Doctoral Program

The Ph.D. Program is designed to prepare students for a career in research and/or teaching in their area of specialization. 

A total of 48 units of coursework (12 courses) are expected to be completed by the end of the
second academic year in the program along with MATS Academy I and II and MATS 200
seminars. The exams listed below and their recommended time of completion correspond with the doctoral time limits (https://grad.ucsd.edu/academics/progress-to-degree/time-to-doctorate-policy.html) set by UC San Diego. The following policies apply:

1. All coursework selected to complete degree requirements must be graduate level (i.e., 200+).
2. Checklists from the MATS Graduate Curriculum page should be used to plan coursework and to make sure Students are meeting Degree requirements. MATS course details can be found in the UCSD Catalog.
3. Students should discuss their program electives and receive approval from their faculty
advisor/PI.
4. Courses must be taken for a letter grade. P/NP or S/U grades will not be accepted, except for
MATS 200 and MATS 299.
5. Students must maintain at least a B average (3.00 GPA) in the program for good academic
standing (required to graduate).

Meet all University requirements
​​​​​

 

  • The MATS Comprehensive Exam consists of ten questions, two from each of the five core courses (determined by a Student's choice of 'Thrust Area', see the Graduate Curriculum page).
     
  • The exam will not exceed six hours in duration and will be administered in the Spring quarter.
     
  • PhD students must obtain a passing grade of 70% or higher in each section of the exam.
     
  • This exam may only be retaken once before the end of the second year of study.

 

 

  • ​​​​The Senate Exam is an oral examination of the student's research proposal. The student must create a committee of faculty members associated with the Program in Materials Science and Engineering.
     
  • Please review committee details and resources from Graduate Division for committee compilation information. You must confirm and obtain approval of your committee from your Faculty Advisor/PI. You must contact and obtain the approval of each committee member serving on your committee.
     
  • The student must notify the MATS graduate coordinator of their intent to hold the Senate Exam four weeks prior to the exam through the MATS Exam Form.
     
  • Some PI/Faculty Advisors request a written proposal of the research topic (Word document) or the presentation slides (PowerPoint) at least one week prior to the exam. Please check in with your PI/Faculty Advisor to determine if they would like such documentation.
     
  • This exam is typically taken at the end of the third year of study, but no later than the end of the fourth year.

 

  • The Dissertation Defense is the final Ph.D. examination.
     
  • Upon completion of the dissertation research project, the student writes a dissertation that must be defended in an oral examination and public presentation conducted by the doctoral committee.
     
  • Complete and defend a dissertation which, in the opinion of the dissertation committee, contains original work that should lead to publication of at least one significant article in an appropriate referred journal.
     
  • The student must notify the graduate coordinator of the exam approximately four weeks prior to the exam through the MATS Exam Form.
     
  • Please plan to send your dissertation to your committee at least four weeks prior to your defense. You must confirm and obtain approval of your committee from your Faculty Advisor/PI. You must contact and obtain the approval of each committee member serving on your committee.
     
  • Licensure and Certification Disclosures

MATS PhD Program Requirements Checklist (Students will use this checklist to plan their Doctoral program coursework and to make sure they are meeting Degree requirements) ← Pre Fall 2024 Checklist

  • Complete Required M.S. Courses

    • Students must complete four Mandatory Core Courses and at least two of the ten Elective Core Courses:

      • Mandatory Core Courses: MATS 201A, MATS 201B, MATS 201C, MATS 227

      • Elective Core Courses (Select at least two): MATS 205A, MATS 213A, MATS 231, MATS 236, MATS 251A, MATS 251B, MATS 252, MATS 253, MATS 254, MATS 255, MATS 256, MATS 257, MATS 261A, MATS 261B, MATS 269, PHYS 152A. See Courses for detailed course information.

    • Enroll in MATS 200 for six quarters. See the MATS Events & Seminars page for requirements/details.

    • Complete three advanced graduate courses (in addition to those required for the M.S.) that have been approved by the student's advisor.

    • Courses must be 4 units each (12 units total), in an engineering-related field, for a letter grade.


MATS Faculty Advisory Policy

  • PhD students switching laboratory groups should inform their current Faculty Advisor/PI and MATS advising Staff (mats-advising@ucsd.edu) These Students will have one quarter to obtain a new Faculty Advisor/PI.

  • The inability to secure a Faculty Advisor/PI may be grounds for dismissal from the PhD Program.

  • MATS students must maintain a Faculty Advisor/PI throughout the PhD Program.

 

Students who transfer with some graduate credit or an M.S. from another institution will have their records reviewed by a faculty advisor, and an appropriate individual course of study may be approved. To have your records reviewed, please complete the MATS Course Waiver Request Form, and review Graduate Division policies.