About This Program

The Materials Science Ph.D. program offers advanced coursework and research opportunities in materials science, preparing you for a career in academia or industry. With experienced faculty and access to state-of-the-art facilities, you will be equipped with the skills needed to make an impact in the field. Read more...

Contact Information

• Elda Hegmann | MSGPdirector@kent.edu |
  330-672-1584

• Connect with an Admissions Counselor

Program Delivery

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

^{* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.}

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirments

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Goal statement
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Two letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:¹
  • Minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 50 PTE score
  • Minimum 100 DET score

GRE scores (general and subject test in physics or chemistry) are not required, but strongly recommended. Admission will be granted by examination of the student's background on an individual basis. Students from a variety of undergraduate majors—such as physics, chemistry, engineering and materials science—are invited to apply.

¹

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores may be considered for conditional admission.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Priority deadline: January 15

All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Major Requirements
MTSC 72242	CHARACTERIZATION OF SOFT MATTER	3
MTSC 73000	PHYSICS OF SOFT MATTER	3
MTSC 73015	CHEMISTRY OF SOFT MATTER	3
MTSC 73020	APPLICATIONS OF SOFT MATTER	3
Approved Electives, choose from the following:		18-48
BSCI 70158	MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
BSCI 70220	BIOINFORMATICS
CHEM 70254	BIOMEMBRANES
CHEM 70352	INORGANIC MATERIALS CHEMISTRY
CHEM 70451	ORGANIC MATERIALS CHEMISTRY
CHEM 70559	NANOMATERIALS
CHEM 70571	SURFACE CHEMISTRY
MTSC 72241	STATISTICAL MECHANICS OF SOFT MATTER
MTSC 72249	LABVIEW FOR DATA ACQUISITION AND INSTRUMENT CONTROL
MTSC 72335	ADVANCED LIQUID CRYSTALLINE AND POLYMERIC MATERIALS
MTSC 72450	LIQUID CRYSTAL OPTICS I: THEORY
MTSC 72452	LIQUID CRYSTAL OPTICS II: OPTICAL SYSTEMS
MTSC 72460	LIQUID CRYSTAL MATERIALS SCIENCE
MTSC 72462	LIQUID CRYSTAL SCIENCE: PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
MTSC 72640	LIQUID CRYSTAL, POLYMER AND COLLOID COMPOSITES
MTSC 72643	ELECTRO-OPTICS OF LIQUID CRYSTALS: MODELING AND DEVICE DESIGN
MTSC 72647	STRUCTURED FLUIDS
MTSC 72650	COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS SCIENCE
MTSC 72651	NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
MTSC 73010	LYOTROPIC LIQUID CRYSTALS
MTSC 73025	ACTIVE MATTER
MTSC 73100	EMERGING DISPLAY TECHNOLOGIES
MTSC 74491	SEMINAR: LIQUID CRYSTALS
MTSC 74495	SPECIAL TOPICS IN CHEMICAL PHYSICS
MTSC 75006	LIQUID CRYSTAL DEVICE PROTOTYPING
MTSC 75008	LIQUID CRYSTAL DEVICE CONSTRUCTION
MTSC 75032	SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION
MTSC 80498	RESEARCH
PHY 76403	ADVANCED CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
PHY 78401	LIQUID CRYSTAL PHYSICS
Additional courses with advisor approval
Culminating Requirement
MTSC 80199	DISSERTATION I 1	30
Minimum Total Credit Hours for Post-Baccalaureate Students		90
Minimum Total Credit Hours for Post-Master's Students		60

¹

Each doctoral candidate, upon admission to candidacy, must register for MTSC 80199 for a total of 30 credit hours. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for MTSC 80199, and thereafter MTSC 80299, each semester, until all requirements for the degree have been met. A prospectus of the dissertation research project is required for all Ph.D. candidates. The prospectus is prepared jointly with the student’s dissertation advisor. The prospectus must be approved by the members of the student’s dissertation committee. A dissertation presenting and interpreting results of original research is required for the Ph.D. degree. Following acceptance of the dissertation by the dissertation committee, the final degree requirement is the satisfactory completion of the final oral exam (defense of dissertation) in front of a committee of graduate materials science faculty and representatives from other departments in the College of Sciences and Humanities.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements Summary

Minimum Major GPA	Minimum Overall GPA
-	3.000

Candidacy Requirement

In addition to satisfying the course work, students must pass the materials science candidacy examination. The examination is divided into two parts, a written exam and an oral exam.

The written exam is scheduled first, followed by the oral exam. The exams will cover the core courses of the materials science program taken during the first year. Students who do not pass the candidacy exam the first time may take it a second time. The first attempt at candidacy usually will take place in August, during the week before the start of the fall semester of the student's second year of study. The second attempt usually will take place in January, during the week before the start of the spring semester of the student’s second year of study. A request for exception will be considered for medical reasons or for other unpredictable circumstances. Requests must be submitted in writing with supporting documentation prior to the test date and must be approved by the candidacy exam committee and by the director of the materials science program.

Students who fail the second attempt cannot continue towards the doctoral degree, but may complete the requirements for the Master of Science degree.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Develop an advanced understanding of the fundamental science of liquid crystals and related advanced materials and ability to apply acquired knowledge of physical and chemical properties of soft materials and devices such as liquid crystals, polymers, colloids and active matter.
2. Gain experience in presenting scientific data in research publications, articles, posters and oral presentations.
3. Apply acquired knowledge to the discovery of new advanced materials and development of advanced materials-based devices and applications.

Full Description

The Ph.D. degree in Materials Science provides students with extensive scientific training, cutting-edge research opportunities and engineering skills necessary for a variety of careers in academy and industry. Program faculty and students conduct research through Kent State's participating departments and the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute. Such research includes liquid crystal synthesis and molecular design; properties of liquid crystals and related advanced materials; lyotropic liquid crystals and bio-related materials, opto-electronics; and nanoscience and nanotechnologies. These important research foci are inherently interdisciplinary.