Introduction

Clemson University offers the Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in materials science and engineering. These programs include experimental and modeling aspects of advanced materials, such as amorphous, bio-, nanoscale, photonic and electronic materials. Courses encompass phase transformations, processing of ceramic and metallic materials, polymer synthesis, surface/interfacial modification and mechanical behavior. The graduate program is designed to enable students to initiate and conduct independent investigation. In addition, if you are accepted into one of these programs, you will acquire a comprehensive understanding of a specific area in materials science through course work and thesis/dissertation research. The programs are open to BS and MS graduates from materials science and engineering, metallurgy, ceramics, polymer science, physics, chemistry and other science and engineering disciplines.

Programs of Study

MS The MS program requires 28 credit hours of courses, six credit hours of thesis research and a successful thesis defense. Mandatory core courses include:

• MS&E 820 Deformation Mechanisms in Solids

• MS&E 826 Phase Equilibria in Materials Science

• MS&E 827 Kinetics in Materials Science I

• MS&E 821 Fracture and Fatigue

• MS&E 825 Solid-State Science

• MS&E 828 Kinetics in Materials Science II.

In addition, you will be required to enroll in MS&E 800, Materials Research Seminar, every semester; however, no credit towards your degree will be given for this course. These requirements are in addition to any pre-requisite courses that may be required by the admission committee based on your undergraduate course of study.

PhD Although excessive tenures are discouraged, the School of Materials Science and Engineering does not recognize any minimum or maximum time for obtaining the PhD degree. However, the Graduate School does place restrictions on the maximum time allowed to obtain a graduate degree. Obtaining a doctoral degree

usually takes approximately three years; however, the degree will be awarded when your academic and research advisor(s) are satisfied that the research program is complete and that all other formal requirements have been met. The financial support for you, as a PhD candidate can have a limit depending on the source of your support. All PhD students are required to take a comprehensive examination after the completion of two semesters, but no later than the completion of three-and-a-half semesters as a full-time student or equivalent. A successful oral examination given at least three weeks before graduation is also required for the PhD degree.

Minimum Degree Requirements for PhD in Materials Science and Engineering

Total Hours of Courses (beyond MS degree): 12 hours

Core Courses Required: 4

Thesis: 18-hour thesis (approved by committee and

Graduate School)

Exams: comprehensive and dissertation defense

About the School

The School of Materials Science and Engineering is one of the most exciting and dynamic units in the Clemson University system and enjoys the University’s full support. The University is investing $70 million over five years to fully develop an advanced materials industry cluster. The linchpin is a $21 million advanced materials research facility, anchored by one of the nation’s top optical materials laboratories and coupled with a state-of-the-art electron microscopy facility. The 111,000 square-foot facility opened in 2005. In addition, a $10 million endowed faculty position in optical materials will bring the brightest faculty in the field to the University.

Centers, Institutes and Facilities

Complete facilities are available for ceramic, metal, glass and polymer processing; optical and electron microscopy (SEM, TEM); AFM; X-ray diffraction; thermal analysis (DSC, TGA) and optical, electrical and mechanical property (tensile, fatigue, drape, etc) characterization. Other specialized capabilities include fabrication of amorphous metallic alloys, ultrasound-based free-forming, microwave synthesis, synthesis and characterization of biomaterials, solution and colloid-based materials processing, high-temperature materials characterization, chemsorption and temperature-programmed reduction/oxidation, nano-indentation and facilities to convert organic and inorganic fibers into stable and coherent fabric structures (nonwovens, knits and woven).

Aligned with MSE is COMSET, the Center for Optical Materials Science and Engineering Technologies, which operates one of only a handful of optical fiber draw towers and MCVD latches at universities in the US. Numerous light sources are available, including argon, Ti-sapphie, dye and

femto-second Nd:YAG lasers as well as a 450W Xe lamp for excitation and pulse-probe experiments from the UV through the 1550 nm telecommunications band. Detectors include PMTs and solid-state CCDs for detection of light (e.g., rare earth emissions) from the UV through the near infrared. In partnership with Clemson’s Spiro Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, local technical colleges, industry and regional economic development entities, COMSET is actively pursuing the University’s vision of becoming the focal point for knowledge creation and transfer in high-value-added photonic material technologies. This is being realized through partnerships, by technology transfer to established and new venture firms, through serving partners in scientific, business and entrepreneurial education and mentorship and in educating a world-class talent pool at the two-year, four-year and advanced degree levels. Details on COMSET’s mission, facilities and accomplishments are online at www.ces.clemson.edu/comset.

 

Additional major manufacturing and testing facilities are available at the National Brick Research Center and the Clemson Apparel Research (CAR) Center.

Financial Aid

Research and teaching assistantships are available from the School of Materials Science and Engineering, private-sector industry and government agencies. Assistantships and fellowships with competitive stipends are available for top students.

Student Group

Approximately 80 graduate students from throughout the US and around the world are enrolled in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Clemson University. The school seeks to recruit high-caliber graduates from science and engineering backgrounds in materials science, polymer science, physics, chemistry and other related scientific disciplines.

Student Outcomes

Graduates from the program have been placed in academic and business roles at such companies as General Shale Brick, Stiles and Hart Brick, Boral Bricks, Hanson Brick, Southern Color and Chemical, SGH, Corning, Alcoa-Fujikura, JDS-Uniphase, Cisco, FujiFilm, Aeropsatiale, LSI Logic, Oxford Instruments Alstrom, Honeywell, Michelin, Boeing-Seattle, Richards, Inc., French Electric Power Authority, W. R. Grace, TATA, TIMET, Stirling Metals, Concurrent Technology, Degussa, Seagate Technology and Smith-Nephew and at universities such as Berkeley, North Carolina State and Georgia Tech.

Applying

You may apply on the web at www.grad.clemson.edu/Admission.php. Applications, along with a $55 nonrefundable fee, should be received no later than five weeks prior to registration. Every required item in support of your application must be on file by that date.

Faculty Listing

• J. Richard Aspland, Professor Emeritus; PhD, Manchester (England), 1964. Textile chemistry.

• John M. Ballato, Professor; PhD, Rutgers, 1997. Ceramic and materials engineering.

• Denis A. Brosnan, Professor; PhD, Iowa State, 1972. Ceramic engineering.

• Philip J. Brown, Assistant Professor; PhD, Leeds (England), 1991. Textile chemistry.

• Christine W. Cole, Professor; PhD, MIT, 1975. Physical chemistry.

• Michael J. Drews, Professor Emeritus; PhD, North Texas State, 1971. Physical chemistry.

• Michael S. Ellison, Professor; PhD, California-Davis, 1983. Polymer fiber physics.

• Stephen H. Foulger, Professor; PhD, MIT, 1996. Materials science.

• Bhuvenesh C. Goswami, Professor Emeritus; PhD, Manchester (England), 1966. Textile physics.

• Burtrand I. Lee, Professor; PhD, Florida, 1986. Materials science and engineering.

• David H. Leigh III, Professor Emeritus; PhD, New South Wales (Australia), 1976. Ceramic science.

• Gary C. Lickfield, Professor; PhD, Clemson, 1983. Physical chemistry.

• Jian Luo, Assistant Professor; PhD, MIT, 2001. Materials science and engineering.

• Igor A. Luzinov, Associate Professor; PhD, Lviv Polytechnic Institute (Ukraine), 1990. Polymer chemistry.

• Henry J. Rack, Professor; ScD, MIT, 1968. Metallurgy.

• Kathleen Ann Richardson, School Director and Professor; PhD, Alfred, 1992. Ceramics.

• Clarence D. Rogers, Professor Emeritus; PhD, Clemson, 1978. Applied Economics.

• Eric C. Skaar, Associate Professor; PhD, MIT, 1975. Ceramic engineering.

• Theodore D. Taylor, Associate Professor; PhD, Penn State, 1971. Ceramic science.

• Edward A. Vaughn, Professor Emeritus; PhD, Manchester (England), 1969. Textile physics.

• Charles K. Watt, Professor; PhD, George Washington, 1986. Engineering administration.

For More Information

Dr. Stephen H. Foulger

School of Materials Science and Engineering

Advanced Materials Research Laboratory

Office 226

Clemson University

91 Technology Drive

Anderson, South Carolina 29625

Telephone: 864-656-1045

Fax: 864-656-1049

Email: foulger@clemson.edu