Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program

The field of polymers is highly dynamic and interdisciplinary. Our PhD program in Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst naturally reflects that perspective. We provide a broad and fundamental introduction to all the major polymer subfields as well as individualized courses of study. Flexibility in the curriculum, particularly in the second and subsequent semesters, allows students to undertake basic coursework in related disciplines (chemistry, biochemistry, physics, or engineering) and/or more specialized coursework in polymers. Although some students enter the program with previous polymer experience, either academic or industrial, a polymer background is not required. The PSE department's collection of polymer instrumentation is one of the largest in the world, a feature that permits doctoral students to gain unusually broad experimental proficiency during their thesis research. Given the educational background of our faculty, the core graduate designed curriculum is designed to cover fundamental principles spanning chemistry to engineering. For example, mechanisms of organic radical reactions and organo-metallic catalysis in the polymer chemistry classes; principles and models of chain dynamics, phase transitions, and morphology in polymer physics classes; and fundamental principles of transport, fluid mechanics, and soft materials mechanics in polymer engineering classes. The Degree Requirements section of this website gives a detailed description of the formal requirements for the PhD.

A PhD in Polymer Science and Engineering from UMass Amherst prepares graduates for leadership roles in industry, academia, and government labs.  The success of UMass PSE alumni is linked to their graduate education experience which combines deep technical focus with broader education in a multidisciplinary department with strong ties to centers, national labs, and industrial collaborations.

• A BS or BA in chemistry, physics, materials science, biophysics, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, bioengineering, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, and related fields. If your undergraduate major is not listed here, please contact the graduate office. PSE, and the polymer community more broadly, has a long tradition of welcoming and training students who follow non-traditional paths to finding their passion in this field.
• Undergraduate coursework in the following courses is helpful preparation for success in our graduate program: organic chemistry, physical chemistry, physics, mathematics (preferably through ordinary differential equations and/or linear algebra), and laboratory experience in chemistry. Additional courses that are helpful: solid state or condensed matter physics, mechanics of materials, materials science and engineering, statistical thermodynamics, analytical chemistry, polymer science and engineering. This list is meant to be helpful; not exclusive. If you have any questions related to classes, please contact us.

This page provides an overview of the requirements for the PhD degree in Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Amherst; complete information can be found in the department's "Guidelines for Polymer Science and Engineering Doctoral Students" (obtainable from the Graduate Program Manager) and in the university's Graduate School Bulletin (obtainable from the Graduate School). The PSE department does not formally support a terminal master's degree program. By accumulating a required number of credit hours en route to the PhD, doctoral candidates can obtain a coursework MS degree.

The two biggest achievements on the road to the PhD are:

• the comprehensive examination, testing not only a student's knowledge of polymer science and engineering but also his/her ability to propose original research based on this knowledge;
• the doctoral thesis, establishing a student's research skills and accomplishments.

The typical time from program admission to degree conferral is between four and five years, although much depends on an individual's initiative and previous research experience.

Students are only admitted in the fall, after applying during the previous spring (see "How to Apply" for more information on admission procedures and deadlines). Although there are no formal course requirements attached to the PhD, students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the broad spectrum of courses offered in the PSE department as well as those taught in neighboring science and engineering departments.

Program Chronology

To outline the PhD program, subsequent paragraphs trace the typical activities of a PSE graduate student from arrival on campus to graduation.

Most incoming students enroll during their first and second semesters in a sequence of core courses that are designed to introduce the central topics of the polymer science and engineering discipline. There are five of these courses for the fall semester and four for the spring:

The department expects all students, including those in their first year, to attend the weekly departmental seminar series. After the first semester and until graduation, most students regularly enroll in advanced topics courses that provide in-depth coverage of more focused academic subjects. A listing and detailed description of the courses taught by the PSE faculty are provided on the “Courses” page.

In the first semester, the new PSE doctoral student must attend a series of weekly research presentations in which individual faculty members introduce their research programs and suggest potential thesis topics. After further one-on-one discussions, the first-year PSE student submits (by the Thanksgiving break) a short list of advisor preferences; the student is then assigned an advisor by the end of the semester. By no later than the end of the second year, at least two additional faculty members are appointed to constitute the thesis committee; one of these must be from a department other than PSE.

The student must also prepare a thesis prospectus, a document that describes the objectives, research strategy, and scientific significance of the research project that will be undertaken for the PhD degree. As with the independent proposal, the prospectus must be defended orally in front of the thesis committee. Both the prospectus and research proposal should be approved by the end of the fifth semester.

As the student approaches the successful completion of the thesis research and believes that the research objectives described in the prospectus have been met, the student requests a data review by the thesis committee. At this time, the student informs the committee of the status and conclusions of the research project. Based on this information, the committee may suggest further experimentation or new directions of research that could resolve inadequacies in the data presented. Also discussed is the format and content of the written PhD thesis. This meeting should occur no earlier than nine months nor later than three months before the final oral examination. Normally, the student begins writing the thesis immediately after a successful data review meeting.

The final examination is an oral defense of the thesis, a document providing a clearly written and detailed summary of the student's entire research project. It is expected that major portions of the thesis will be published separately in the scientific literature, so the written document should be of the caliber to pass the rigorous peer review required for outside publication. The Graduate School at UMass Amherst maintains detailed stylistic guidelines for the PhD thesis and checks each one carefully for compliance, requiring revisions whenever necessary. The defense process begins with submittal of a "next-to-final" thesis draft that has been approved by the thesis committee and department head. An oral defense is then scheduled, and the graduate program director gives the Graduate School at least three weeks' notice of the committee composition, thesis title, location, and time. The oral defense takes the form of a public seminar followed by a closed examination by the thesis committee. The PhD degree will be awarded when the oral exam is passed and a final thesis draft accepted by the thesis committee, department head, and Graduate School.