS thesis and the student’s command of the research subject. The successful completion of a defense is a requirement for the MS degree. The thesis examining committee consists of at least three members of the graduate faculty chaired by the student’s advisor and approved by the program. After successfully completing a defense, a student must deposit an electronic and/or hard copies of the approved thesis in accordance with the current guidelines for thesis submissions available from the School of Engineering or the MSE Graduate Program.

Part-time students may pursue the research MS track. However, they must recognize that, although their thesis topics may be related to the broad technical area of their employment, results of work-related routine technical activities, analysis, surveys, or studies conducted for employers are not acceptable for inclusion in MS theses. Furthermore, part-time students should become aware of the University Intellectual Property Ownership Policy before undertaking theses. Prospective students must clarify all of these issues before contemplating a research-based MS degree.