MSE Fall 2020 GS Handbook - Master of Science Degree Program in Materials Science and Engineering

Sep 15, 2026

Graduate Student Handbook for the Master of Science degree program in Materials Science and Engineering, revised in August 2020 at Rochester Institute of Technology. It outlines the school’s mission and program structure, including admission and academic status, assistantships and scholarships, and detailed guidelines for both the Thesis Option and Project Option. The handbook also covers key program components such as advisors, schedules, committees, seminars, oral examinations, certification, and project/thesis requirements, plus supporting appendices like glossary terms and program forms.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages44

Reading Time1 h 51 min

AccessFree to download

Table of Contents

Introduction to the School of Chemistry & Materials Science

M.S. Degree Program in Materials Science and Engineering

Admission and Academic Status

Admissions

Contingent Admissions for International Students

Non-Matriculated Status

Readmission

Academic Probation and Suspension Policy

Assistantships and Scholarships

Awards Application

Graduate Scholarships

Graduate Student Teaching Assistantships

Research Assistantships

Evaluation and Review

Materials Science and Engineering M.S. Degree Program Guidelines

Orientation

Graduate Advisor

Courses

Thesis Option

Advisor

Schedule

Thesis Committee

Thesis Seminar

Oral Examinations

Thesis

Certification

Project Option

Advisor

Schedule

Project Committee

Seminars

Capstone Experience

Certification

BS/MS specific information

Appendix A. Glossary of Terms

Appendix B. Materials Science & Engineering MS Program Forms

Appendix C. Materials Science & Engineering Faculty Listing

Appendix D. Thesis Format Information

Appendix E. MSE Elective Courses

Master of Science Degree Program in Materials Science and Engineering Graduate Student Handbook Revised August 2020 School of Chemistry and Materials Science College of Science Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, New York 14623 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction to the School of Chemistry & Materials Science 2.0 M.S. Degree Program in Materials Science and Engineering 3.0 Admission and Academic Status 1. Admissions 2. Contingent Admissions for International Students 3. Non-Matriculated Status 4. Readmission 5. Academic Probation and Suspension Policy 4.0. Assistantships and Scholarships 1. Awards Application 2. Graduate Scholarships 3. Graduate Student Teaching Assistantships 4. Research Assistantships 5. Evaluation and Review 5.0 Materials Science and Engineering M.S. Degree Program Guidelines 5.1 Orientation 5.2 Graduate Advisor 5.3 Courses 6.0. Thesis Option 6.1 Advisor 6.2 Schedule 6.3 Thesis Committee 6.4 Thesis Seminar 6.5 Oral Examinations 6.6 Thesis 6.7 Certification 7.0. Project Option 7.1 Advisor 7.2 Schedule 7.3 Project Committee 7.4 Seminars 7.5 Capstone Experience 7.5 Certification 8.0. BS/MS specific information Appendix A. Glossary of Terms Appendix B. Materials Science & Engineering MS Program Forms Appendix C. Materials Science & Engineering Faculty Listing Appendix D. Thesis Format Information Appendix E. MSE Elective Courses 1.0 Introduction to the School of Chemistry & Materials Science and RIT The RIT School of Chemistry & Materials Science (SCMS) is committed to academic and professional growth for our students, with a strong research focus offering including an M.S. degrees in Materials Science & Engineering. The School offers the core courses for Materials Science & Engineering and also provides professional and academic advising for our M.S. students. The degree program provides students with an excellent preparation for further graduate education or a career in industry. The M.S. degree program in Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) includes faculty members from many departments in the College of Science (COS), the Kate Gleason College of Engineering (KGCOE) and the Golisano Institute for Sustainability (GIS) . Rochester Institute of Technology, founded in 1829, is a privately endowed, coeducational, nonsectarian, fully accredited institution. RIT focuses on offering specialized courses of study in professional scientific and technical areas. It is comprised of nine colleges: Applied Science & Technology, Business, Computing & Information Sciences, Engineering, Health Sciences & Technology, Imaging Arts & Sciences, Liberal Arts, Science, and Sustainability. In addition it is the site for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Many departments at RIT have a cooperative education program that enables undergraduate and graduate students to alternate semesters of industrial work experience with academic course work. Of the 17,500 students who attend RIT, approximately 3,000 are enrolled in graduate programs. RIT’s students come from all 50 states and from more than twenty foreign countries. RIT is located in the town of Henrietta, NY on a 1,300-acre campus five miles from downtown Rochester. Rochester is a recognized center of technology and science, with a high proportion of scientists, technologists, and skilled workers in the population. Well known employers in Rochester include the University of Rochester, Wegmans, Eastman Kodak, Xerox, Bausch and Lomb, Delphi Automotive, Harris Communication, Rochester Products, CellTech Pharmaceuticals, and Getinge. Rochester is also a noted cultural center where support of music, art, theater, libraries, and museums is a matter of pride. The Eastman School of Music, the International Jazz Festival, the Clothesline Art Festival, and the Lilac Festival are a few examples of the cultural attractions. 2.0 MS Degree Program in Materials Science an

FAQs

What graduate options are offered in the Materials Science and Engineering M.S. program?

Two 30-credit-hour options are offered: the Thesis Option and the Project Option. Students may switch between options during the degree if circumstances warrant.

What does the Thesis Option require for degree completion?

The Thesis Option culminates in submission and defense of a written thesis. It includes registration for research credit hours, preparation of a publicly accessible thesis document, and an oral thesis defense, supported by core courses and graduate electives.

How is the Project Option structured compared with the Thesis Option?

The Project Option emphasizes breadth and flexibility tailored to students’ career interests. It follows an organized project timeline and includes seminars and capstone experience, with certification requirements at the end.

Sep 15, 2026

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