Master of Science in Materials Science - Polymer

Pittsburg State University

The Master of Science in Materials Science with Polymer Emphasis provides advanced study of materials science with a focus on polymers and their applications. Core coursework includes Introduction to Materials Science, Advanced Materials Characterization, and Chemistry and Physics of Materials, covering the general properties of materials, crystal structure, defects, mechanical, electrical, thermal and magnetic properties, modern techniques for characterizing materials, data interpretation, atomic structure, chemical bonding, thermodynamics, crystallography, electronic and optical properties, and phase transformations. The program also includes laboratory safety and compliance, seminar, colloquium, and graduate level research. Students may choose a thesis or non-thesis option, with Research in Materials Science involving research and a thesis, while Research Problems involves research producing a research report rather than a thesis. The Polymer emphasis includes Physical Chemistry of Polymers, covering molecular weights of polymers, polymer chain structure, amorphous and crystalline states, viscoelasticity, kinetics, polymer solutions and blends, and thermodynamics and statistical mechanics of polymer elasticity. Additional emphasis courses include Advanced Organic Synthesis, focusing on functional group transformations using modern organic reactions, and Spectroscopy, covering infrared spectroscopy, mass spectrometry.

College of Arts and Sciences