Materials Science and Engineering, Ph.D

Requirements

Students entering the Ph.D. program in Materials Science and Engineering directly with a Bachelor’s degree are required to successfully complete at least 12 units (4 half-courses) of course work, which includes the mandatory seminar course MATLS 702 (3 units) and 6 units of technical courses at the 700 level. Courses at the 700 level are offered as either a half course (3 units) or a quarter course (1.5 units), whereas courses offered at the 600-level are offered as half courses (3 units). Only one 600-level course is permitted for graduate credit. Only one non-technical half course (3 units) is permitted for graduate credit with written approval from the Supervisor.

Students entering the Ph.D. program in Materials Science and Engineering with a Master’s degree are required to successfully complete at least 12 units (4 half-courses) of course work, which includes the mandatory seminar course MATLS 702 (3 units) and 6 units of technical courses at the 700 level. Courses at the 700 level are offered as either a half course (3 units) or a quarter course (1.5 units), whereas courses offered at the 600-level are offered as half courses (3 units). Only one 600-level course is permitted for graduate credit. Only one non-technical half course (3 units) is permitted for graduate credit with written approval from the Supervisor.

Students transferred to the Ph.D. program in Materials Science and Engineering from the Master’s program are required to successfully complete at least 12 units (4 half-courses) of course work, which includes the mandatory seminar course MATLS 702 (3 units) and 6 units of technical courses at the 700 level. Courses at the 700 level are offered as either a half course (3 units) or a quarter course (1.5 units), whereas courses offered at the 600-level are offered as half courses (3 units). Only one 600-level course is permitted for graduate credit. Only one non-technical half course (3 units) is permitted for graduate credit with written approval from the Supervisor.

Students are encouraged to consult with their Supervisor to to select some of their courses from areas beyond the focus of their research, including courses offered by other Departments. For courses to be taken for credit outside of the Department but within the Faculties of Engineering, Science and Health Science, written approval from the Supervisor is required. Any other courses for credit require approval from the Associate Dean Graduate Studies (Engineering).

Students are also required to complete a career planning exercise within the first three terms (12 months) of full time study. Students will participate in a planning session with a career specialist within the Faculty and subsequently produce (at most) a two-page report before completion of the first three terms (12 months) of full time study. The report must be submitted to the Associate Chair (Graduate). Students transferring to the Ph.D. program are except from this requirement since they previously submitted such a report while enrolled in the Master’s program.

Research Proposal Examination

Students entering the Department’s Ph.D. program in Materials Science and Engineering with either a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree must submit a written Research Proposal for their research program and complete (pass) the associated oral exam after the completion of three terms (12 months), but no more than four terms (16 months). Their Supervisory Committee, augmented by two other members, will give a critical review and examine the student on the content contained in or related to the Research Proposal during the oral exam.

Comprehensive Examination

Students enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Materials Science and Engineering are required to successfully complete (pass) the Comprehensive Examination. The oral exam, which consists of two parts, is meant to ensure that students have a broad understanding of the foundations of the Materials Science and Engineering discipline.

The Part I oral exam covers, at the undergraduate level, topics central to the Materials Science and Engineering discipline. Topics have been divided into core areas that all students are responsible for and into elective areas so that students may choose an area of specialization. The Part I oral exam must be successfully completed prior to the completion of two terms (8 months) of full time study.

The Part II oral exam tests the student’s knowledge of three topics related to the research at an advanced level. Students are expected to show the greatest depth of knowledge in their field of research, but also be expected to demonstrate knowledge of fields related to their areas of specialization. The Part II oral exam must be completed within 24 months (two years) of entry into the a Ph.D. program.

Thesis

Students are required to submit a thesis that which embodies the results of original research and to defend the thesis in the Final Oral Examination.

Industrial Ph.D. Option

The general Regulations for the degree Doctor of Philosophy appear earlier in the Calendar. This program option offers the candidate the potential to conduct all or a portion of their research at their company or research institute of employment. To be enrolled under the option, the candidate must be a full-time student in the degree program, have previously completed a Masters of Applied Science or its equivalence, and be employed by a company or research institute outside of McMaster continuously till degree completion. A candidate is required to complete the normal course requirements of their enrolled department as well as any milestones, but is exempt from seminar requirements. As a doctoral candidate they must take the Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination that is designed to test the breadth of knowledge and the ability to synthesize and integrate ideas from within and peripheral to the candidate’s research area. The Comprehensive Examination will normally take place between 6 and 18 months after the candidate initially registers in the Ph.D. program. A supervisory committee monitors the progress of a Ph.D. candidate and determines when he/she is ready to write the thesis. The student is required to defend the thesis at a Final Oral Examination.