COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science in Materials Science is a 30-unit graduate program designed to provide students with a strong foundation in materials science while allowing specialization through one of two concentrations. Core courses introduce essential concepts, including chemistry and physics foundations, material structure, solid-state properties, thermodynamics of materials, and advanced instrumentation and experimentation. Students also participate in first- and second-year seminars to develop communication, research, and professional skills. The program offers two concentrations to meet different student goals. The Interdisciplinary Materials Investigation concentration emphasizes research and advanced technical knowledge, requiring a minimum of four units of graduate research and six elective units chosen in consultation with an advisor. Electives span chemistry, physics, geology, mathematics, and information systems, providing flexibility to tailor the program to the student’s interests and research goals. The culminating experience in this concentration is a three-unit graduate thesis, integrating the research and coursework into a comprehensive scholarly project. The Entrepreneurial concentration, in contrast, focuses on applying materials science knowledge to business and innovation. It includes courses in entrepreneurship, opportunity recognition and evaluation, commercialization of innovation, and a five-unit materials entrepreneurial project, enabling students to combine scientific expertise with business strategy. Overall, the MS in Materials Science prepares students for a wide range of career paths. Those in the research-focused concentration gain the skills necessary for advanced study or laboratory-based positions in academia or industry, while those in the entrepreneurial concentration develop the abilities to launch new ventures, manage technology-driven projects, and bridge the gap between materials science and business. Both concentrations emphasize applied learning, critical thinking, and data-driven decision-making, equipping graduates with the knowledge and experience required for success in scientific, technical, or business-focused careers.