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Welcome from the Program Chair

Dear Prospective Graduate Student,

Thank you for your interest in the Materials Science and Engineering Program at Arizona State University. If you are considering applying to graduate school, the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy (SEMTE) is an excellent opportunity. The Materials Program offers three degrees: a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Master’s (thesis and non-thesis).

Let me highlight 10 reasons why you should consider ASU and the Materials Program for your graduate study:

1. Multidisciplinary nature

We encourage students with backgrounds in chemistry, physics, math, electrical and mechanical engineering as well as chemical and materials science and engineering to apply to the program. Research thrusts within the department include micro and nano fabrication of high‐technology materials, electronic materials, energy related materials and photovoltaic, computation materials science and deformation behavior of materials at different length scales.

2. Diverse Faculty

Our faculty has more than 85 members who perform a wide range of materials research and come from a wide range of engineering and physical sciences. The faculty is highly research intensive having diverse research groups and laboratories. Graduate students like the fact that they have a wide range of faculty from which to choose when they select a research mentor. Our faculty have gained national as well as international recognition in their specialties.

3. Research Facilities

ASU has an outstanding infrastructure in microfabrication and expertise in microscale characterization. The department has state‐of‐the‐art facilities and equipment, including ion beam system to fabricate nanostructures, a metalorganic chemical vapor deposition system and laser ablation system for grown thin films of dielectrics, molecular beam epitaxy and metalorganic chemical vapor deposition systems for group III‐nitride research and a facility to assess the mechanical behavior of materials at small‐length scale. In addition, faculty and students have access to materials characterization and clean‐room facilities. We have several prominent research centers at ASU, including the Eyring Materials Center, the Nan, Macro Technology Works and the Flexible Display Center. The faculty also have their own specialized laboratories.

4. Interdisciplinary Curriculum

The required coursework covers four subjects: advanced thermodynamics, structure and mechanical properties; kinetics and phase transformations and Fundamentals of Electrical, Optical, and Magnetic Materials. Electives allow students to tailor their program of study to their individual research interests.

5. Size of the Program

In the fall of 2022, the program had 244 students, with 109 online MSE students, 59 in-person MSE students and 76 PhD students.

6. Our Graduates

Our proudest achievement is the success of our graduates. Graduates from our program have obtained challenging jobs with materials dependent high technology industries, universities, and government research laboratories. Many of them are now in high level administrative and research positions. The program boasts a 100% placement rate. Several of our graduates have also received national and international awards for their research.

7. Affordable Tuition and Financial Aid

ASU is an affordable university compared to many other universities. Current tuition and fee schedules can be found here. Students who are awarded teaching or research assistantships receive waivers of tuition and they receive free major medical insurance as part of their financial aid packages. There are also scholarships and fellowships for qualified students. Financial aid is awarded competitively to top applicants. ASU also participates in the WICHE program.

8. The Campus

ASU has four campuses with an on-campus enrollment of more than 77,000 students, and a digital enrollment of over 57,000 students. The SEMTE School is located on the main campus in Tempe, Arizona. We have four major libraries, including the Noble Library for Engineering and the Sciences. Take an online tour of ASU.

9. City of Phoenix/Tempe Highlights

The Materials Science is housed on the Tempe campus, which is in the Phoenix Metropolitan area. There are many activities to participate in around Tempe and Phoenix. Some of the highlights of the area include having all major professional sports teams (NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLB), Broadway shows (at the ASU Gammage Auditorium), ballet, opera, symphony, and multiple food, cultural, and music festivals throughout the year. You can view some of the different types of activities that Tempe offers through their website: http://www.tempe.gov/. The weather in Tempe allows for activities to be enjoyed, both inside and outside, throughout the year. The cost of living in Arizona is very affordable compared to many other large metropolitan cities.

10. Jobs

There are two career centers that are here to help prepare students to enter the workforce in local, national, and international markets. While ASU has a career center that our students may use, the Fulton Schools of Engineering has its own Career Center dedicated to our students’ special skill sets acquired during study here.

Admissions

Admission to the Materials Program is highly competitive. The program receives approximately 250 applications each academic year and admits approximately 15% of the applicant pool. Applicants are required to have no less than a 3.0/4.0 cumulative GPA or the equivalent. Applicants are required to submit official transcripts, a valid GRE score, resume, personal statement and three (3) letters of recommendation. Additionally, international students must submit a valid TOEFL score. The program cannot determine admission eligibility in advance. All application materials must be received by the application deadlines and once the application file is complete, it is then forwarded to the Graduate Admissions Committee for evaluation and recommendation. The ASU Graduate College reviews all department recommendations and in almost all cases approves the recommendation. A formal letter is sent to the applicant by ASU Graduate College.

If you have further questions about our program, feel free to contact SEMTE at:
[email protected]
480-965-4979

Sincerely,

Dr. Peter A. Crozier
Professor and Graduate Program Chair for Materials Science and Engineering
School for Engineering of Matter, Transport & Energy
Arizona State University