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Graduate Degree Programs

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering offers programs leading to the M.S., M.Eng., and Ph.D. degrees.

Student outcomes

Graduate students at RPI MSE carry out cutting-edge research in fields spanning semiconductor technology, polymer science, glass science and metallurgy (see Research for more details), and are actively sought out for employment by industries at the forefront of technology. The department is well-known for its tight-knit community of students and faculty, hosting both professional events, including a student seminar series and an annual research award symposium, in addition to several social events. Please see the Doctoral and Masters program pages for further information on program requirements and applications.

Outcomes and student life

Doctoral Program
The Ph.D. degree requires completion of 72 credit hours. Students must complete a minimum of 29 coursework credits including three 4-credit MSE core graduate courses, namely, Advanced Thermodynamics, Advanced Structure and Bonding, and Advanced Kinetics; at least 9 additional 6000-level MTLE credits, and the remainder from 6000-level courses offered by the School of Engineering and/or the School of Science. The course selections must be approved by the student’s academic adviser and graduate curriculum coordinator prior to the enrollment in the courses.

Masters Programs
Both the M.S. and M. Eng. degrees require completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours. The M.S. degree requires a written thesis as well as an oral presentation to the scientific community. A 3-credit capstone independent study project is required for the M. Eng. degree.