Program Overview
Master's Program - Department of Materials Science & Engineering
Students have options in pursuing a Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) in Materials Science and Engineering
- Coursework-Based M.S.E.: A course-work only degree requires students to complete ten 3-credit graduate level courses as outlined in the program requirements section.
- Essay-Based M.S.E.: A research focused M.S.E. requires students to complete eight 3-credit graduate level courses and two 3-credit research courses as outlined in the program requirements section. Students may conduct their research in one of the laboratories throughout JHU or with a corporate sponsor through the INBT Co-op program.
Full-time credit enrollment requirement for WSE Master's students:
- All WSE Graduate Students must be enrolled in at least 9 credits to maintain full-time status (in fall/spring semesters).
- Typically, full-time WSE Master’s students will be enrolled in a combination of classes and/or research for a total of 9-12 credits per semester (fall/spring).
- The M.S.E. in Materials Science and Engineering requires a minimum of two semesters of registration as a full-time resident graduate student.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the M.S.E. program is through the standard JHU graduate admissions process. To be admitted, students must submit credentials sufficient to convince the faculty that they have the potential to successfully complete the program requirements. GRE scores are not required, although should applicants choose to submit them, they will be included in the application materials for review. Under the GRE test, applicants should take the General Test package containing the Mathematical Reasoning test.
Hopkins undergraduate students who plan to pursue a combined BS/M.S.E. degree are encouraged to apply in the spring of their junior year.
Visit the WSE Graduate Admissions website for more information.
Program Requirements
Requirements for the M.S.E. Degree with Essay
The degree of Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) with Essay is awarded subject to the recommendation of the student’s advisor along with departmental approval based on satisfactory completion of two core courses, elective courses, research courses, and the essay as shown below:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EN.500.603 | Graduate Academic Ethics | |
| AS.360.624 | Responsible Conduct of Research (Online) | |
| Materials Science and Engineering | ||
| EN.510.606 | Structure and Properties of Materials | 3 |
| EN.510.612 | Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Materials | 3 |
| EN.510.807 | Graduate Research In Materials Science | 3 |
| EN.510.808 | Graduate Research | 3 |
| EN.510.803 | Materials Science Seminar | 1 |
| EN.510.804 | Materials Science Seminar | 1 |
| Select six additional 600-level or higher electives in Materials Science and Engineering or related fields (three 400-level or higher electives are allowed) 1 | 18 | |
| Independent study and research courses will not be counted towards the completion of course requirements. | ||
| Total Credits | 32 | |
A master’s essay or journal publication is required. A master’s essay must be approved by the research advisor and one faculty reader who attests that it conforms to the requirements of the Graduate Board. For a journal publication, a student must submit to the Master’s Degree Committee an article describing their original research that has been published (or accepted for publication) in an archival, peer-reviewed technical journal. The student must be the primary author of the article. Research for the master’s essay or journal publication may be conducted with a corporate sponsor through the INBT co-op program.
The student’s transcript will reflect a “Master of Science in Engineering with Essay.” The typical duration of the program is 18-21 months, but students pursuing the INBT internship/co-op with the essay option may have completion timelines that differ.
Requirements for the M.S.E. Degree without Essay
The degree of Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) is awarded subject to the recommendation of the student’s advisor and departmental approval, based on satisfactory completion of two core classes and elective courses as shown below:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EN.500.603 | Graduate Academic Ethics | |
| AS.360.624 | Responsible Conduct of Research (Online) | |
| Materials Science and Engineering | ||
| EN.510.606 | Structure and Properties of Materials | 3 |
| EN.510.612 | Thermodynamics and Kinetics of Materials | 3 |
| EN.510.803 | Materials Science Seminar | 1 |
| EN.510.804 | Materials Science Seminar | 1 |
| Select eight additional 600-level or higher electives in Materials Science and Engineering or related fields (three 400-level or higher electives are allowed). 1 | 24 | |
| Independent study and research courses will not be counted towards the completion of course requirements. | ||
| Total Credits | 32 | |
The student’s transcript will reflect a “Master of Science in Engineering”. The typical duration of the M.S.E. degree without essay program is 12-18 months.
- 1
Subject to the following rules:
- Each elective must be worth at least three credits. Multiple courses that add up to three credits may be used in place of one three-credit course with approval from the Master’s Degree Committee.
- Seminars cannot be counted towards total credits
- Up to two of the elective courses may be taken from the Engineering for Professionals (EP) program.
- Up to six credits may be business-related courses.
- Any elective taken from outside Whiting Engineering School (including all EP courses) requires prior approval of the Master’s Degree Committee. The Master’s Degree Committee will determine the appropriate number of credits for any elective taken outside the Whiting School of Engineering.
- With approval of the Master’s Degree Committee, students may transfer up to two graduate-level courses from another institution which were completed after the undergraduate degree was conferred if evidence is provided that the course was not applied to any previous degree. Students desiring such credit must make the request in writing to the Master’s Degree Committee by the end of the first semester after matriculation. This request must include a description of the course, a course syllabus, and documentation of the grade received. Please note that transfer coursework grades do not count towards calculation of the GPA.
- Students must complete training on academic ethics in accordance with the Whiting School of Engineering policy. This requirement can be satisfied by passing EN.500.603 Graduate Academic Ethics.
- All WSE master’s students enrolled in a full-time, residential program must complete the online Responsible Conduct of Research course (AS. 360.624) before the end of their first semester of enrollment.
- A grade of C or better must be achieved in each course to obtain credit.
- An overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher must be maintained, and a grade point average of a 3.0 or higher is required to earn the degree at the end of the program.
- For more program requirements and master's advising information please visit our advising manual.