Graduate Programs

Welcome Letter from Graduate Programs Director:

Thank you for your interest in graduate studies in the School of Materials at Arizona State University. We have a large and vibrant graduate program, which we hope you will find interesting.

Our program is one of the largest in the US, with an enrollment of 140 graduate students. The program features a flexible structure that encourages students to explore topics at the boundaries between traditional disciplines. Students can explore their interests by choosing mentors from a diverse group of approximately 20 faculty in the School of Materials and more than 30 affiliate faculty in the departments of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and many branches of Engineering.

We have many research thrusts in the School of Materials, spanning a wide range of cutting-edge and cross-disciplinary topics from nanostructures, to energy to sustainability. Highlights can be seen on our research page. Indeed, this is probably the most important link for you to explore as you look over our program. Feel free to contact any of the faculty directly by email, to inquire about their research.

A graduate degree from the School of Materials offers students a wide range of outstanding job opportunities in local, national or global regions. Indeed, the Phoenix metropolitan area is home to many well-established high-tech industries, including Motorola (Freescale), Intel, Honeywell and Boeing. In addition, innovative new companies are springing up, often originating from entrepreneurial efforts across the university. The Fulton Entrepreneurial Office (http://www.asu.edu/ui/entrepreneurship/) is specifically intended to engage students in entrepreneurship, both in the classroom and beyond. Out Barrett Honors College is arguably the best in the country, and hosts outstanding undergraduates who are fully engaged in research activities.

A strong alumni network helps our students find internships or full employment, both locally and nationally. A number of students in our MSE program are working in local companies and their presence in classes and seminars provides a great networking system and serves to build industry-university interactions.

Arizona State University is presently the largest state university in the US, with over 65,000 students on 4 campuses distributed across the Phoenix metropolitan area. The main campus in Tempe is a lively student community with plenty of attractions, events, shopping and people watching to suit every taste. A vibrant international community provides a welcome home for students from any country. We are surrounded by scenic desert mountains and wilderness preserves, with excellent biking, hiking, camping and other outdoor activities nearby. One can even enjoy sailing on Tempe Town Lake, adjacent to the campus. We enjoy a delightful winter climate, and ski-hounds can easily reach snow-covered forested mountains three hours north in Flagstaff.

We hope that you find our program interesting and attractive, and we look forward to receiving your application.

Peter Bennett

Director of Graduate Programs

School of Materials