This section contains information on:
– Preliminary Exam & Additional Resources
– Career Development
– GSI
– Classes
– Qualifying Exam
For information on classes, see here.
Prelims
Before the start of the second semester, first-years will take a 1.5 hour oral exam covering six topics: 1) Thermodynamics; 2) Phase Transformations; 3) Bonding, Crystallography, and Crystal Defects; 4) Materials Characterization; 5) Mechanical Properties; 6) Electronic Properties. Students are expected to be comfortable with a Berkeley undergraduate-level knowledge of these topics. More information on the preliminary exam can be found in the department’s Graduate Student Manual.
The GSC has compiled resources to help graduate students prepare for the preliminary exam such as recommended textbooks, questions from past years, and notes from relevant courses. These resources are available in a google drive folder which requires an @berkeley.edu email to access, which can be found here.
In addition to regular individual studying, forming study groups is strongly recommended to practice the oral communication component. In past years, study groups have started to form and meet as early as October.
Students who are new to Materials Science & Engineering are encouraged to enroll in MSE 200A – Survey of Materials Science & Engineering. All students are also encouraged to take MSE 201A (Thermodynamics & Phase Transformations) during the first semester available.
The prelim consists of 6 different subjects:
| Info | Thermodynamics | Characterization | Phase Transformations | Bonding & Structure | Mechanical Properties | Electronic Properties |
| Similar undergrad class | E 115 | MSE 104 | MSE 103 | MSE 102 | MSE 113 | MSE 11 |
| Syllabus | (Martin) | (Asta) (Hoyt) | (Chrzan) | (Wu) | ||
| Graduate class | MSE 201 | MSE 204 | MSE 201 | MSE 202 | MSE 211 | MSE 223 |