MSE offers graduate work leading to the degrees of Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering, Master of Science in Paper Science and Engineering, and Master of Science with a major in materials engineering. The student admitted for graduate work will normally have completed an undergraduate program in materials, ceramics, metallurgy, or polymers. However, students with undergraduate degrees or backgrounds in other fields (e.g., physics, chemistry, geology, and chemical, mechanical, nuclear, or geological engineering) may qualify by taking certain minimum prerequisites during the early part of their graduate studies. To assure a smooth transition into the graduate program, the student should select appropriate electives during his or her undergraduate studies.

Students in the M.S. program must complete a core of graduate materials courses and prepare an individualized program of study for this degree in consultation with their graduate advisors. The proposed program must receive the approval of the graduate coordinator and the School chair. Thesis, nonthesis, and industrial internship options are available. The minimum credit hour requirements for the M.S. degree include nineteen credit hours of courses and a minimum of eleven credit hours of thesis research, or thirty-one credit hours of courses, or twenty-five hours of courses and six hours of project work conducted as part of an industrial internship. A total of twelve course hours must be in the major, and twelve course hours must be at the 6000 level or higher. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation.