North Dakota State University - Graduate School
MS in Coatings & Polymeric Materials
Fargo, USA
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* April 15 is the priority deadline for fall consideration. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Key Summary
About: NDSU's Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials offers an M.S. in polymers and coatings science. Research links basic and applied work with cross-disciplinary projects in chemistry and engineering. Training covers colloidal and interfacial chemistry, polymer synthesis, adhesion, rheology and nanomaterials, with computational modeling and life cycle assessment. Faculty meet new students each fall; students must team with a research adviser by semester's end. An industrial advisory board guides program direction and industry relevance. Keywords: coatings, polymer science.
Career Outcomes: Graduates often work as R&D scientists, coatings engineers, polymer chemists, formulation scientists, materials analysts or corrosion specialists in industry, government.
The Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials offers graduate studies leading to the M.S. in polymers and coatings science. The departmental research bridges between basic and applied research in the field of polymers and coatings. There is a unique atmosphere and opportunities for cross-disciplinary research experience, often accomplished by multi-disciplinary research activities with, for example, chemistry or engineering departments. Advanced research work involves specialized training in the following areas:
- colloidal and interfacial chemistry of polymers and coatings
- polymer synthesis
- adhesion
- durability
- spectroscopy
- corrosion
- electrochemistry
- nanomaterials design and synthesis
- computational modeling
- life cycle assessment
- rheology.
The department has an industrial advisory board consisting of leading industrial scientists and/or former graduates who provide new directions and other feedback to the program.
During the fall semester, the faculty meet with the new students to acquaint them with the research programs in the department. Because students are required to team with a research adviser by the end of the first semester in residence, they are required to discuss research opportunities with all faculty members.
Financial Assistance
The student must first be accepted in full or conditional status before he/she is eligible for an assistantship in the Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials. To be considered for an assistantship, the Graduate School application packet must be complete no later than April 15. International students must also submit a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score. General and subject GRE scores are highly encouraged if they are available to the student. Graduate students may be supported during both the academic year and summer months by either teaching or research assistantships.
The current monthly stipend is $1,750+ per month, for an annual stipend of $21,000+. University tuition may be waived for qualified TAs and RAs.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Science program requires the completion of 16 credits of letter-graded course work with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better. Each student must choose a thesis (research) adviser within three to six months of beginning graduate school. After two semesters, the student must also select a supervisory committee. This committee advises the student and administers oral examinations. Candidates for the M.S. program normally satisfy course requirements within one year of study.
Candidacy qualifying examinations are administered twice annually.
Accelerated M.S. Program
An accelerated M.S. degree program is available for students enrolled in a major at NDSU and the Coatings and Polymeric Materials minor program. This program will allow qualified students to complete a B.S. plus M.S. degree in as little as five years. Students should declare their intent to enroll in the accelerated M.S. program during their sophomore year. Contact the department for more information on the requirements for the program.
