MATSC-ENG - Materials Science and Engineering (ENG)

Refer to University policy on Graduate Residency Transfer Credit

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering is committed to providing academic advising in support of graduate student scholarly and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by the advisor and the advisee. As a best practice, advising expectations should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the advisor and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

See Graduate Advising for a statement of university policy on graduate advising. 

At the start of graduate study, each student is assigned a program advisor that is a member of department faculty. Faculty advisors guide students in critical areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, developing teaching pedagogy, navigating policies and degree requirements, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways. Usually, the same faculty member serves as a program advisor for the duration of the Engineer's study, but the MSE Graduate Handbook does describe a process for formal advisor changes. Ideally, the program advisor and student meet at least twice a year during the student’s degree. The first meeting between the program advisor and student should occur once in autumn quarter of the first year to discuss the student’s goals and objectives. The last meeting should be at the start of the quarter before the student’s final quarter of study, and the program advisor and student review the student’s coursework and the final quarter of study courses the student intends to take. It is expected that the student initiates these meetings.

The MSE Student Services team plays an essential role in student advising. They inform students and advisors about university and department requirements, procedures, and opportunities and maintain the official records of advising assignments and approvals.

In addition, the faculty Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) meets all the Master’s and Engineer students during the MSE Orientation at the start of the first year and is available during the academic year by email and/or appointment. The DGS or program advisor may initiate a meeting with any student they feel could be in academic distress.

Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program. As such, the department expects students to read the MSE Graduate Handbook and other communications that provide deadlines, web links, and other valuable information on graduate degree progress.