Materials Science and Engineering, MSE
The master’s program in Materials Science and Engineering prepares students to be leaders, innovators, and visionaries in the materials revolution that is being driven by discoveries that cross the boundaries of physics, chemistry, engineering and biology, such as in the growing fields of nanobioscience, nanophotonics and optoelectronics.
Penn is one of the first universities to establish a center for materials research. By remaining at the forefront of technology innovations, this center, the Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM), has grown to be one of the largest in the nation. We are opening up new fields in materials science, preparing tomorrow’s leaders, and putting our knowledge to practical use in today’s high-tech society. Our multidisciplinary program allows you to tailor your education to your own professional and career goals, from ceramics, polymers, and metals to non-structured and soft materials. Our graduates can be found in positions in industries that range from electronics, manufacturing, and communications to transportation and energy, or pursuing doctoral degrees at Penn and other top-ranked research universities.
For more information: https://mse.seas.upenn.edu/
Curriculum
10 course units are required for the MSE in Materials Science and Engineering.1-5
| Code | Title | Course Units |
|---|---|---|
| MSE Courses | ||
| Select 6 from the approved list: 1 | 6 | |
| Experimental Methods in Materials Science | ||
| Sustainability of Materials | ||
| Mechanical Properties of Macro/Nanoscale Materials | ||
| Failure Analysis of Engineering Materials | ||
| Fundamentals of Materials | ||
| Mathematical Methods for Engineering Applications | ||
| Structure and Function of Biological Materials | ||
| Structure of Materials | ||
| Nanoscale Science and Engineering | ||
| Optical Information Processing for Materials Characterization | ||
| Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria | ||
| Electronic Properties of Materials | ||
| Phase Transformations | ||
| Kinetics of Materials | ||
| Computational Science of Energy and Chemical Transformations | ||
| Materials for Energy and Environmental Sustainability | ||
| Elasticity and Micromechanics of Materials | ||
| Electrochemical Engineering of Materials | ||
| Atomic Modeling in Materials Science | ||
| Fabrication and Characterization of Micro and Nanostructured Materials | ||
| Physics of Materials I | ||
| Statistical Mechanics | ||
| Machine Learning and Its Applications in Materials Science | ||
| Introduction to Polymers | ||
| Materials for Bioelectronics | ||
| Transmission Electron Microscopy | ||
| Advanced Synchrotron and Electron Characterization of Materials | ||
| Optical Materials | ||
| Mechanics of Soft and Biomaterials | ||
| Selected Topics in Materials Science and Engineering | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select up to 2 Electives and choose 2 or more SEAS courses relevant to materials science; a sample list is provided below: 4 | 4 | |
| Interfacial Phenomena | ||
| Programming Languages and Techniques | ||
| Technical Communication and Academic Writing for Non-native Speakers of English | ||
| Engineering Entrepreneurship I | ||
| Foundations of Engineering Mathematics - II | ||
| The Physics of Solid State Energy Devices | ||
| Nanofabrication and Nanocharacterization | ||
| Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics | ||
| Total Course Units | 10 | |
Non-thesis or Thesis option:
- Non-thesis course-based option: Students successfully complete 10 course units at the 5000 or higher level. All courses must carry a letter grade (A, B, C or D).
- Students must secure written approval for all course selections from the Masters Program Advisor. Furthermore, all changes to these course selections must be approved in writing by the Masters Program Advisor. Students wishing to take courses not listed on the provided list are required to receive written approval from the Masters Program Advisor. All non-elective courses should have technical/scientific content relevant to the student’s M.S.E. degree program.
- 6 MSE courses (5000 level or higher) requiring a letter grade are compulsory. Up to 7 MSE courses are highly recommended for obtaining a solid background in materials science. 3 MSE courses are compulsory in the first semester of study.
- Non-thesis option with independent study: Students take 8 courses credits at the 5000 or higher level earning letter grades and complete 2 Masters Independent Study (MSE 5990) credits. Students receive a letter grade (A, B, C, D or F) in MSE 5990. Independent Study requires a faculty advisor; see below for selecting an advisor.
- Thesis option: Students take 7 course units at the 5000 or higher level earning letter grades and complete 3 course units of research with a faculty member by registering for two research credits (MSE 9990 Masters Thesis) and 1 Independent Study (MSE 5990). Students receive a letter grade (A, B, C, D or F) in both MSE 9990 and MSE 5990. Students must have their thesis approved by their thesis advisor and the Graduate Group Chair, as well as submit their thesis to the Graduate Group Coordinator. The thesis option requires a faculty advisor; see details below.
- Students interested in pursuing the non-thesis option with independent study or the thesis option are encouraged to meet with individual faculty and the Master’s Program Advisor to discuss their research interests.
- 1
A maximum of two free electives (5000 level or higher) are permitted. Free electives can be selected from across the university, including SEAS, SAS and Wharton courses. Free electives are not permitted for students pursuing a dual degree at Penn.
- 2
During the first semester, Masters degree students are not permitted to take Independent Study or Master's Thesis and are required to enroll in only MSE courses.
- 3
All Masters degree students must maintain a GPA of 2.7 or higher to be in good standing and for graduation. Students are required to attend weekly MSE seminars organized by the department as part of their education and exposure to latest scientific advances
- 4
Note that only one Engineering Entrepreneurship course will count as a MSE related SEAS-course. A second entrepreneurship course will be counted as a free elective. A student who takes two free electives and EAS 5100 will be permitted to take CIT 5900 only if the student has also taken six MSE courses. This is done to ensure that at least 60% of the courses that count towards the Master's degree have physical science content and preferably MSE content.
The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2025 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.