Interdisciplinary Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering Graduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering Materials Science and Engineering Graduate Program Self Study January 2012 1 Table of Contents List of Figures ................................................................................................................................................ 5 List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................. 6 1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1. Welcome ............................................................................................................................................ 7 1.2. Charge to the Review Team .............................................................................................................. 8 1.3. Itinerary and Contact Persons ........................................................................................................... 9 2. TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY ..................................................................................................................... 11 2.1. The University System ..................................................................................................................... 11 2.2. Texas A&M University ...................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.1. Dwight Look College of Engineering ......................................................................................... 16 2.2.2. College of Science .................................................................................................................... 16 3. GRADUATE INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS ................................................................................. 17 4. MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING INTERDISCIPLINARY GRADUATE PROGRAM .......... 18 4.1. Program Overview ........................................................................................................................... 18 4.2. Brief History ...................................................................................................................................... 19 4.3. The MSEN Program Bylaws ............................................................................................................ 21 4.4. University Administration of the MSEN Program ............................................................................. 21 4.5. Administrative Structure of the MSEN Program .............................................................................. 23 4.5.1. Executive Committee ................................................................................................................ 24 4.5.2. Administrative Committees ....................................................................................................... 25 4.5.3. Program Coordinator ................................................................................................................. 26 4.6. Budget Allocations and Program Expenditures ............................................................................... 27 4.7. MSEN Related Centers and Programs ............................................................................................ 28 5. VISION, GOALS, AND ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................. 35 5.1. Texas A&M University Vision 2020 .................................................................................................. 35 5.2. Strategic Plan/Program Assessment ............................................................................................... 36 5.2.1. Vision......................................................................................................................................... 36 5.2.2. Mission ...................................................................................................................................... 36 5.2.3. Goals ......................................................................................................................................... 36 5.2.4. Objectives/Outcomes ................................................................................................................ 37 5.2.5. Measures, Findings, and Action Plans ...................................................................................... 37 5.3. Connection to the Vision, Goals, Mission and Objectives of TAMU ................................................ 46 6. MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FACULTY ...................................................................... 48 6.1. Faculty Profile .................................................................................................................................. 48 2 6.2. Faculty Reinvestment Program and the MSEN Program ................................................................ 52 6.3. Faculty Involvement in Teaching ..................................................................................................... 53 6.4. Faculty Honors and Recognition ...................................................................................................... 53 6.5. Faculty Research ............................................................................................................................. 57 6.6. Research Productivity ...................................................................................................................... 60 7. THE GRADUATE PROGRAM ................................................................................................................ 62 7.1. Application Process, Admissions Criteria, Evaluation and Selection Procedures ........................... 62 7.2. Fellowships, Scholarships, Assistantships ....................................................................................... 62 7.2.1. Regents’ Graduate Fellowship (Office of Graduate Studies - OGS) ........................................ 62 7.2.2. Teaching Assistantships ........................................................................................................... 63 7.2.3. NSF-IGERT Fellowship ............................................................................................................. 63 7.2.4. Academic Scholarship ............................................................................................................... 63 7.2.5. Other Academic Scholarships, Fellowships and Grants ........................................................... 63 7.3. Curriculum Development Activities .................................................................................................. 65 7.4. Degree Requirements ...................................................................................................................... 66 7.4.1. Required Core Courses ............................................................................................................ 69 7.4.2. Designated Elective Courses .................................................................................................... 70 7.5. Qualifying, Preliminary, and Final Examinations ............................................................................. 80 7.6. Academic Probation ......................................................................................................................... 82 7.7. Enrichment Activities ........................................................................................................................ 82 7.7.1. Seminar Series .......................................................................................................................... 83 7.7.2. Materials Advantage Student Chapter ...................................................................................... 86 7.8. Students ........................................................................................................................................... 88 7.8.1. Program Enrollment Trends ...................................................................................................... 88 7.8.2. Recruitment ............................................................................................................................... 89 7.8.3. Applicant Quality Profile ............................................................................................................ 90 7.8.4. Student Demographics .............................................................................................................. 90 7.8.5. Program Graduates ................................................................................................................... 92 7.9. Program Assessment Benchmarks .................................................................................................. 96 8. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES ....................................................................................................... 98 8.1. Program Strengths ........................................................................................................................... 98 8.1.1. Successful, Multidisciplinary Faculty ......................................................................................... 98 8.1.2. Curriculum ................................................................................................................................