Graduate Students - Materials Science & Engineering @ Drexel University

The graduate program has two major aims:

Provide an education which encompasses both the breadth and depth of the most recent knowledge base in the Materials Engineering field in a format suitable for individuals seeking careers in education and/or industry.
Provide students with research training through thesis research at the MS and PhD levels.

In order to assist you in this process, please read the following documents.

Ph.D. Timeline

Starting a graduate program can be intimidating, especially if you're not familiar with the applicable university guidelines. Below are the significant milestones that must be adhered to by all Ph.D. degree candidates. The complete listing of these forms can be found on Drexel's Graduate Studies Ph.D Forms page.

By the end of your first term...

Read the University Requirements of the Ph.D. program
Complete your Plan of Study (D-1), have it signed by your grad advisor, and submit to the Graduate Studies Office

By the end of your second term...

Complete and submit Supervising Professor Appointment Form (D-2)

By the end of your third term...

(4 Weeks Prior to Grad Candidacy Exam) Ph.D. Candidacy Committee Appointment & Exam Schedule (D-3) must be completed and filed with the Office of Graduate Studies
Complete your Graduate Candidacy Exam
The Exam is designed to improve and assess the communication skills and the analytical abilities of the student. The seminar period should be 45 minutes presentation, followed by 1 hour of questions. Questions should be designed to evaluate the depth and breadth of the student’s knowledge about the subject matter. After the seminar session, the committee should fill out the Candidacy Examination Forms (Form D-4 and Form D4-A) and give its recommendation to the student in private. There are three possible outcomes of the exam: Pass (entry into PhD program), Marginal (entry into MS program), and Fail (not accepted into graduate studies program).

By the end of your second year...

(4 Weeks Prior to Grad Proposal) Grad Seminar Registration Form must be completed and returned to Dr. Caroline Schauer.
You must complete your Gradate Proposal, and have the Grad Seminar Evaluation Form completed by the members of your committee.

6 Months Prior to Defense...

Make sure your thesis meets the requirements set forth in the University Thesis Manual
You must give your pre-defense
Complete and return Thesis Advisory Committee Appointment Request Form (D-5)

4 Weeks Prior to Defense

Complete and return Final Oral Defense Committee Appointment and Schedule (D-6)

Post-Defense

Just three more forms and you're done!

(Within 48 hours ater completion of the final oral exam) The Report of the Final Oral Defense Committee (D-7) must be filed with the Office of Graduate Studies
The Thesis Approval Form should be printed on 100% cotton paper, completed, and submitted to be bound with your thesis
The Completion Form finalizes the process of completing all requirements for the doctoral degree. The supervising professor and graduate adviser must sign this form along with the Library and Office of Graduate Studies. It is the final form to be submitted for degree completion and students are not officially finished their degree until is has been filed.

Graduate Studies