Required courses Sample schedule Faculty adviser Final project Internship option Elective courses
Required courses
All of the 36 required course credits outlined below must be at the 400-level or above to count toward graduate credits.
A minimum of 2.7 is required in each course that is counted toward a graduate degree. A minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 is required for graduation. For Ph.D. consideration, a minimum 3.0 is required for each of the core courses, and a minimum cumulative 3.2 must be met.
Courses that are CR/NC at the 400-500 level will count toward overall graduate credits, but will not apply to the 18 graded credits minimum. You have the option to change elective courses to S/NS but only for courses that are in addition to your required core and elective courses. See Graduate School policy for more information.
For a tentative guide of which classes will be offered during which quarters, check out our course schedule page.
| Credits | Type of course | Courses |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Graduate tutorial | MSE 570 - Graduate Tutorial in Materials Science and Engineering |
| 2 | Graduate tutorial | MSE 571 - Graduate Tutorial in Materials Science and Engineering |
| 6 | MSE core courses | Two of the following:
|
| 9 | Elective courses | Selected from the following:
Note: If a course is listed jointly at both the 400 and 500 level, master's students should enroll in the 500-level version of the course. |
| 3 | Weekly graduate student seminars | MSE 520 - Graduate Student Seminars |
Thesis/non-thesis requirements
| Program | Credit requirements |
|---|---|
| Non-thesis | A minimum of 6 MSE 600 credits are required if you and your faculty adviser agreed you will pursue a non-thesis master's degree. This applies to the most of the masters students. |
| Thesis | A minimum of 9 MSE 700 credits are required if you and your faculty adviser agreed you will complete a thesis upon graduation. |
Remaining credits to complete 36 credits
The remaining credits to reach 36 total are flexible based on recommendations from your faculty adviser, additional courses you wish to take, or can all be completed as additional thesis or non-thesis credits.
Sample Schedules
These sample schedules are meant to serve as a guide. For a list of courses offered in the current academic year, visit our Course Schedule page.
Full-time, one-year schedule
Although you will be able to complete the degree full time over four quarters, you are permitted to complete additional quarters. F-1 visa students: you must enroll full time in all quarters except your final quarter; see enrollment requirements for more information.
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | ||
| MSE 570 | Graduate Tutorial in Materials Sci & Engr | 2 |
| MSE 520 | Department Seminar | 1 |
| MSE 5xx | Elective Course Requirements | 6 |
| MSE 600 | Research | 1 |
| To do: Select your faculty advisor and complete a Project Agreement Form | ||
| Winter | ||
| MSE 541 | Defects in Materials | 3 |
| MSE 520 | Department Seminar | 1 |
| MSE 571 | Graduate Tutorial in Materials Sci & Engr | 2 |
| MSE 5xx | Elective Course Requirement | 3 |
| MSE 600 | Research | 4 |
| Spring | ||
| MSE 525 | Kinetics and Phase Transformations | 3 |
| MSE 520 | Department Seminar | 1 |
| MSE 5xx | Elective Course Requirement | 3 |
| MSE 600 | Research | 4 |
| Summer or following Autumn | ||
| MSE 600 | Project or internship | 2 |
Part-time, two-year schedule
| Course | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn Y1 | ||
| MSE 570 | Graduate Tutorial in Materials Sci & Engr | 2 |
| MSE 520 | Department Seminar | 1 |
| To do: Select your faculty advisor and complete a Project Agreement Form | ||
| Winter Y1 | ||
| MSE 541 | Defects in Materials | 3 |
| MSE 520 | Department Seminar | 1 |
| MSE 571 | Graduate Tutorial in Materials Sci & Engr | 2 |
| Spring Y1 | ||
| MSE 525 | Kinetics and Phase Transformations | 3 |
| MSE 520 | Department Seminar | 1 |
| MSE 600 | Research | 4 |
| Autumn Y2 | ||
| MSE 400/500 | 3 | |
| MSE 600 | Project or internship | 2 |
| Winter Y2 | ||
| MSE 400/500 | 3 | |
| MSE 600 | Project or internship | 4 |
| Spring Y2 | ||
| MSE 400/500 | 3 | |
| MSE 600 | Project or internship | 4 |
Selecting a faculty adviser
Each student should obtain their faculty adviser by the end of the first quarter. Students need to make appointments with faculty who meet their interests.
Final project
The project or internship will be supervised by a UW MSE faculty adviser. A project or internship plan must be approved by the faculty adviser prior to starting it. A written report and oral presentation final are required to graduate.
The student needs to work with the MSE faculty adviser to establish a master’s degree Supervisory Committee to conduct the final exam which is an oral presentation of the written report. The Supervisory Committee consists of the faculty adviser and at least one other member from the MSE or related department faculty, a postdoc or a supervisor if completing and internship.
The student in consultation with the faculty adviser establishes the examination date and place. The student is responsible for posting a degree exam notice with the exam date, place and project abstract one week prior to the master’s degree examination. A copy of the notice must also be provided to the department’s Graduate Program Adviser.
The master’s degree examination shall be a public presentation of the project or internship undertaken. After the presentation a closed examination session will be held with the Supervisory Committee to determine if the candidate is ready to graduate.
Internship or industrial option
Internships provide students with hands-on work experience while giving companies the opportunity to recruit, evaluate, and train potential employees. The program's flexible course schedule and final project component make it possible for industrial projects to fulfill the final project requirement — with proper design and mutual employer-faculty guidance.
The Career Center @ Engineering, MSE advisers, and UW career fairs provide resources to help students find internships. Internships are competitive; start your search early and be persistent.
Recent graduates have held internships with the Boeing Company, Cymer and PNNL.
MSE elective courses
Students can consult with their faculty adviser to choose elective courses for their individual path of study. Courses can be taken in MSE or relevant departments.