Materials Science and Engineering, Ph.D.

Program Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core Courses
CH E 6522		2
CH E 6524	Advanced Characterization of Materials	4
CH E 6523	Materials Discovery	3
CH E 6533	Fundamentals of Materials Structural Properties	3
PHYS 5293	Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Materials	3
Electives
Choose 6-15 hours of graduate level electives from the course list maintained by the department, as approved by the advisory conference committee and graduate liaison.		6-15
Dissertation Research
CH E 6980	Research for Doctoral Dissertation	60-69
Total Credit Hours		90

NOTE: In lieu of a ‘Qualifying Examination’ (GE) the enrolled students are expected to complete with a B grade of better the five mandatory courses within their first year of enrolment. The ‘Advisory Committee Report’ (ACR) is expected to be completed by the end of the fourth semester of enrolment. During this report, the students, in agreement with supervisor and committee, will identify which elective courses are required for completing their program of studies. The ‘General Exam’ (GE) will take place between 1 and 3 semesters after the ACR is completed. At the GE, the students will submit a written document to place their research, and defend their research plans at an oral presentation, when they will be assessed by the committee members. The Defense of the PhD is expected approximately 4 years after the start of the program of studies.

General Requirements for Doctoral Degrees

A student should expect to spend at least the equivalent of three full academic years beyond the bachelor’s degree to obtain the doctoral degree. During this period the student will take appropriate graduate coursework, successfully complete the general examination, and successfully defend and submit the final dissertation.

All coursework applied to the doctoral degree must carry graduate credit.

The doctoral degree requires at least 90 post-baccalaureate hours, including both formal coursework and hours of research.

The minimum hour requirement for a specific doctoral degree program cannot be waived.

No more than one-half of the credit hours, both OU and overall, excluding Research for Doctoral Dissertation (6980), may be S/U-graded coursework.

The student must be in residence at OU for at least two consecutive 16-week semesters during the pursuit of the doctoral degree while enrolled and engaged in coursework or research activities as prescribed by the major academic unit.

For more detailed regulations and requirements for Doctoral degrees, please consult the Graduate College Bulletin: http://www.ou.edu/gradcollege/forms/bulletin