This program is a non-thesis degree requiring 30 credits at the graduate and/or advanced undergraduate level. The program specifies 12 credits of required graduate coursework in core MSE subjects and 2 credits of graduate seminar. The remaining 16 credits in the curricular program may be tailored to suit your interests, with up to 12 elective credits available from advanced departmental or non-departmental undergraduate coursework (3000 and 4000 level courses). It is possible that the course of study could be completed in two semesters. Information regarding tuition, fees, and estimated expenses can be found using the Cost of Education Calendar. For the 2014-15 academic year, the cost of tuition and mandatory fees for a semester of study at 15 credits was $12,432 ($820.50 per credit hour plus $124 required university fee), plus any applicable laboratory fees for courses that include a laboratory component. Although there are no scholarship or assistantship opportunities from the MSE department for the non-thesis MS program, students doing well in the program could be considered as possible candidates for department funded PhD research positions.
Students who have received GTA or GRA funding from the MSE department are specifically not eligible for the non-thesis MS program or degree.
Although you are admitted to a non-thesis program, Michigan Technological University manages an active internship/cooperative education program. Such programs can provide real world work experience, academic credit (co-op), and a stipend. The internship/cooperative education positions generally require an interview process. Laboratory experience and academic credit may also be gained by working with graduate faculty on a research project. Up to 6 credits of co-op or project research can be counted towards the non-thesis MS degree.
Course descriptions of regularly scheduled MSE graduate and advanced undergraduate offerings are included below. Appropriate out-of-departmental courses at a numerical level of 3000 and above are eligible for elective credit, subject to availability and the approval of the graduate program coordinator. Out-of-department courses may be subject to availability, pre-requisite constraints, in-major restrictions, and/or approval of instructor.
The graduate and undergraduate course catalogues can be reviewed at
Undergraduate Course Descriptions and
Graduate Course Descriptions (PDF)
The required courses for the non-thesis Master of Science program in Materials Science and Engineering are described below.
Non-thesis MS Requirements for Graduation
- Total of 30 credits.
- 24 credits minimum of coursework
- 6 credits maximum from research or co-op activities.
- At least 12 credits (of the total 30 credits) must be at the 5000 level or above.
Credits can be in any department, subject to approval of your thesis advisor, with the exception of the following 5 "core" courses which are now required for the non-thesis MS Degree in Materials Science and Engineering.
- MSE 5110 Thermodynamics and Kinetics I (3 credits)
- MSE 5120 Thermodynamics and Kinetics II (3 credits)
- MSE 5130 Crystallography and Diffraction (3 credits)
- MSE 5140 Mechanical Behavior (3 credits)
- MSE 5900 Graduate Seminar (2 credits)
Students must earn a "B" or above in each required course in order to satisfy the MSE department requirements. The graduate school requires a 3.0 GPA for graduation. Only 6 credits below a B are allowed for credit (not including the 5 core courses).