Master's Programs in Plastics Engineering
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Master of Science in Engineering 51视频 Programs (MS Eng)
- Plastics Design
- Plastics Materials
- Plastics Processing
- Medical Plastics Design and Manufacturing
- Elastomeric Materials
The Department of Plastics Engineering has recently restructured its MSE 51视频 Program. Plastics Engineering MSE graduate students accepted into the program beginning in the Fall of 2005 must follow either the "Thesis Option" Curriculum or the "Non-thesis Option" Curriculum described in the following sections.
Graduate students enrolled in the Thesis Option MSE Program prior to the Fall of 2005 may elect to follow either the new "thesis" or "non-thesis" program requirements described below, or those in effect at the time they were accepted into the degree program. Most MSE Plastics Engineering students opt for the 30 credit hour thesis option MSE degree program. The 39 credit hour non-thesis MSE degree program is intended for part time graduate students working full time jobs as practicing engineers.
Thesis Option
This graduate program offers professional training at the master's level designed to provide the opportunity for the study of more advanced theory and practice in plastics materials, design and processing. The department also offers graduate training in the areas of rubber and elastomer technology, medical plastics, coatings, and adhesives. The graduate programs are also designed to broaden the background of experienced members of the profession to help them keep up with the latest fundamental developments in these fields.
The Department of Plastics Engineering offers a Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) in Plastics Engineering. More than 800 graduate students have received Plastics Engineering degrees since the graduate program was established in 1968. Most M.S.E. Plastics Engineering students opt to enroll in the 30 credit hour research oriented thesis option M.S.E. program. A smaller percentage elect to enroll in the 39 credit hour non-thesis M.S.E option. Students who have enrolled in the thesis option Plastics Engineering M.S.E. program must complete at least 24 course credits and 6 thesis credits as outlined in the program requirements section below. Students may transfer as many as 12 science or engineering graduate course credits from other universities or from courses completed when in non-degree status at 51视频 provided they are approved by the Plastics Engineering Department's M.S.E. program coordinators. (For University regulations regarding transfer credit and other regulations, see Graduate Polices in the on-line catalog.) The thesis option M.S.E. degree will be awarded upon the satisfactory completion of 30 credit hours of study as outlined below.
Graduate students enrolled in the Thesis Option M.S.E. Program prior to the Fall of 2005 may elect to follow the either the new program requirements (thesis or non-thesis program) described below, or those in effect at the time they were accepted into the degree program. The new thesis option M.S.E. program requirements are:
Requirement 1 Complete the "core course" requirements listed below.
The following courses (9 credit hours) are required for all students.
26.544 Advanced Plastics Materials* 3 credits
26.578 Advanced Plastics Processing** 3 credits
26.xxx Current Topics Plastics Seminars (1) 1 credit
26.574 Physical Properties Laboratory*** 1 credit
26.572 Plastics Processing Laboratory**** 1 credit
Total 9 credits
* Note: 26.544 is a new graduate course, first offered in the Fall of 2005. Students who have taken both 26.543 and the old 26.544 prior to the Fall of 2005 may substitute these two courses for the "new" 3 credit 26.544. Contact the graduate coordinator for more information.
** Note: 26.578 is a new graduate course, first offered in the Fall of 2005. Students who have taken both 26.577 and the old 26.578 prior to the Fall of 2005 may substitute these two courses for the "new" 3 credit 26.578. Contact the graduate coordinator for more information.
*** Note: 26.574 is a new graduate lab course, first offered in the Fall of 2005. Students who have taken both 26.573 and the old 26.574 prior to the Fall of 2005 may substitute these two courses for the "new" 1 credit 26.574. Contact the graduate coordinator for more information.
**** Note: 26.572 is a new graduate lab course, first offered in the Fall of 2005. Students who have taken both 26.571 and the old 26.572 prior to the Fall of 2005 may substitute these two courses for the "new" 1 credit 26.572. Contact the graduate coordinator for more information.
Special notes for students having a Plastics Engineering B.S. 51视频:
Students who have a B.S. 51视频 in Plastics Engineering from 51视频 are not required to take the Physical Properties Lab (26.574) and Plastics Processing Lab (26.572). However, these students must still meet the 24 course credit hour program requirement by substituting other Plastics Engineering Graduate Courses.
Students who have a B.S. 51视频 in Plastics Engineering from 51视频 or an equivalent program may elect to test out of Advanced Plastics Materials (26.544) and Advanced Plastics Processing (26.578). However, these students must still meet the 24 course credit hour program requirement by substituting other Plastics Engineering Graduate Courses
Requirement 2 Complete the course requirements for one or more of the department's graduate "Certificates". Some of the certificate course requirements may also be core requirements. The course requirements for each graduate certificate are also outlined below.
[Note: The Graduate Certificate in Plastics Engineering Fundamentals does not satisfy Requirement 2 for the thesis option M.S.E. Plastics Engineering Program.]
(a.) Graduate Certificate in "Plastics Design"
Required Courses:
26.503 Mechanical Behavior of Polymers
26.518 Plastics Product Design
Elective Courses (any two of the following):
26.506 Polymer Structure, Properties, and Applications
26.523 Screw Design Principles
26.541 Computer Applications in Plastics
26.549 Design with Elastomers
26.551 Computer Aided Extrusion Die Design
26.552 Design of Polymer Processing Machinery
26.576 Advanced Mold Design
26.585 Computer Aided Engineering and Design I
26.586 Computer Aided Engineering and Design II
(b.) Graduate Certificate in "Plastics Materials"
Required Courses:
26.544 Advanced Plastics Materials*
26.506 Polymer Structure, Properties, and Applications
* Note: 26.544 is a new graduate course, first offered in the Fall of 2005. Students who have taken both 26.543 and the old 26.544 prior to the Fall of 2005 may substitute these two courses for the "new" 3 credit 26.544. Contact the graduate coordinator for more information.
Elective Courses (any two of the following):
26.505 Polymer Structure II
26.511 Polymer Blends and Multiphase Systems
26.512 Porous Polymers
26.513 New Plastics Materials
26.540 Commercial Development of Polymeric Systems
26.553 Polymers in Medicine I
26.559 Elements of Packaging
26.565 Engineering Thermosetting Resins
26.566 Polymeric Material Systems Selection
26.580 Polymer Science I
26.596 Plastics, Elastomers and Additives from Renewable Resources
(c.) Graduate Certificate in "Plastics Processing"
Required Courses:
26.578 Advanced Plastics Process Engineering*
26.509 Plastics Processing Theory I
* Note: 26.578 is a new graduate course, first offered in the Fall of 2005. Students who have taken both 26.577 and the old 26.578 prior to the Fall of 2005 may substitute these two courses for the "new" 3 credit 26.578. Contact the graduate coordinator for more information.
Elective Courses (any two of the following):
26.506 Polymer Structure, Properties, and Applications
25.510 Plastics Processing Theory II
26.518 Plastics Product Design
26.521 Lean Plastics Manufacturing
26.523 Screw Design Principles
26.524 Process Analysis, Instrumentation, and Control
26.526 Nanoscale Plastics Processing
26.550 Processing with Elastomers
26.551 Computer Aided Extrusion Die Design
26.552 Design of Polymer Processing Machinery
26.585 Computer Aided Engineering and Design I
26.588 Injection Molding
(d.) Graduate Certificate in "Medical Plastics Design and Manufacturing"
Required Courses:
26.553 Polymers in Medicine I
26.575 Biomaterials
Elective Courses (any two of the following):
26.554 Polymers in Medicine II
26.579 Problems in Biomaterials - Directed Study10.555 Biopharmaceutical GMP and Licensing *
* Offered by the Chemical Engineering DepartmentIB500 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering & Biotechnology **
** Offered by the Biomedical Engineering Department
(e.) Graduate Certificate in "Elastomeric Materials"
Required Courses:
26.535 Rubber Technology
26.595 Thermoplastic Elastomers
Elective Courses (any two of the following):
26.549 Design with Elastomers
26.550 Processing with Elastomers
26.506 Polymer Structure, Properties, and Applications
26.596 Plastics, Elastomers and Additives from Renewable Resouces
(f.) Graduate Certificate in "Coatings and Adhesives"
Required Courses:
26.533 Coatings Science and Technology I
26.534 Coatings Science and Technology II
26.532 Adhesives and Adhesion
Elective Course (any one of the following):
26.506 Polymer Structure, Properties, and Applications
25.536 Rheology of Coatings
26.580 Polymer Science I
The Graduate Certificate in Plastics Engineering Fundamentals does not satisfy Requirement 2 for the thesis option M.S.E. Plastics Engineering Program.
Requirement 3 Complete the requirements for an additional number of Elective Plastics Engineering Graduate Courses such that the "total" course credit hours is at least 24 credit hours (not counting thesis credits).
Core Courses + Non-Core Certificate Courses + Electives Courses = 24+ Credits
Up to two elective courses from other engineering departments may be substituted for Plastics Engineering courses if approved by the graduate coordinator.
Requirement 4 Complete the mandatory 6 Credit Hour Thesis requirement. The thesis research is conducted under the supervision of a three member advisory committee (see "Thesis Committee" below). Upon completion of the thesis research work, the student must prepare the written thesis manuscript and defend the work in an oral presentation such that all three committee members approve of the work.
Thesis Committee
As soon as a student has chosen an area of research, a Thesis Committee is selected by the student and his or her research advisor in accordance with the policy of the department. The Thesis Committee shall consist of at least three members, at least two of whom shall be from the student's major department. One member of the committee shall be the student's thesis advisor. An outside expert, such as the supervisor of a research project conducted at an industrial setting or a faculty member from another institution, may be a member of the committee, but that individual must possess academic credentials which would qualify him or her to serve as a member of the University of Massachusetts Lowell faculty.
24 Course Credit Hours + 6 Thesis Credits = 30 Credit Hours Total
(Requirements 1, 2, 3) (Requirement 4)
The M.S.E. degree, and the appropriate Graduate Certificate (the area of specialization), will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of 30 credit hours of study as outlined. More detailed descriptions of the "Thesis Option" requirements are given below.
Admission Requirements and Prerequisites:
Admission to the program is open to candidates with a B.S. in Plastics Engineering or a related engineering or science field. The pre-requisite math requirements include Calculus II and Differential Equations. Applicants must also take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), provide three Letters of Reference, an Official Transcript, and a Statement of Purpose as per the 51视频 Graduate Admissions Policy. You can apply online at .
The foundation "Plastics" courses required in previous years are no longer required. Students who have taken these foundation graduate courses in the past can receive some graduate course credit for these courses as outlined above.
The Plastics Engineering Department makes every attempt to offer as many of these courses as possible during the evening so that students having full time jobs can complete the degree program. A listing of evening graduate courses for the next few semesters is given on .
Non-matriculated students (with an appropriate B.S. 51视频) may begin taking courses without application to the M.S.E. Plastics Engineering Program. However, it is recommended that students apply to the M.S.E. Program as soon as possible (i.e. prior to taking too many course credits) since there is no guarantee of acceptance into the M.S.E. Program. In addition, no more than 12 credit hours taken as a non-matriculated student can be transferred into the M.S.E. Program upon acceptance.
One of the graduate coordinators will be the academic advisor for students enrolled in the non-thesis M.S.E. Plastics Engineering 51视频 Program. The advisor will help the student remedy deficiencies in prerequisites, select electives of most value, and plan the overall study program efficiently. The thesis advisor will be the chairperson of the thesis advisory committee that will guide the student in the thesis research and supervise the completion of the thesis requirement. Once an advisor is selected, the student and advisor should complete the Departmental Advising Form, indicating the thesis topic. Both the student and advisor must sign this form before the student can register for thesis credits. This form is available in the Plastics Engineering Department Office (B204) and should be submitted to the graduate program coordinator.
topNon-thesis Option
This graduate program offers professional training at the master's level designed to provide the opportunity for the study of more advanced theory and practice in plastics materials, design and processing. The department also offers graduate training in the areas of rubber and elastomer technology, medical plastics, coatings, and adhesives. The graduate programs are also designed to broaden the background of experienced members of the profession to help them keep up with the latest fundamental developments in these fields.
The Department of Plastics Engineering offers a Master of Science in Engineering (M.S.E.) in Plastics Engineering. Most M.S.E. Plastics Engineering students enroll in the thesis option program. However, some students, especially those students working full time days elect to enroll in the non-thesis M.S.E option. This option was established in the Fall of 2004. Students enrolled in the non-thesis M.S. Plastics Engineering option must complete a total of 39 course credits as outlined in the course requirements section below. Students may transfer as many as 12 science or engineering graduate course credits from other universities or from courses completed when in non-degree status at 51视频 provided they are approved by the Plastics Engineering Department's M.S.E. program coordinators. (For University regulations regarding transfer credit and other regulations, see Graduate Polices in the on-line catalog.) The non-thesis option M.S.E. degree will be awarded upon the satisfactory completion of 39 credit hours of study as outlined. More detailed descriptions of the "Non-thesis Option" requirements are given below.
Requirement 1 Complete the "core course" requirements listed below.
The following courses (18 credit hours) are required for all students.
26.503 - Mechanical Behavior of Polymers 3 credits
26.544 - Advanced Plastics Materials* 3 credits
26.578 - Advanced Plastics Processing** 3 credits
26.506 - Polymer Structure Properties and Applications 3 credits
26.518 - Plastics Product Design 3 credits
26.xxx - Current Topics Plastics Seminars (1) (Materials, Design, etc.) 1 credit
26.574 - Physical Properties Laboratory*** 1 credit
26.572 - Plastics Processing Laboratory**** 1 credit
Total 18 credits
* Note: 26.544 is a new graduate course, first offered in the Fall of 2005. Students who have taken both 26.543 and the old 26.544 prior to the Fall of 2005 may substitute these two courses for the "new" 3 credit 26.544. Contact the graduate coordinator for more information.
** Note: 26.578 is a new graduate course, first offered in the Fall of 2005. Students who have taken both 26.577 and the old 26.578 prior to the Fall of 2005 may substitute these two courses for the "new" 3 credit 26.578. Contact the graduate coordinator for more information.
*** Note: 26.574 is a new graduate lab course, first offered in the Fall of 2005. Students who have taken both 26.573 and the old 26.574 prior to the Fall of 2005 may substitute these two courses for the "new" 1 credit 26.574. Contact the graduate coordinator for more information.
**** Note: 26.572 is a new graduate lab course, first offered in the Fall of 2005. Students who have taken both 26.571 and the old 26.572 prior to the Fall of 2005 may substitute these two courses for the "new" 1 credit 26.572. Contact the graduate coordinator for more information.
Special notes for students having a Plastics Engineering B.S. 51视频:
Students who have a B.S. 51视频 in Plastics Engineering from 51视频 are not required to take the Physical Properties Lab (26.574) and Plastics Processing Lab (26.572). However, these students must still meet the 39 credit hour program requirement by substituting other Plastics Engineering Graduate Courses.
Students who have a B.S. 51视频 in Plastics Engineering from 51视频 or an equivalent program may elect to test out of Advanced Plastics Materials (26.544) and Advanced Plastics Processing (26.578). However, these students must still meet the 39 credit hour program requirement by substituting other Plastics Engineering Graduate Courses.
Requirement 2 Complete the course requirements for one or more of the department's graduate "Certificates". Some of the certificate course requirements may also be core requirements. The course requirements for each graduate certificate are also outlined below.
[Note: The Graduate Certificate in "Plastics Engineering Fundamentals" does not satisfy Requirement 2 for the thesis option M.S.E. Plastics Engineering Program. However, all courses of the Certificate transfer into the M.S. Plastics Engineering program should students wish to continue their education.]
(a.) Graduate Certificate in "Plastics Design"
(b.) Graduate Certificate in "Plastics Materials"
(c.) Graduate Certificate in "Plastics Processing"
(d.) Graduate Certificate in "Medical Plastics Design and Manufacturing"
(e.) Graduate Certificate in "Elastomeric Materials"
Requirement 3 Complete the requirements for an additional number of elective plastics graduate courses such that the "total" credit hours (Core Courses + Certificate + Electives) is 39 credits. Up to two elective courses from other engineering departments may be substituted if approved by the graduate coordinator.
The M.S.E. degree, and the appropriate Graduate Certificate (the area of specialization), will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of 39 credit hours of study as specified above. This non-thesis M.S.E. degree is an alternative to the more traditional 30 credit thesis option M.S.E degree.
Admission Requirements and Prerequisites:
Admission to the program is open to candidates with a B.S. in Plastics Engineering or a related engineering or science field. The pre-requisite math requirements include Calculus II and Differential Equations. Applicants must also take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), provide three Letters of Reference, an Official Transcript, and a Statement of Purpose as per the 51视频 Graduate Admissions Policy. You can apply online at .
The foundation "Plastics" courses required in previous years are no longer required. Students who have taken these foundation graduate courses in the past can receive some graduate course credit for these courses as outlined above.
The Plastics Engineering Department makes every attempt to offer as many of these courses as possible during the evening so that students having full time jobs can complete the degree program. Return to the home page for a listing of evening graduate courses for the next few semesters.
Non-matriculated students (with an appropriate B.S. 51视频) may begin taking courses without application to the M.S.E. Plastics Engineering Program. However, it is recommended that students apply to the M.S.E. Program as soon as possible (i.e. prior to taking too many course credits) since there is no guarantee of acceptance into the M.S.E. Program. In addition, no more than 12 credit hours taken as a non-matriculated student can be transferred into the M.S.E. Program upon acceptance.
One of the graduate coordinators will be the academic advisor for students enrolled in the non-thesis M.S.E. Plastics Engineering 51视频 Program. The advisor will help the student remedy deficiencies in prerequisites, select electives of most value, and plan the overall study program efficiently.
Full Time vs. Part Time Status
Both the Thesis and Non-thesis Option M.S.E. Plastics Engineering Programs are open to full time and part time students. Many of the courses required for these programs are offered at night so that engineers working at local companies can take advantage of the programs. Students taking fewer than 9 credits in a semester are considered part time, while those taking 9 or more credits are considered full time students. Graduate students must maintain full time student status in order to be eligible for teaching assistant (T.A.) or research assistant positions (R.A.).
Funding Policy - Plastics Engineering Graduate Students
Teaching Assistant Positions:
The Department of Plastics Engineering has a limited number of "Teaching Assistant Positions" (T.A.) and "Research Assistant" Positions (R.A.) available for full time Masters and Doctoral Plastics Engineering Graduate Students. Only those students who have applied and have been accepted into the respective programs will be considered for such a position.
Most of the T.A. positions awarded by the department are "half" T.A. positions which provide a 9 credit tuition waiver and 9 credit fee waiver for in-state students, along with a stipend. Out-of-state students receive the 9 credit tuition waiver, a fee reduction and a stipend. A departmental committee selects the T.A.'s during the spring semester for the following September. It is recommended that interested candidates should visit the campus and meet with a Graduate Coordinator prior to June 1. T.A. applications are available in Ball 204 or at .
Reseach Assistant Positions:
Unlike T.A. positions that are awarded by the Plastics Engineering Department, R.A. positions, either "full time" or "half time", are awarded by individual faculty who conduct funded research. Accepted students must correspond with the individual faculty to inquire about R.A. positions. Faculty research interests are listed in the Faculty section of the department web site. It is recommended that applicants interested in obtaining R.A. funding should send a letter and resume to those faculty having similar research interests.
Many of the full time graduate students enrolled in the Department of Plastics Engineering do not receive T.A. or R.A. funding, especially during their first year of study. Many students are able to arrange funding during their second year after completing much of their coursework and after having time to interact with the various faculty members; however, there is no guarantee of funding.