Materials Science and Engineering

Materials science and engineering is a discipline that extends from the microscopic structure and properties of materials to the design and evaluation of materials in engineering systems.  Achievements in materials science underpin the revolutionary advances in technology that define the modern standard of living.  The role of a materials engineer is to understand why materials behave as they do under various conditions, to recognize the limits of performance that particular materials can attain, and to know what can be done during the manufacture of materials to meet the demands of a given application.

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering of the Case School of Engineering offers programs leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy. The technological challenges that materials engineers face demand a breadth of knowledge across a broad spectrum of engineering materials.  The Department conducts academic and research activities with metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, and electronic materials. Timely research and education respond to the demands for new materials and improved materials performance in existing applications, often transcending the traditional materials categories. 

While a discipline of engineering, the field brings basic science to bear on the technological challenges related to materials products and their manufacture. Materials science draws on chemistry in its concern for bonding, synthesis, and composition of engineering materials and their chemical interactions with the environment. Physics provides a basis for understanding the mechanical, thermal, optical, magnetic, and electrical properties of materials and provides the tools needed to ascertain the structure and properties of materials. Quantitative physical theories and modeling of fundamental materials science phenomena, microstructural analysis, materials design, and manufacturing processes are examples of the growing importance of mathematics and computation in materials science and engineering.

The M.S. degree in Materials Science and Engineering is awarded through either the Master’s Thesis (Plan A) or Master’s Comprehensive (Plan B). Both require a total of 27 credit hours distributed between courses and independent research. Plan A involves a thesis based on individual research, totaling no fewer than 9 credit hours, with a final oral defense; this plan is appropriate for full-time graduate students. Plan B involves a major project, typically 3 credit hours and completed in a single semester, and a final comprehensive oral exam; this route is usually followed by part-time graduate students who are currently employed as materials engineers. The examining committee consists of three faculty members of the department for either Plan A or Plan B.  Additional committee members may be added at the discretion of the student in consultation with his or her advisor.

Plan A requires successful completion of 6 courses (18 credit hours) and at least 9 credit hours of EMSE 651 (Thesis M.S.). Plan B requires the successful completion of 8 courses (24 credit hours) as well as 3 credit hours of EMSE 649(Special Projects).

The six courses for Plan A and the eight courses for Plan B may include a maximum of two courses from an engineering or science curriculum outside the department. No more than two courses at the 300 level can be included; all other courses must be at the 400 level or higher. A cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher is required for graduation. Students with a cumulative GPA less than 2.75 will be placed on academic probation. Transfer of credit from another university is limited to six credit hours of graduate level courses (with grade B or better) taken in excess of B.S. degree requirements at the other university.

A Planned Program of Study (PPOS) must be submitted by the end of the second semester for Plan A and for Plan B students. The PPOS should be prepared by the student and his/her advisor and submitted online to the School of Graduate Studies.

Requirements

• Applicants must have a good academic record, e.g., a B-average or rank in the upper third of his or her graduating class at an institution whose status and programs are readily assessed.
• Applicants must meet all of the undergraduate prerequisites for the proposed field of graduate study.
• Statement of Objectives — Some programs have this built into the application. If not, create your own using "Statement of Objectives" as the heading. The statement should be one to two pages and include your purpose in undertaking graduate work as well as an explanation of your study and research interests as they relate to your undergraduate/graduate study and professional goals.
• Academic Transcripts – You are required to identify all post-secondary educational institutions you have attended on your application form, and to submit an official transcript from each. Admission to the School of Graduate Studies is conditional on final certification of degrees awarded. Note to International Students: Documents in languages other than English must be accompanied by certified translations in English.
• Letters of Recommendation - Three letters of recommendation must be submitted from those individuals sufficiently familiar with you, and who can assess your academic preparation, abilities and accomplishments. Letters should be from your most recent instructors in your proposed field of study. If you have been out of school for several years, one letter may be from your employer, supervisor or other person familiar with your most recent activities.
• Test Scores – Your department will identify required standardized tests. When you fill out forms for these use 1105 as the institutional code for Case Western Reserve University. The School of Graduate Studies will forward all official score reports of standardized tests (GRE, TOEFL, etc.) to the program of interest. The department will inform you which standardized tests are required for your program. International students whose first language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and earn a minimum score of 577 if paper-based, or 90 if Internet-based. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is also accepted. The minimum acceptable score is 7.0. Some departments may require higher scores. International applicants cannot be admitted without receipt of an acceptable official TOEFL score. The TOEFL is valid for two years after the test date. The GRE is valid for five years after the test date.
• Application Fee - A nonrefundable application fee of $50 is required for each application submitted.

Scholarships

• Global Education