cgep homepage
materials science & engineering course descriptions
cross-listing of new course numbers
long-range schedule of courses
degree programs
master of engineering degree requirements

UVA Commonwealth Graduate Engineering Program
materials science and engineering

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Current Students:
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Additional Programs:
National Institute of Aerospace (NIA)
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See brochure: Distance Education in Materials Science

The purpose of this distance learning program is to provide graduate level instruction in Materials Science and Engineering to industrial personnel throughout the State of Virginia and to selected sites outside Virginia. Courses may be taken either for credit leading to a Master of Materials Science and Engineering (MMSE) degree or for general information.

The courses are taught live in Charlottesville in the late afternoon or early evening to graduate students at UVA and transmitted simultaneously via video conferencing to special sites in Virginia as well as out of state. Two-way video and audio communication is maintained during the lectures so that the students have direct interaction with the classroom. The lectures are video streamed so that any student who must miss a regularly scheduled class due to job commitments can view the lecture later.

Applicants for the MMSE Degree program must have a Bachelor's Degree in engineering or related fields from a recognized college or university. Each applicant is required to submit a copy of GRE test scores, official transcripts and three references. The application process is on-going, but applications must be completed by the end of the first semester of study. For more information on the admission requirements and procedures click here.

• The requirement for the MMSE degree is the successful completion of 30 semester hours of graduate-level coursework (10 courses). It may be accomplished in 3-5 years or less by taking one or more courses per semester. No thesis is required.
• The degree must be completed within 7 years. An extension can be granted upon submission of a petition to the Graduate Studies Committee.
• Up to 15 hours of transfer credit is accepted from other institutions participating in the Distance Learning program. A transfer form should be submitted for each course taken at other participating universities.
• Up to 6 credits of electives may be earned in faculty-supervised independent study or advanced topics courses.
• The majority of courses (at least 6) should be MSE courses.
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 must be maintained. For more information on the degree requirements click here.

A faculty advisor is available to provide assistance in the selection of courses which will constitute an approved plan of study. A plan of study should be submitted by mid-term of the second semester and has to be approved by the faculty advisor. The plan can be altered later if program changes are made.

A program of studies leading to the MMSE degree must include four "core" courses:

1. Electronic and Crystal Structure of Materials (MSE 6010)
2. Defects and Microstructure in Materials (MSE 6020)
3. Thermodynamics and Phase Equilibria in Materials (MSE 6230)
4. Kinetics of Transport and Transformations in Materials (MSE 6240)

Note to current students: The above core courses are reflecting the changes made in the MSE graduate curriculum in 2007. Students who started in the program before the fall of 2007 have a choice between the old and new core requirements. The old core requirements were: MSE 601 (old version - before 2007), MSE 623, MSE 624 and one out of four Properties/Characterization Courses (MSE 608, MSE 532, MSE 602 (old version - Materials Characterization), MSE 567).
(See Cross-listing of New Course Numbers)

Students without an undergraduate degree in MSE are encouraged to take a two-course sequence that reviews the basics of materials science:

• Structure and Properties of Materials I (MSE 6050)
• Structure and Properties of Materials II (MSE 6060)

The core courses and MSE 6050/6060 are repeated every three years.

The following courses are offered on irregular basis, once per 5-9 years.

• Electrical, Magnetic and Optical Properties of Materials (MSE 6167)
• Characterization of Materials (MSE 6120)
• Chemical and Electrochemical Properties (MSE 6080)
• Deformation and Fracture of Structural Materials (MSE 6320)
• Physical Metallurgy of Transition-Element Alloys (MSE 6340)
• Physical Metallurgy of Light Alloys (MSE 6350)
• Introduction to Atomistic Simulations (MSE 6270)
• Transmission Electron Microscopy (MSE 6130)
• Scanning Electron Microscopy and Related Techniques (MSE 6160)
• Magnetism and Magnetic Materials (MSE 6140)
• Thin Film Growth (MSE 6640)
• Deformation and Fracture of Materials (MSE 7320)
• Phase Transformations (MSE 7340)
• Advanced Electrochemistry (MSE 7080)
• Physics of Materials (MSE 7140)
• Surface Science (MSE 7220)
• Diffusional Processes in Materials (MSE 7240)

Recommended sequence of courses: MSE 6050/6060 before other courses (for students without an undergraduate degree in MSE); from MSE 6230 to MSE 6240; from MSE 6230 to MSE 7340; from MSE 6080 to MSE 7080; from MSE 6320 to MSE 7320; from MSE 6230 & MSE 6010 to MSE 6020. In cases when it is not possible to take courses in the suggested order, student should contact instructor for permission and information on the background reading materials that can help to prepare for the course.

8/4/09