How to Get a PhD in Materials Engineering

Materials engineers play a critical support role in industrial design and high tech research and development. The advanced materials they develop--polymers, ceramics, metals, and electronics components such as semiconductors--play a critical role the development of products and civil infrastructure. Materials engineering plays a part in construction, medical devices and procedures, scientific research, electronics R&D, and consumer product design. From computer chips to fiber optic cables, modern society relies on engineered materials.

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With a PhD in Materials Engineering, the next major breakthrough in materials design could come out of your research lab. A doctoral degree offers the opportunity to collaborate with leading innovators in materials research using state-of-the-art technology. Study materials at the atomic and molecular level and manipulate their macroscopic properties to serve specific design purposes. In addition to driving innovation in commercial, scientific, and civil arenas, you'll develop advanced curricula for training the next generation of materials engineers.

Earning a PhD in Materials Engineering requires an uncommon degree of commitment and planning. Prepare for your educational journey using this step-by-step guide to the doctoral degree. You'll gain perspective on the academic discipline, focus your academic goals, and create a plan for achieving the highest degree in materials engineering.

A Guide to the PhD in Materials Engineering

To get a sense of where you're heading, start with a roadmap of the materials science discipline. This overview of the field covers some of the opportunities you can expect to encounter in a campus or online PhD program in materials engineering.

History of Materials Engineering

Materials engineering is among the oldest branches of applied science. Some histories data the discipline back to the material-defined prehistoric eras: the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Steel Age. But the academic discipline as it is practiced today emerged in the late 19th and early 20th century with the study of metallurgy. After the 1960s, the field expanded to embrace the high-performance materials that dominate materials engineering today: plastics, semiconductors, polymers, biomaterials, and ceramics.

To learn more about this important engineering discipline, visit WorldWideLearn.com's Guide to Majors, where you'll find a specific section devoted to materials science engineering.

Doctoral Degrees in Materials Engineering: PhD and DEng

Materials engineering's emphasis on applied science has given rise to a professional practice alternative to the PhD: the Doctor of Engineering (DEng). Though the PhD and DEng are equal in rigor and professional standing--both are considered terminal degrees--they serve different purposes.

The PhD in Materials Engineering retains the academic emphasis of the traditional science doctorate, requiring an original contribution to scholarship in materials science. This doctorate prepares graduates for academic research and teaching roles, as well as advanced R&D roles in private industry.

The DEng in Materials Engineering takes a practical approach to doctoral study, requiring candidates (many of whom are mid-career engineers) to apply their advanced knowledge to a real-world problem in their engineering practice. The applied nature of the degree makes it a good choice for practicing engineers who want to deepen their understanding of the technology in order to tackle a particular R&D problem.

For more information about the distinctions among doctoral degrees, see WorldWideLearn.com's Online PhD Degrees and Doctoral Programs resource page.

Specializations

As a materials engineering doctoral candidate, you'll have the opportunity to specialize in a particular material, research technology, or application of materials science.

Material Specializations include:

  • Ceramics
  • Electronic materials (semiconductors, fiber optics, etc.)
  • Metals
  • Polymers
  • Composite materials
  • Vitreous materials
  • Ionic and covalent crystals
  • Biomaterials

Technology Specializations include:

  • Nanotechnology
  • Microtechnology
  • Materials Characterization
  • Crystallography
  • Ceramography (high temperatures)
  • Metallurgy (including corrosion, alloy processes)

Researchers may also specialize in a particular application or problem of materials engineering. Applied Specializations include:

  • Forensic Materials Engineering (the study of materials failure)
  • Heat Transport
  • Tribology (wear due to friction)
  • Surface Science

A sense of your academic interests will serve you well as you explore our PhD program options. Each department will emphasize different focus areas within materials science. Knowing your intended specialization before you apply can help guide you to a program with the resources to support your research.

Career Track

A doctoral degree in materials engineering can lead to an academic or professional career.

Academic careers available to PhD graduates focus on advanced theoretical research and college teaching. University professors support the efforts of applied R&D professionals, emphasizing the scientific discovery of material properties and the development of new methods of technological innovation. In addition, academic professors create educational curricula to train the next generation of materials engineers.

Professional careers available to PhD or DEng graduates emphasize applied research designed to solve specific commercial or civil problems. Practicing materials engineers work closely with other researchers to develop materials for products and processes.

If you're unsure which career track to pursue, WorldWideLearn.com's Career Pathways resource can help. Use the career planning and assessment tools to help you determine which job roles best suit your interests and working style.

Plan for a PhD in Materials Engineering

Achieving the highest qualification in the profession takes an uncommon degree of vision and commitment. The PhD and DEng in Materials Engineering both require four to six years of intensive independent work. Planning your path to the doctoral degree will help you stay focused throughout the program.

The following guide to the research and application process will help you build a foundation for success.

Step One: Find the Right Graduate Materials Engineering Program

With hundreds of graduate programs in materials engineering nationwide, finding the right one for you can seem daunting. To make the research process more manageable, follow these steps. You'll find a list of online resources to help you work through each stage of the process.

1. Create a Master List of Accredited PhD Programs

First, survey your options by creating a master list of accredited PhD and/or DEng programs in materials engineering or materials science. Accreditation is the key word at this stage. Accreditation ensures the value of your doctoral degree and can factor into your eligibility for financial aid. Learn more about the accreditation process at WorldWideLearn.com.

Resources

The following directories and databases can help you find PhD and DEng programs in materials engineering.

WorldWideLearn.com maintains a database of accredited online PhD programs. Search Degrees by Subject to find an online or campus PhD program in materials engineering, or browse a list of university partners.

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) features a database of accredited engineering programs. Narrow your search by discipline or location, or browse a list of ABET member institutions.

U.S. News & World Report publishes an up-to-date A-Z Directory of Engineering Schools.

2. Choose a Program Format: Campus or Online PhD in Materials Engineering?

Doctoral degree programs have evolved to encompass both campus and online delivery formats. Choosing the best program type for you can help you focus your quest for the perfect PhD program. Take into account your personal circumstances, learning style, and career goals when deciding on a program format.

Online doctoral degrees appeal to working adults for their convenience: it's possible to complete your PhD without sacrificing your work or family time. If you're pursuing a professional practice doctorate, the online degree program affords the opportunity to apply your graduate education to a real-world problem in a professional context. This enables working engineers to pursue their research and development goals while working toward an online PhD in Materials Engineering.

Campus programs remain the most common format for the academic PhD program. If you're pursuing a career in academia, the campus degree offers several important advantages. Campus study affords access to state-of-the-art research facilities and the opportunity to collaborate with leading innovators in the field. You'll also prepare for a university teaching career through teaching assistantships, and build relationships within the academic community. These factors are all essential to a successful academic job search.

Resources

Explore online and campus formats further at WorldWideLearn.com's Online Degree Programs and Campus Education sections. These resources help direct you to programs in your preferred delivery format. If you choose a campus program, search campus degrees by location.

3. Explore Academic Programs

The most important stage in the research process is finding the academic programs that best match your research interests. Take into account the following factors as you assess the specialty areas of individual academic programs:

  • Faculty research topics
  • Research facilities
  • Specializations
  • Curriculum
  • Special programs: conferences, publications, research centers, etc.

Resources

WorldWideLearn.com facilitates the research process by matching you with schools that meet your requirements. Simply fill out an online form indicating your academic program criteria and contact information. A school representative will contact you by phone or email to answer your questions about the academic program. The automated system streamlines your research process, saving time and allowing you to consider more schools.

School Web sites are a goldmine of information, with links to professor research and CVs, course materials, degree requirements, sample dissertation projects, and information about research facilities and programs.

Academic journals give you an insider's perspective on the schools and scholars contributing to new research in your field of interest. Leading faculty can serve as prospective mentors for your own research, or direct you to colleagues at other universities who are doing similar work. Major academic journals in materials engineering include:

    • Materials Science and Engineering
    • Journal of Materials Engineering
    • Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology

4. Evaluate Program Quality

Finally, narrow down your list by evaluating programs based on quality criteria. Factors that may play into your assessment include:

  • Reputation
  • Selectivity
  • Graduation Rate
  • Job Placement Statistics
  • Career Support Resources
  • Student Body Profile

It's important at this stage to be realistic yet optimistic about your admissions prospects. Use selectivity statistics to gauge your chances of gaining admission and choose PhD programs within your reach as an applicant. Include a 'dream' school and 'safety' to cover all your bases.

Resources

Rankings offer a means of sizing up the reputation and selectivity of different PhD programs in materials engineering. Publications to consider include:

Admissions data sheets offer an unvarnished picture of a school's selectivity, job placement, and graduation rate statistics. You can also get a sense of the student body demographics.

Campus visits let you experience the program firsthand. Tour campus research facilities, meet with potential faculty mentors, and talk to graduate students about their experience in the program.

Step Two: Apply to PhD Programs in Materials Engineering

Once you've chosen five or more programs that meet your requirements, it's time to prepare your applications. Leave ample time to take care of prerequisites and assemble application materials. For additional information on the application process, consult WorldWideLearn.com's Education Resources Guide, which offers guidance on test preparation, online prerequisite courses, financial aid, and more.

1. Complete Prerequisites

Standard prerequisites for the PhD in Materials Engineering include:

  • A bachelor's or master's degree in engineering or a related quantitative field. If your degree is in another field, plan to supplement your education with prerequisite courses in math and science.
  • Standardized tests such as the GRE and the TOEFL (for international students). Many applicants prepare for these tests by taking special test preparation courses, widely available online.

2. Prepare Application Materials

Next, gather the required application materials. Standard documents include:

  • Faculty or professional letters of recommendation
  • Undergraduate and graduate academic transcripts
  • Test scores
  • Personal statement of research interests
  • Financial aid application

Completing your application may be more time-consuming than you expect--be sure to prepare well in advance.

3. Secure Financial Aid

Engineering programs at the doctoral level typically offer some form of financial aid through the university. Most graduate students supplement this support with additional funding from other sources. Academic financial aid options include:

  • Scholarships and grants
  • Teaching and research assistantships
  • Tuition waivers

Alternative funding from private and government sources include:

  • Private scholarships
  • Corporate sponsorships
  • Federal or private loans
  • Federal Pell grant
  • NSF (National Science Foundation) scholarships and research grants

For more information, visit WorldWideLearn.com's graduate education funding resource.

Step Three: Join the Academic Community

With your applications complete, you're just one step away from becoming a full-fledged member of the academic community. Start building relationships within the community by following these steps:

1. Subscribe to Materials Engineering Publications

The publications listed above will give you a sense of the research trends and leading scholars in your field.

2. Attend Conferences

Conferences offer a means of networking with engineers who share your interest in materials research.

3. Join Professional and Academic Associations

There are a number of associations representing materials engineers, including:

  • The Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society
  • American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
  • Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration
  • The American Ceramic Society
  • Association for Iron & Steel Technology
  • ASM - The Materials Information Society
  • Materials Research Society
  • Materials Information Society (ASM International)

The opportunity to swap ideas with a community of experts and innovators is just one of the privileges of a doctoral education. You'll also have access to state-of-the-art research equipment and facilities, opening new frontiers of scientific inquiry. Focusing your objectives and planning a path to the degree ensures that you take full advantage of these opportunities as they arise, and achieve your destiny as a leading research engineer.

 

Sources

  • Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
  • American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, Engineers
  • National Research Council, Assessment of Research Doctorate Programs
  • Northwestern University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
  • Purdue University School of Materials Engineering, What is Materials Engineering?
  • The Center for Measuring University Performance
  • U.S. Department of Education, Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs
  • U.S. News & World Report, Best Engineering Schools
  • University of Washington, Material Science and Technology

Pursue your Material Engineering major today…