Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization (Ph.D.)
Ph.D. Materials Science, Engineering,& Commercialization
Program Overview
With a focus on applied research, industrial outreach and entrepreneurial training, Texas State is uniquely positioned in the region to offer this combination of skills, providing education with relevance with the Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization (MSEC) degree. Students gain valuable experience that prepares them for real-world success.
Course Work
The 55-credit-hour doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) program promotes the translation of innovations from the lab to commercial production and provides the skills to organize and lead interdisciplinary research teams. In addition to providing a strong science and engineering background, the curriculum imparts the business and commercialization skills necessary for effective leadership in the advancement of global discovery and innovation.
Students augment their science and engineering studies with commercialization activities such as technology internships, interdisciplinary boot camps, entrepreneurial course work and forums. With a small amount of additional course work, students can also obtain a master’s in business administration while working on their doctorate.
| Degree | Course Work | Dissertation | Total Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
Degree Ph.D. | Course Work 37 hours | Dissertation 18 hours | Total Hours 55 hours |
Program Details
Current MSEC students are recognized with scholarships and fellowships and in research and entrepreneurial competitions. Graduates have been very successful in pursuing industrial positions and building their own companies.
Program Mission
The Ph.D. in Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization program at Texas State is an integrated effort leveraging opportunities in the university’s biology, chemistry and biochemistry, physics, engineering, engineering technology, and business school programs.
The MSEC program's goal is to train graduate scientists and engineers to perform interdisciplinary research while equipping them to emerge as effective entrepreneurial leaders in the advancement of 21st-century global discovery and innovation.
MSEC Ph.D. students conduct research in
state-of-the-art facilities with exceptionally qualified faculty. Their research attracts significant external funding and is producing innovative commercial endeavors in civilian, defense and security applications.
Career Options
While some MSEC graduates have continued to post-doctoral fellowships and have found faculty positions in academia, most graduates obtain private sector science and technology positions. Several have started their own businesses based on technology they developed while studying at Texas State.
Program Faculty
Students in the MSEC program study with nationally funded and internationally known researchers utilizing unique state-of-the-art facilities. Many faculty members have industrial and commercialization experience, including management roles at large or small technology companies or defense laboratories. Students will learn from those who have been successful at technical innovation - practitioners of the art of technology development and commercialization.
Contact The Graduate College for general questions about getting started with your application, funding your degree, and more. If you have program-specific questions after reviewing the program details, we encourage you to contact the following individuals.
Doctoral Program Director
Dr. Sean Kerwin
msec@txstate.edu
512.245.1839
Roy F. Mitte (RFM), Room 3205
Advisor Support
Kelsie Crumpton
msec@txstate.edu
512.245.1839
Roy F. Mitte (RFM), Room 3205
Apply Now Already know that Texas State is right for you?
Application Deadlines
| Deadlines | U.S. Citizen | International |
|---|---|---|
Deadlines Fall - Priority | U.S. Citizen February 1 | International February 1 |
Deadlines Fall - Standard | U.S. Citizen June 15 | International June 1 |
This program's deadline is firm. This type of deadline means the application and other application requirements must be submitted by the program's specified deadline day.
| Funding Information Applications must be complete by the priority deadline to be considered for certain types of funding. |
| Decision Timeline This program reviews applications on a firm basis. |
Admission Requirements
The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international web pages.
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Application
- Completed online application
Review important information about the online application.
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Application Fee
- $55 nonrefundable application fee
OR - $90 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
Review important information about application fees.
- $55 nonrefundable application fee
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Transcripts & GPA
- baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor’s degree. In most cases, three-year degrees are not considered. Visit our International FAQs for more information.)
- master's degree in biology, chemistry, engineering, materials science, physics, technology, or a closely related field from a regionally accredited university (Non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a U.S. Master’s degree. Master’s degrees following a three-year Bachelor’s degrees may not be equivalent; please contact gradcollege@txstate.edu if you are unsure.)
- a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
- Fall 2024 admissions: minimum 3.3 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in all completed graduate course work.
You will be required to take leveling courses if you lack sufficient background course work. Any required leveling course work must be completed with grades of B or better prior to admission.
Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.
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Test Scores
GRE
- GRE scores are not required for applicants with a minimum 3.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in all completed graduate course work.
- GRE scores (general test only) required for applicants with GPA less than 3.5 on all completed graduate course work.
Degree and GRE Requirement
If the GPA of all completed graduate coursework is between 3.3 and 3.5, the student must submit the following:
- official GRE (general test only) with competitive scores in the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections
Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores
Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.
- official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
- official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
- official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and
- minimum individual module scores of 6.0
- official Duolingo Scores required with a 110 overall
- official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall
This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.
Review important information about official test scores.
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Documents & Other Requirements
- interviews (conducted via phone, internet, or face-to-face) with core doctoral faculty
- resume/CV
- statement of purpose outlining your personal history and life goals that are relevant to obtaining a doctoral degree, and, in particular, why you want to pursue the commercialization aspect of the MSEC program
- three letters of recommendation evaluating your skill and potential to be successful in the MSEC Ph.D. program
Review important information about documents.