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Master's Degrees
Master's degree programs in Materials Science and Engineering that match your career goals
Prepare for a career with a master's degree from Duke in Materials Science and Engineering.
Each master's degree program offers Duke's mix of multidisciplinary opportunities:
- Master of Science (MS) in Materials Science and Engineering—An advanced degree culminating in a research project
- Master of Engineering (MEng) in Materials Science and Engineering—An advanced engineering degree that includes business courses, technical training and an internship
- 4+1: Bachelor and Master's—Duke students can earn bachelor's and master's degrees in five years:
Compare Degree Programs
Duke master's degrees in Materials Science and Engineering
Master of Science (MS) | Master of Engineering (MEng) | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 1 1/2-2 years | 1 1/2-2 years |
| Credits | 30 | 30 |
| Features |
|
|
| Minimum Undergrad GPA | No minimum | No minimum |
| English Language Proficiency Testing | Duke accepts: • TOEFL• IELTS • Duolingo | |
Master of Science degree applicants: Please see details at graduate.duke.edu » | Master of Engineering degree applicants: Please see details at meng.duke.edu » | |
| Cost to Attend | Learn more » | |
| Application Deadlines | Duke Master of Engineering Deadlines » | |
| Contact Admissions | liana.igescu@duke.edu | pratt_masters@duke.edu |
| How to Apply | Apply to MS | Apply to MEng |
More Details
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Master of Science (MS)
- 30 credits
- Materials Science and Engineering seminars
- Research Project
Contact
Questions? Contact liana.igescu@duke.edu
Degree Requirements
In the 1st year, six courses must be selected from eight core courses (3 credits each, 18 credits total):
FALL:
CHEM 548: Fundamentals of Solid-State Materials
CHEM 544: Statistical Mechanics - OR - ECE 521: Quantum Mechanics
NEW: Materials Synthesis and ProcessingSPRING:
NEW: Fundamentals of Soft Matter
ME 511: Computational Materials Science
ECE/NANOSCI 511: Foundations of Nanoscale Science and Technology - OR -ECE 721/ME 711: Nanotechnology Materials Lab/Advanced Materials LabFor the first three semesters, the Materials Science and Engineering Graduate Seminar is required (1 credit each, 3 credits total).
In the 2nd year, three elective courses (3 credits each, 9 credits total) are required (a maximum of one elective course may be replaced with an independent study to receive course credit for the Research Project).
In addition to completing the 30 credits of course work, a Research Project is required beginning in the first year. The project exam occurs during the third or fourth semester.
Academic Integrity and Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training required by The Graduate School at Duke University must be completed in the first semester (6 hours).
Tuition
Master's students are required to enroll in and pay tuition for at least three semesters of full-time study. Rates are subject to change each year. Tuition typically increases by no more than 4 percent per academic year.
To learn more about MS program tuition, fees and other costs of attendance, please see the latest details on The Duke Graduate School's website.
Application Deadlines
To find the latest application deadline, please see the Duke Graduate School website »
Master of Engineering (MEng)
- 30 credits
- Coursework only; No thesis
- Core industry preparatory courses and technical electives in a concentrated area
- Internship
Contact
Questions? Contact Susan Brown at pratt_masters@duke.edu
Credit Requirements
Master of Engineering students complete 30 credits, comprised of key program elements as follows:
- Core industry preparatory courses (2 courses, 6 credits)
- Discipline-specific or interdisciplinary core courses (5-6 courses, 15 - 18 credits, varies by department)
- Technical electives in a concentrated area (2-3 courses, 6 - 9 credits, varies by department)
- Internship
Core Industry Preparatory Courses
The core industry preparatory courses provide you with the business skills you need to succeed in industry. Business savvy and technical expertise gained in the MEng program will help you understand and work effectively in a corporate climate. The core industry preparatory courses are:
- Business Fundamentals for Engineers – essentials of intellectual property, marketing, accounting/finance, and business strategies for technology companies
- Management of High Tech Industries – significant principles of strategic decision making in complex environments, project analysis, intricate investment analysis, and the role of the manager in expertise driven organizations
Read more: core industry prep courses
Discipline-Specific Courses
The Master of Engineering program in the discipline of materials engineering and science has a defined a set of requirements designed to give you in-depth technical knowledge. Our MSE master's program gives you flexibility in course selection within your engineering discipline.
Technical Electives
Technical elective options give you more opportunity to specialize in your area of interest, and really take advantage of Duke’s leading status in materials science and engineering. Specializations like these will distinguish you with potential employers. You will work with a faculty advisor to customize a curriculum that suits you. In some cases, an independent study sponsored by a faculty member may satisfy an elective requirement.
Internship/Project
We require all MEng students to engage in an internship or project to complete the program. The many options available to fulfill this requirement give you a chance to practice what you’re learning, ask questions and hone your skills in a supportive environment. Internships may be paid or unpaid, corporate or governmental. Projects may take the form of applied research positions, provided the learning objectives are met.
Once your project or internship is completed, you will prepare a written and/or oral project report. Individual programs/majors may have additional requirements or exceptions to fulfill the internship component of the program.
Read more: MEng Internship/Project
Tuition
Master's students are required to enroll in and pay tuition for at least three semesters of full-time study. Rates are subject to change each year. Tuition typically increases by no more than 4 percent per academic year.
To learn more about MEng program tuition, fees and other costs of attendance, please see the Master of Engineering (MEng) program website.
Application Deadlines
To see the latest Master of Engineering Program application deadlines, please go to meng.pratt.duke.edu »
Career Services
The Duke Career Center provides outstanding career support to its master's students. Our career services include:
- Academic job search strategy sessions
- Non-academic job search strategy sessions for industry and governmental positions
- Resume review and critiques
- Interview skills training for international students
Financial Aid
Limited financial aid is available to highly qualified candidates through academic scholarships with an emphasis on increasing diversity within the program.
Loans
Many master's students obtain educational loans, believing that a Duke master's degree provides an excellent return on their investment.
You may be eligible for federal financial aid offered by William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Programs. In order to be considered for federal financial aid, which includes federal work-study funding, you must complete the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is required for any need-based loan program along with federal work study.
To be eligible, a student must be a United States citizen or permanent resident. If you meet eligibility requirements, go to www.fafsa.ed.gov. Our school code is 002920.