Master's Degrees

Degree programs in Materials Science and Engineering that match your career goals

Materials science and engineering are about designing a better world. Advance your career with a master's degree from Duke in Materials Science and Engineering. Each program can be completed in about 18 months to two years.

Master of Science (MS)

An advanced degree culminating in a research project, managed by Duke UPMSE. It features multidisciplinary core courses and access to specialized Engineering Graduate seminars. Discover more below on this webpage »

Master of Engineering (MEng)

An advanced degree, managed by Duke's Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science. It features customizable focus options and specializations in AI in materials, biomaterials and energy materials.  Discover more at mems.duke.edu/masters/degrees/meng »

For Duke Engineering Students

These degrees are also eligible for Duke's 4+1: Bachelor and Master's option—Earn a bachelor's and master's degrees in five years. Find out more:

• 4+1:Master of Science »
• 4+1:Master of Engineering »

Master of Science (MS) Degree Program Details

An advanced degree culminating in a research project, managed by Duke UPMSE. It features specialized core courses and access to specialized Engineering Graduate seminars.

Contact

Questions? Contact liana.igescu@duke.edu

Degree Requirements

1. In the first year, six courses must be selected from eight core courses:
   FALL:
   CHEM 548: Fundamentals of Solid-State Materials
   CHEM 544: Statistical Mechanics - OR - ECE 521: Quantum Mechanics
   ME 562: Materials Synthesis and Processing
   
   SPRING:
   ME 563: 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 Lab
2. For the first three semesters, the Materials Science and Engineering Graduate Seminar is required.
3. In the second year, three elective courses are required (a maximum of one elective course may be replaced with an independent study to receive course credit for the Research Project).
4. In addition to completing coursework, a Research Project is required beginning in the first year. The project exam occurs during the third or fourth semester.
5. Academic Integrity and Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training required by The Graduate School at Duke University must be completed in the first semester.

Cost

To learn more about tuition, fees, and other costs of attendance, please see the Duke Graduate School's website »

Application Deadlines

To find the latest application deadline, please see the Duke Graduate School website »

How to Apply

Complete an application through Duke's Graduate School. Go to application instructions »