Choosing Your Program

Graduate School Recruitment Office

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Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Research based, culminated with a dissertation and oral defense.

Master of Science (M.S.) Research based, culminated with a thesis and oral defense.

Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) Project based, culminated with a project summary and oral presentation.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) 5 years

Master of Science (M.S.) 2 years

Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) 1 year

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Academia, industry, government

Master of Science (M.S.) Industry, PhD, government

Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) Industry, MBA, PhD

Rates subject to change yearly. For updates, please visit: Financial Support. Students in all three programs pay a $43 activity fee per semester.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Fully funded through TA/GRA appointments, plus stipend and health insurance, unless a student holds an external fellowship (which may be eligible for top-off funding).

Master of Science (M.S.) Self-funded with opportunities to apply to external fellowships. Visit the Office of the Bursar website for Tuition Rates and Fees.

Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) Self-funded with opportunities to apply to College of Engineering fellowships or be offered department scholarships. Visit the Office of the Bursar website for Tuition Rates and Fees.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) PhD students are required to TA for at least one semester during their academic program. The Field notifies students as to when they will TA, generally in their second year.

Master of Science (M.S.) Paid assistantships (TA and GRA) are not guaranteed.

Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) Paid assistantships (TA and GRA) are not guaranteed.

View the Course Catalog for details about each course. Note: you may have to change the term on the top right of the Course Catalog screen.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

• MSE 5801 (first fall semester)
• MSE 5802 (first spring semester)
• Choose 3:
  • MSE 6010
  • MSE 6020
  • MSE 6030
  • MSE 6040
  • MSE 6050
  • MSE 6060
• MSE 8010 (each term)
• MSE 8000 (each term)
• MSE 8020 (each term)
• Take additional electives as requested by special committee based on a student's specific interests

Master of Science (M.S.) Minimum of 60 credits total:

• Four 5000+ level *technical courses
• MSE 8010 (each term)
• MSE 8000 (each term)
• MSE 8020 (each term)
• Take additional electives as requested by special committee based on a student's specific interests

*technical courses that fulfill MSE MS course requirements comprise of 5000+ level courses taught in the College of Engineering, and courses within the following department codes: AEP, PHYS, CHEM, BIOMG, VETBMS, VETCS, MATH, BTRY, STSCI, and CS.

Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) Minimum of 30 credits total:

• Details can be found on the M.Eng. degree requirements page

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

• Chairperson selection: first semester
• Qualifying Exam (Q Exam): May of the first year. This examination consists of oral exams in seven subjects: Materials Chemistry, Thermodynamics, Kinetics, Mechanical Properties, Electronic Properties, Structures, and Math. The intent is to access the qualification of first year PhD students in the field of Materials Science and Engineering.
• Minor Member Selection: Prior to the end of the third semester.
• Admission to Candidacy (A Exam): Prior to the start of the 7th semester. This oral examination takes place with a PhD student's full committee and one additional field appointed faculty representative. Students present their dissertation proposal.
• Oral Dissertation Defense (B Exam): Prior to the start of the 14th semester. This public oral examination takes place with a PhD student's full committee. This is the final presentation on a student's dissertation research.

Master of Science (M.S.)

• Chairperson selection: first semester
• Minor Member Selection: Prior to the end of the third semester.
• Oral Thesis Defense (M Exam): Prior to the start of the 8th semester (but generally prior to the end of the 4th semester). This public oral examination takes place with an MS student's full committee. This is the final presentation on a student's thesis research.

Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)

• Project selection: first three weeks of the first semester
• Poster session: public showcase of M.Eng. project work at an annual poster session
• Oral presentation: public oral presentation at the end of each semester

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Each PhD student selects one Chairperson and two minor members to fill their PhD research committee. The Chairperson serves as the research advisor throughout the PhD students' program.

Students meet with potential Chairpersons in the first 2 months of the PhD program. After a matching process, students identify a Chairperson before the end of their first semester.

Minor members must be selected by the end of the third semester.

More details: Selecting Your Special Committee

Master of Science (M.S.)

Each MS student selects one Chairperson and one minor member to fill their MS research committee. The Chairperson serves as the research advisor throughout the MS students' program.

Students meet with potential Chairpersons in the first 3 weeks of the MS program. After a matching process, students identify a Chairperson before the end of their first semester.

Minor members must be selected by the end of the second semester.

More details: Selecting Your Special Committee

Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)

Each MEng student is designated a program advisor; typically the Associate Director of the MSE M.Eng. program.

M.Eng. students are paired with a project and assigned a project advisor in addition to the program advisor; typically in the first three weeks of the first semester.

Please view our admissions details and application requirements here: https://www.mse.cornell.edu/mse/programs/graduate-programs/admissions-details-requirements

If you have questions about our graduate programs after reviewing the above information, please contact our admissions representative: mse-admissions@cornell.edu