Admission Requirements

• Applicants must have a Master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering or related disciplines from college or university to be considered for the Ph.D. program in Materials Science and Engineering.
• Prerequisite academic work should provide evidence that the application shall be able to pursue the graduate course effectively.
• Applicants must also have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
• The minimum acceptable combined GRE score is 1000 (old) or 300 (new).
• Official Transcript from all colleges/universities attended (International Students must have transcripts translated through World Education Services -WES).
• Completed Application along with the required amount of application fees.
• 3 Letters of Recommendation.
• Statement of Purpose.
• GRE Scores.
• Financial Affidavit (International Students -only).
• Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) Scores (International students only).

Advisory Committee
During the first year of his/her study in the Ph.D. program, the student and his/her Major Professor must recommend to the Head of the Department the student’s Advisory Committee consisting of a minimum of six members including the Major Professor, the Head of the Department and two members from outside of Tuskegee University for approval. The Advisory Committee shall also serve as the Examination Committee.

Research Credits
Students who enter the Ph.D. program in MSE must complete twenty four (24) credit hours of research at the doctorate level (MSEG 0800 ), before they are allowed to defend their dissertation. Students who register for research must submit a report to his/her advisor at the end of each semester when the research hours are taken. An “I” grade will be assigned for research and changed to an appropriate letter grade only after the student defends his/her dissertation.

Continuous Registration and Candidacy for Degree
If a student has completed all course and research requirements but has not been admitted to candidacy for the degree, he/she may enroll for Continuous Registration (MSEG 0801 ). In this case the student will be considered as enrolled full-time. If a student has completed all course and research requirements and has been admitted to the candidacy for the degree, he/she may enroll as Candidate for Degree (MSEG 0802 ). In this case also the student will be considered as enrolled full-time.

Change in Area of Specialization, Major Professor or Member of Advisory Committee
Change in the area of student’s specialization, major professor or members of the advisory committee may be approved only by the Dean of Graduate Programs. Request for such change(s) must be submitted to the Dean of Graduate Programs with the approval of the Director of the MSE program. The Dean of Graduate Studies and Research will make a decision on the basis of the information presented. A new plan of study may be necessary as a result of the change.

Transfer Credits
The student’s Advisory Committee may recommend transfer credits for graduate courses taken by the student at any other institution. Transfer credits may be recommended under both core and elective categories.

Written Qualifying Examination
All students pursuing the Ph.D. degree in Materials Science and Engineering must pass the comprehensive written qualifying examination in no more than two attempts. The examination covers the contents of core courses and several basic courses including chemistry, mathematics, physics, strength of materials and thermodynamics.

Review of Progress
The advisory committee reviews the student’s progress in course work as well as research, at least once each semester, and forwards a formal report to the director of the MSE program. The student must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0. A student, whose cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0, is allowed one semester to raise his/her GPA to 3.0. Failure on the student’s part to do so results in his/her removal from the program.

Time Limit for Graduate Credit
All graduate credit submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree must have been earned within the eight (8) years immediately preceding the date when the degree is conferred. Graduate credits which are more than eight years but no more than ten years old may be validated according to the following procedures: the student may take examinations for credit in courses in which he/she had previously earned grades of “B” or better but for which credits were lost because of the regulation governing time limitations. A fee, as determined by the office of the Registrar, must be paid at the Business Office before the examination is scheduled. If the student fails the examination, credit may be earned thereafter only by repeating and passing the course through regular registration

Residency Requirement
The student is required to be in residence for at least one academic year during the course of doctoral study.

Research Proposal
The student must also successfully present a formal proposal of his/her dissertation research to the faculty in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. The proposal presentation must include a thorough review of literature and a plan of research activities and progress to date. A research proposal document of about 15 pages should be submitted to the committee members at least two weeks before the scheduled date of proposal presentation. It should include at least but not limited to: introduction, background, literature review, plan of research, preliminary data on the progress to date, timeline for completion of dissertation work and references.

Admission to Candidacy
Immediately after passing the written qualifying examination and successful presentation of his/her research proposal, the student must submit, to the Dean of Graduate Studies, a completed application for the Candidacy for the degree.

Seminars
A student pursuing the Ph.D. degree in Materials Science and Engineering is required to present several seminars during his/her course of study. The final seminar shall be his/her Final Oral Examination for the degree. The student is required to attend all seminars scheduled by the department.

Publications and Presentations
The student pursuing the Ph.D. degree in Materials Science and Engineering is required to publish a minimum of two papers in refereed journals and make two presentations at national or international meetings as the lead author from his/her dissertation research.

Dissertation/Final Oral Examination
The final draft of the thesis/dissertation must be filed with the student’s Advisory Committee at least 30 days before the date listed in the university calendar for final copies to be submitted during the semester in which the student expects to graduate. The student must present to the Dean of Graduate Programs a “Preliminary Approval Sheet” (PAS) bearing the signature of the Major Professor before the final oral examination may be scheduled and before copies of the thesis/dissertation are distributed to members of the Examining Committee. The student must submit a complete draft of his/her dissertation to every member of the Examination Committee at least two weeks prior to the date of the examination. The oral examination will be on the student’s research only. Approval of all members of the Examination Committee is necessary for the student to pass the oral examination.