Materials Science

Students may enter the graduate program in materials science with undergraduate preparation in physics, chemistry, engineering, or materials science. Students interested in terminating their graduate study at the master’s level are not normally admitted.

Each student is assigned to a member of the faculty who will serve as the student’s adviser. The adviser and option representative for materials science will approve his or her course of study. Study for the degree of Master of Science in materials science will ordinarily require three terms of courses.

Materials Science research uses these same tools of physics and mathematics and adds to them chemical insights to understand and control matter across lengths scales from clusters of atoms to structural components.

Course Content

Courses:

• Advanced Work in Materials Science
• Materials Research Lectures
• Fundamentals of Materials Science
• Structure and Bonding in Materials
• Advanced Work in Materials Science
• Thesis Research

Applicants must have completed a bachelor's degree or the equivalent before beginning graduate study.

Applicants are required to submit the application and supporting materials online prior to the posted deadline. Once the application has been submitted, you will not be able to modify supporting documents, so please proofread your materials thoroughly before submission.

To successfully complete the online application process, you must:

• Create a free account with CollegeNET to submit the application form online.
• Include payment of the application fee or submit a fee waiver request.
• Upload a Statement of Purpose.
• Request GRE, TOEFL, and/or IELTS test scores to be sent directly to the California
• Institute of Technology.
• Upload an official electronic copy of your transcripts or online grade reports issued by your college or university. Updated grade reports for terms in progress are not required. Students who have been admitted and plan to attend Caltech will be required to submit an official copy of all transcripts from the Registrar’s Office prior to enrollment.
• Register three individuals from whom you will request letters of recommendation.
• Upload a CV or Resume.

No work experience is required.

Approximately 98 percent of graduate and 99 percent of doctoral students receive full financial support. Aid is awarded annually in the form of fellowships and assistantships.