Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization (PhD)

Materials Science, Engineering,& Commercialization

Texas State University has made materials science and engineering research, education, and commercialization a priority.

With a focus on applied research, industrial outreach and entrepreneurial training, Texas State is uniquely positioned in the region to offer this combination of skills, providing education with relevance with the Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization (MSEC) degree. Students gain valuable experience that prepares them for real-world success.

Course Work

The 51-credit-hour doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) program promotes the translation of innovations from the lab to commercial production and provides the skills to organize and lead interdisciplinary research teams. In addition to providing a strong science and engineering background, the curriculum imparts the business and commercialization skills necessary for effective leadership in the advancement of global discovery and innovation.

Students augment their science and engineering studies with commercialization activities such as technology internships, interdisciplinary boot camps, entrepreneurial course work and forums. With a small amount of additional course work, students can also obtain a master’s in business administration while working on their doctorate.

Program Details

Current MSEC students are recognized with scholarships and fellowships and in research and entrepreneurial competitions. Graduates have been very successful in pursuing industrial positions and building their own companies.

Program Mission

The Ph.D. in Materials Science, Engineering, and Commercialization program at Texas State is an integrated effort leveraging opportunities in the university’s biology, chemistry and biochemistry, physics, engineering, engineering technology, and business school programs.

The MSEC program's goal is to train graduate scientists and engineers to perform interdisciplinary research while equipping them to emerge as effective entrepreneurial leaders in the advancement of 21st-century global discovery and innovation.

MSEC Ph.D. students conduct research in

state-of-the-art facilities with exceptionally qualified faculty. Their research attracts significant external funding and is producing innovative commercial endeavors in civilian, defense and security applications.

Career Options

While some MSEC graduates have continued to post-doctoral fellowships and have found faculty positions in academia, most graduates obtain private sector science and technology positions. Several have started their own businesses based on technology they developed while studying at Texas State.

Program Faculty

Students in the MSEC program study with nationally funded and internationally known researchers utilizing unique state-of-the-art facilities. Many faculty members have industrial and commercialization experience, including management roles at large or small technology companies or defense laboratories. Students will learn from those who have been successful at technical innovation - practitioners of the art of technology development and commercialization.