Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering, Master of Engineering in Materials Science and Engineering with Bachelor of Science in Physics 4+1 Programs
Director: Assistant Professor Moldenhauer
Students completing a B.S. degree in physics have the option of beginning coursework towards a Master of Science (M.S.) in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) or a Master of Engineering (M. ENGR) in MSE by taking graduate level courses at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). Specifically, graduate courses in the MSE programs at UTA, see below, will earn dual credit towards the student’s B.S. physics degree at ³Ô¹ÏÍø while at the same time earning credits toward either the M.S. in MSE or M. ENGR in MSE.
This collaborative 4+1 program is designed to allow ³Ô¹ÏÍø physics majors to earn their B.S. in physics and M.S. degree in five years. Students can begin taking courses at UTA during their senior year at ³Ô¹ÏÍø or in summer terms. This program allows ³Ô¹ÏÍø physics majors to complete up to 6 credit hours of approved courses in materials science at UTA that can be applied to their B.S. degree in physics at ³Ô¹ÏÍø. There is a significant overlap in materials science with condensed matter physics, so these courses offer ³Ô¹ÏÍø students a chance to learn about areas of study that are important in a balanced physics curriculum. After completing the 6 credits, additional courses can be taken toward the M.S. or M. ENGR, but these are not required by the B.S. program in physics at ³Ô¹ÏÍø. Completion of the UTA graduate degree programs is optional and failure to complete does not void the upper level credits earned toward the B.S. degree. In other words, this program gives ³Ô¹ÏÍø physics majors an opportunity to investigate materials science and engineering graduate studies while earning credits toward their B.S. degree.
Students interested in these programs must apply to the UTA Materials Science and Engineering graduate program and meet the requirements for admission. The requirements for completion of the M.S. in MSE or M. ENGR in MSE can be found from department. Suggested courses that will be accepted for dual credit as advanced courses for the B.S. degree in physics at ³Ô¹ÏÍø and the M.S. in MSE or M. ENGR in MSE are MSE 5300 Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering, MSE 5304 Analysis of Materials, and MSE 5305 Solid State Physics and Thermodynamics of Materials. The course descriptions can be found from department (as they may change).
The major requirements for the B.S. degree in physics include Calculus I-II-III, Differential Equations, General Chemistry I and II, General Physics I and II, and 36 hours of upper level physics with six of those hours from an undergraduate research thesis, usually completed through summer research, and a talk at a professional meeting. Below is a comparison of the degree requirements with MSE substitutions.
Required Math/Science Courses for Physics BS |
Hours |
Required Math/Science Courses for Physics BS with MSE MS |
Hours |
|||
Chem 1303/1103 and 1304/1104 General Chemistry I and II + Labs |
8 |
Chem 1303/1103 and 1304/1104 General Chemistry I and II + Labs |
8 |
|||
Math 1404 and 1411 Calc I and II |
8 |
Math 1404 and 1411 Calc I and II |
8 |
|||
Math 2412 Calc III |
4 |
Math 2412 Calc III |
4 |
|||
Math 3324 Differential Equations |
3 |
Math 3324 Differential Equations |
3 |
|||
Phys 2311/2111 and 2313/2112 Gen Physics I and II + Labs |
8 |
Phys 2311/2111 and 2313/2112 Gen Physics I and II + Labs |
8 |
|||
Phys 3320-3120 Quantum Physics + Lab |
4 |
Phys 3320-3120 Quantum Physics + Lab |
4 |
|||
Phys 3363 Computational Physics |
3 |
Phys 3363 Computational Physics |
3 |
|||
Phys 4423 Theoretical Mechanics |
4 |
Phys 4423 Theoretical Mechanics |
4 |
|||
Phys 4424 Quantum Mechanics |
4 |
Phys 4424 Quantum Mechanics |
4 |
|||
Phys 3326 Statistical Physics |
3 |
Phys 3326 Statistical Physics |
3 |
|||
Phys 4327 Electromagnetic Theory |
4 |
Phys 4327 Electromagnetic Theory |
4 |
|||
Phys 3341-3141 Optics + Lab or Phys 3333-3133 Electronics + Lab |
4 or 8 |
Phys 3341-3141 Optics + Lab or Phys 3333-3133 Electronics + Lab |
4 |
|||
Phys 4000 Elective (Electrodynamics, Astrophysics, Nuclear) |
0 or 6 |
MSE 5300 Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering* |
6
|
|||
Thesis |
6 |
Thesis |
6 |
|||
TOTAL |
67-69 |
Total |
66-69 |
*(Note: M.ENGR requires MSE 5300 for non-MSE undergraduates)