This is an interdisciplinary program that cuts across departmental and collegiate lines. Faculty from various departments and with different backgrounds (e.g., chemistry, physics, fuel science, ceramics, electrical engineering, computer science, etc.) participate in the program. Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees are offered to students interested in pursuing an integrated and an interdisciplinary program of study encompassing both the necessary scientific fundamentals of chemistry, physics, and mathematics and their technological and engineering applications.

The program of courses taken by a student interested in the structure, properties, and behavior of solid materials must necessarily cut across two or more disciplines. The relevant subject matter has been grouped into four areas: (1) the structure of solids (crystal chemistry and structure determination); (2) theory related to the solid state (physics, chemistry, and mechanics); (3) properties of solids (optical, electrical, magnetic, mechanical, thermal and chemical); and (4) reactions of solids (phase equilibria, reaction mechanisms, reaction kinetics, and surface reactions). In addition there is the polymer science option which stresses appropriate aspects of organic polymers. The program of study is guided by a study panel consisting of members from the Solid State Science and related faculty.

The M.S. degree requires a total of 18 credits of course work (plus 12 in research), including substantial work in at least two of the above areas. The Ph.D. requires approximately 40–45 credits in course work plus research (no specific number of credits is required), distributed so that one discipline is encompassed in depth but with credits from all four areas. A thesis is required for both degrees.

Advanced polymer programs leading to the doctorate and master’s degrees are offered in both the Chemistry Department and the Materials Division. In addition, a polymer engineering option is presently being instituted in the Materials Engineering Curriculum leading to either a Master of Science or Master of Engineering degree. Undergraduate electives in polymers are frequently chosen by students in chemistry or chemical engineering curricula. Also, chemical engineering master’s projects in polymers are available within the Professional School Program of the School of Engineering.

Formal courses in polymers are offered as follows:

Introduction to Polymer Physics

Introduction to Polymer Chemistry

Physical Chemistry of Solid Polymers

Physical Chemistry of Polymer Solutions

Organic Chemistry of High Polymers

Physical Properties of Polymers I and II

Polymerization Kinetics

Molecular Characterization of Polymers

Polymer Rheology

Polymer Science Laboratory

Viscoelasticity

Special Topics in Polymer Chemistry

The introductory courses are open to undergraduate and graduate students and are prerequisite for enrollment in the advanced courses. In addition to these courses, doctoral candidates in the polymer program frequently elect courses in the thermodynamics, instrumental analysis, physical chemistry, fluid mechanics, solid-state physics, x-ray diffraction and crystallography, rheological mechanics, applied mathematics, chemical reaction engineering, and fracture.

The program offers a Ph.D. degree with thesis and two master’s degrees, with and without thesis. The degree without thesis involves 30 credits of course work. Normally, a baccalaureate degree in physics, chemistry, or engineering is required to enter directly the advanced degree program. Course scheduling is arranged to accommodate regular full-time graduate students as well as industrial employees who wish to matriculate in the evening. A series of four core courses are required for all M.S. candidates. They are recommended for all Ph.D. candidates, who will generally build upon the material presented in these courses in preparation for passing the Cumulative Examination requirement. The core courses are as follows:

The overall Ph.D. curriculum, not including thesis, might be comprised of the following course credits:

Core courses (17) + PSE and technical electives (12) + seminar (4) + research proposal (2) = 36. For example, specific sample Ph.D. programs could be the following:

In the area of solid-state sciences, there are some 15 faculty about evenly distributed among four departments: Aerospace and Mechanical Sciences, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, and Physics, and there are about 60 graduate students, All but three of the faculty are physicists and most of the graduate students are either physics or chemistry majors. There is a wide choice of graduate courses among those offered by the various departments which permits crossing of the usual departmental boundaries. For instance, one can take “Solid State Theory” in Physics, “Physical Chemistry” in Chemistry, “Lattice Defects” in Aerospace and Mechanical Sciences,and “Surface Physics of Semiconductors and Insulators” in the Electrical Engineering Department. The structure and organization of the general examinations (partly written and partly oral) in the A.M.S. Department for the students in the solid-state area is as follows: The students take a one-day (written) General Physics Examination in the Physics Department followed later by interviews with the faculty and a General Examination (oral) covering usually Mathematics, Thermodynamics, Electricity and Magnetism, Statistical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, and Solid-State Theory. Substitution of such fields as Advanced Physical Chemistry or Solid-State Electronics is encouraged. Faculty from various departments participate in this Examination. All students are required to start independent research early in the first semester in one of the areas of interest to the departmental faculty as indicated in the enclosed sheet. This choice does not affect the choice of the thesis subject.

The present program was adopted by the School of Engineering and Applied Science in 1966.

The prime objectives of the program are to provide a graduate-level education in the engineering aspects of structural materials to as broad a spectrum of undergraduates as possible and also to provide a framework for industrial participation in academic programs. The general philosophy has been to maintain as flexible an arrangement as possible on course work and degree requirements and also to provide research opportunities that will develop an interest in engineering problems associated with technologically important structural materials.

Students with an interest in materials are funneled into the program through the sponsoring departments. Program faculty members then determine the academic program that best fits the individual student. An essential feature is that the program is small enough so that each student is able to choose a course of study that is best suited to his interests and research needs.

We feel this program represents a successful interdisciplinary approach to materials science. There has been a free interchange of students in our courses in polymer science, applied mechanics, and metallurgy as well as interaction between industrial personnel and the students. A number of students have conducted part or all of their research activities in industry’s laboratories, several being involved there now. The major hurdles to a Sc.D. in addition to course work are:

Since this university and most other universities do not have undergraduate specialization in the materials field, it is assumed that most of our students come into the program with little specific knowledge of materials science and engineering. We feel it will take several years of scholarly work before they can gain a perspective of the field. For this reason, we emphasize study toward a Sc.D. degree.