Macromolecular Science & Engineering
Polymer Program and Courses
The Polymer Program within the Center for Macromolecular Science
& Engineering is fully integrated with academic departments on
campus, and as such graduate students receive the benefits derived
from a fundamental educational approach to his or her discipline. We
stress the need to become fully competent in a given field of
science or engineering, including an emphasis on polymer structure
and behavior.
For example, a graduate student interested in the chemical aspects
of macromolecules usually enrolls in the Department of Chemistry.
The prospective student must meet the entrance requirements set for
any Chemistry student, meaning he or she must have the requisite
background to compete in such an environment. The Selection
Committee within the department organizes its work around the
available space within each polymer oriented research group in the
department, then makes its decisions. Entering graduate students
then take the correct coursework needed to qualify in one of the
five divisions within the department (analytical, biochemical,
organic, inorganic, physical), followed by written and oral
qualifying examinations. Graduate courses in polymer chemistry are
included in the student's coursework as well. The graduate student
receives the majority of his or her exposure to the science of
polymers in the research laboratory. Again, the exposure is oriented
towards the chemical aspects of macromolecules with a focus on
mechanism, synthesis, structure proof, and structure behavior
relationships. A study of behavior leads to productive interactions
with engineering faculty on campus. The end result of being exposed
to this environment is the production of a MS or PhD chemist well
versed in the fundamentals of chemistry, who also has a strong
knowledge of polymer science.
This macromolecular program operates in the same manner within the
other departments represented by Center faculty members (Department
of Physics, Department of Chemical Engineering, and the Department
of Materials Science & Engineering). Each student receives his or
her
department's degree. The stress is on basics, followed by courses
relevant to polymer science or engineering, and eventual
interdisciplinary activity between departments. Graduate courses can
be taken in various departments to broaden the scholastic exposure
to work in macromolecules.
This program's approach to graduate education has led to the Center
enjoying a reputation of producing competent polymer scientists and
engineers who are well founded in the fundamentals of his or her
discipline, who interact in an interdisciplinary across
"traditional" boundaries, and who are aware of the importance of
teamwork among people possessing a variety of educational
backgrounds.
Please see departmental websites for information on
applying:
▪ Department of Chemistry
▪ Department
of Physics
▪ Department of Chemical Engineering
▪ Department
of Materials Science & Engineering
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