OVERVIEW
OBJECTIVES
LEARNING OUTCOMES
STRUCTURE & REQUIREMENTS
Study Plan
OVERVIEW
The faculty of the Department of Mechanical Engineering hosts a study program in Material Science and Engineering (MSE) that builds around the interest and expertise of a team of faculty for materials science that involves the investigation of the relationships that exists between material structures and properties and materials engineering, which is, on the basis of these structure–property correlations, designing or engineering the structure of a material to produce a predetermined set of properties. The recognition of materials science and engineering as a stand-alone discipline builds around the important of such expertise for the realization of the Abu Dhabi 2020 vision and several of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
The degree of Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering (MSc in MSEN) is awarded for successfully completing the requirements of a program of study, which includes taught courses as well as thesis. The thesis is an independent investigation of specialized areas within the general field of materials science and engineering and associated disciplines. The MSc degree gives candidates the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in the broad field of MSEN and contribute to the process of discovery and knowledge creation through the conduct of original research.
Candidates for this degree are taught and supervised by experienced faculty and are expected to demonstrate initiative in their approach and innovation in their work. In addition to successfully completing the taught course component of the program, candidates prepare and present a thesis on their chosen area. Research may be undertaken in several topics corresponding to the areas of focus identified by the University.
Career Opportunities
The MSc in Materials Science and Engineering at KU is a transdisciplinary program that provides graduates with a unique niche in a bustling and rapidly emerging area of science and engineering. It nurtures a highly supportive interdisciplinary atmosphere whereby the student can work collaboratively with mechanical and chemical engineers as well as science and medical programs. It attracts students with backgrounds in Materials, Mechanical, and Chemical engineering, as well as Metallurgy, as well as Physics and Chemistry.
Our graduate students are relentlessly contributing to the high-tech petro-chemical, construction, metal and aluminum as well as the renewable energy and shipping industries. Graduates include successful researchers, project managers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and industrial leaders. Careers opportunities for students with a graduate degree in Materials Science and Engineering are endless, covering material synthesis & characterization and materials for sustainable energy, clean water, photovoltaics, optical, catalysis, metallurgy, graphene, carbon nanotubes, composites and polymers.
Our MSc graduate students can be employed in the UAE Armed forces and the defense sector of the economy, Emirates Global Aluminum, ADNOC, AAMROC, STRATA, ALYAH SATELLITE, MBRSC, ADNOC, Mubadala Petroleum, Dolphine Energy, and Universities (KU, UAE, NYAD). Furthermore, graduates go through rigorous training and research experience to help them pursue their studies at PhD level.
OBJECTIVES
The educational goals (objectives) of the MSc in MSEN program are to produce graduates who will:
- Identify and address current and future needs in various aspects of materials and devices (both active and passive) for all sorts of applications towards a sustainable and improved human well-being.
- Apply a multi-disciplinary approach to conceive, plan, design, and implement innovations and solutions to problems and challenges that involve materials and their properties and applications.
- Determine the potential impact of materials-based technologies and innovations on the social, economic, environmental aspects.
- Promote science-based engineering, technical scholarship, service to society, leadership, best practice, and life-long learning.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students graduating with the MSc in MSEN will be able to:
- Apply advanced concepts of fundamental sciences and engineering to identify, formulate and solve complex materials and devices problems.
- Design and develop materials, devices, systems, and processes to meet desired needs of society professionally and ethically.
- Design and conduct experiments in the area of materials and/or devices and to analyze and interpret data.
- Be continuously aware of contemporary issues and research opportunities/challenges in the field of materials engineering as related to energy and sustainability and engage in life-long learning in the field and in the fundamentals of other related disciplines.
- Deploy advanced materials characterization techniques, skills, and modern scientific and engineering tools.
- Communicate effectively in written and oral form, both, individually and as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
In addition to the above, students choosing the concentration in Space Systems and Technology are also expected to attain the following concentration-specific outcomes:
- Demonstrate proficiency in the aspects of space systems design and analysis.
- Design and build a small-satellite as a part of a multi-disciplinary team.
STRUCTURE & REQUIREMENTS
Overall Program Structure
The MSc MSEN consists of a minimum 30 credit hours, distributed as follows: 12 credit hours of Program Core courses, 9 credit hours of Elective courses, 9 credit hours of Master’s Thesis and a zero credit Research Methods course. The components of the program are summarized in the table below.
|
Program Component
|
Credits Hours
|
|
Seminar in Research Methods
|
0
|
|
Program Core
|
12
|
|
Program Electives
|
9
|
|
Master’s Thesis
|
9
|
|
Total
|
30
|
Program Requirements
Students seeking the degree of MSc in Materials Science and Engineering must successfully complete a minimum 30 credit hours as specified in the program requirements detailed below, with a minimum CGPA of 3.0. Course selection should be made in consultation with the student’s Main Advisor. All courses have a credit rating of three credits each, except the Seminar in Research Methods and the Master’s Thesis.
Program Core (12 Credit Hours)
Students must complete the core courses listed below.
CORE COURSES
|
Seminar in Research Methods |
0 |
|
Advanced Engineering Mathematics |
3 |
|
Thermodynamics of Materials |
3 |
|
Kinetics of Materials |
3 |
|
Electrical, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Crystalline Materials |
3 |
Program Electives and Concentrations (9 credit hours)
Students must select three courses from the list below. Subject to approval of the Main Advisor, students can select up to two elective courses (6 credit hours) from other MSc programs in the College of Engineering at KU.
Program Elective Courses
|
Structure and Properties of Polymers |
3 |
|
Materials Processing and Manufacturing Technologies |
3 |
|
Photovoltaic Technologies: Materials, Devices and Systems |
3 |
|
Physics for Solid-State Application |
3 |
|
Crystallography and Diffraction |
3 |
|
Mechanical Properties of Materials |
3 |
|
Electrical, Optical and Magnetic Properties of Amorphous Materials |
3 |
|
Thermal Properties of Materials |
3 |
|
Selected Topics in Material Science and Engineering |
3 |
Concentration in Space Systems and Technology
The program offers an optional concentration in Space Systems and Technology. Students choosing this concentration are expected to attain the following concentration specific learning outcomes:
1. Demonstrate proficiency in space systems analysis and design.
2. Acquire skills in advanced satellite development, assembly, integration and testing.
In addition to program specific core courses, students who opt for the concentration in Space Systems and Technology must complete a minimum of three courses (9 credit hours) from the list below and a thesis within the domain of the concentration. The concentration will be specified on the student’s official transcript. (, , and : Indicates required courses for the concentration).
Concentration Courses
|
Space Systems Engineering |
3 |
|
Space Systems Design Project I |
1 |
|
Space Systems Design Project II |
2 |
|
Space Propulsion |
3 |
|
Astrodynamics and Mission Analysis |
3 |
Master’s Thesis (minimum 9 credit hours)
Students must complete a Master’s Thesis that involves creative, research-oriented work within the broad field of MSEN, under the direct supervision of a full-time faculty advisor from the Mechanical Engineering Department, and at least one other full-time faculty who acts as a co-advisor. The outcome of research should demonstrate the synthesis of information into knowledge in a form that may be used by others. The research findings must be documented in a formal thesis and defended successfully in a viva voce examination. Furthermore, the research should lead to publishable quality scholarly articles.
Thesis
Study Plan
Students must consult with their respective advisors on the courses that they will enroll in, the required pre-requisites, and the thesis topic selection. Full-time graduate students must register for 9 to 12 credits, including thesis credits, during a regular semester (Fall and Spring) and a maximum of 6 credits during a Summer term. In the case of part-time students, the credit load is normally 6 credits during a regular semester as well as the summer term.
Students can only register for thesis credits after successfully completing a minimum of 9 credits of the core courses of the master’s program they are enrolled in. It is to be noted that the minimum pass grade for graduate courses is a “C” letter grade. Students should consult the Graduate Catalog to learn about the graduate programs, the grading system, graduation requirements, and other pertinent matters.
