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Materials Science - Ph.D.

Materials Science - Ph.D.

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'll be equipped with the skills needed to make an impact in the field.

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Ph.D. in Materials Science

Kent State University's Ph.D. in Materials Science provides advanced, interdisciplinary training in the study of the structure, properties, and applications of materials. The program emphasizes cutting-edge research in areas such as nanotechnology, biomaterials, polymers, and electronic materials, equipping students with the skills to tackle complex scientific challenges. Through a combination of theoretical coursework and hands-on laboratory experience, students develop expertise in the design and development of innovative materials with practical applications across industries. Graduates are prepared for careers in academia, research institutions, and advanced roles in industries such as energy, healthcare, and manufacturing, driving technological advancements and contributing to the future of materials science.

Program Information for Materials Science - Ph.D.

Program Description

Program Description

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.

Admissions for Materials Science - Ph.D.

Admissions

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

Admission Requirements

  • 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
      Applications submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

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.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
MTSC 72242CHARACTERIZATION OF SOFT MATTER 3
MTSC 73000PHYSICS OF SOFT MATTER 3
MTSC 73015CHEMISTRY OF SOFT MATTER 3
MTSC 73020APPLICATIONS OF SOFT MATTER 3
Approved Electives, choose from the following: 18-48
BSCI 70158
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
BSCI 70220
BIOINFORMATICS
BSCI 71120
BIOLOGICAL LIGHT MICROSCOPY
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 80199DISSERTATION I 130
Minimum Total Credit Hours for Post-Baccalaureate Students90
Minimum Total Credit Hours for Post-Master's Students60
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 Dissertation I, 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 Arts and Sciences.

Graduation Requirements
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 Delivery

Program Delivery

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

Admission Timeline for Fall Admission
  • Applications begin to be accepted in August.
  • Application deadline is January 15th.  We will continue to accept applications past the deadline, they simply have a decreasing chance, the later they arrive, for consideration for admission.
  • Applications reviewed at the end of January. Applications must be complete at time of review for admission consideration.
  • Top applicants interviewed February-March.
  • Begin to send offers mid February.
  • Our application process remains formally open until our entire class is full.
  • Rejection notices are not usually sent until June. 
Graduate Assistantships

Admissions into our PhD program is competitive; thus we do not offer "conditional" admission. These programs are full-time so graduate assistantships are awarded to all admitted PhD students in the form of teaching or research assistantships. Applicants do NOT need to apply separately for an assistantship.  Our MS program is a self-supporting program, that does not come with an assistantship. 

Teaching/research assistantships include:

  • A full tuition waiver
  • Annual stipend
  • Partial health insurance

Additional financial support includes:

  • Travel money to conferences
  • Graduate Student Senate research awards
  • Opportunities to apply for additional graduate student awards/endowments/fellowships
Other Resources

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Materials Science - Ph.D.

Graduates of Kent State University’s Ph.D. in Materials Science are prepared for a diverse range of careers in research, academia, and industry. They can pursue positions as materials scientists, research and development engineers, and faculty members at universities. In industry, graduates often work in sectors such as aerospace, electronics, nanotechnology, and renewable energy, where they are involved in developing and testing new materials and improving existing products. Additionally, they may find opportunities in government research labs, consulting firms, and manufacturing companies, where their expertise contributes to innovative solutions and advancements in materials technology.

Computer and information research scientists

15.4%

much faster than the average

32,700

number of jobs

$126,830

potential earnings

Physical scientists, all other

-3.0%

decline

22,800

number of jobs

$107,210

potential earnings

Physicists

7.3%

faster than the average

18,200

number of jobs

$129,850

potential earnings

Biochemists and biophysicists

4.0%

about as fast as the average

34,600

number of jobs

$94,270

potential earnings

Biological scientists, all other

2.2%

slower than the average

44,700

number of jobs

$85,290

potential earnings

Chemists

4.7%

about as fast as the average

86,700

number of jobs

$79,300

potential earnings

Chemical engineers

4.4%

about as fast as the average

32,600

number of jobs

$108,540

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* 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.

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