Entrance Exam

Entrance Exam

All students in the Materials Science & Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate Program must pass the MSE Entrance Exam with an 80% or better within the first year of enrollment. The exam is designed to help ensure all MSE graduate students have an appropriate level of knowledge specific to materials science & engineering. Each student will receive more information about the exam prior to the first semester of enrollment.

Students who are coming from a materials science & engineering background are likely ready to take the exam upon starting the program. Students with other backgrounds are encouraged to take MSE 602 in the first fall semester of the program. All students should discuss the test options with their advisor, the Academic Programs Manager (APM), and/or the Graduate Program Director prior to enrolling.

Exam Options:

• Week Before Fall Classes

• MSE 602 Final Exam (Fall semester only)

• Week after exams, Spring semester

Exam Content

The entrance exam covers content extracted from Materials Science & Engineering: An Introduction (version agnostic) by Callister & Rethwisch. All needed formula sheets and a periodic table are provided. Calculators are permitted. To prepare for the exam, ensure you have a good understanding of the topics in the chapters listed below.

• Chapter 2: Atomic Structure & Bonding

• Chapter 3: The Structure of Crystalline Solids

• Chapter 4: Imperfections in Solids

• Chapter 5: Diffusion

• Chapter 6: Mechanical Properties of Metals

• Chapter 7: Dislocations and Strengthening Mechanisms

• Chapter 8: Failure

• Chapter 9: Phase Diagrams

• Chapter 10: Phase Transformations in Metals

• Chapter 18: Electrical Properties