Science of Advanced Materials Ph.D. Program

Applying to the SAM program

If you are interested in applying for the SAM program, please keep in mind the following guidelines for the admissions process.

Program information

Learn more about the Science of Advanced Materials Ph.D. program by viewing its program page.

View the SAM Program Page

Admission requirements

Students with a master's degree in physics, chemistry, biochemistry, biology, geology, engineering, mathematics or other relevant areas of science will be considered for admission. You must be admitted to the CMU College of Graduate Studies and the SAM program.
Three (3) letters of recommendation from faculty who know your work.

Transcripts of previous undergraduate and graduate studies, optional GRE scores, a statement of research interests and letters of recommendation will be used in evaluating candidates for admission. All materials must be submitted for your application to be considered complete. Incomplete applications are not likely to be competitive in the admissions review.

Relevant graduate coursework taken previously may be counted toward meeting some of the program requirements. A completed M.S. thesis on a materials-related topic may be counted toward the directed research credits required for the SAM Ph.D.

Applications

Applications are considered throughout the year, but primarily for Fall semester admission. Submit all materials by Feb. 1 for consideration for Fall admission. Please follow the steps outlined on this page to make sure your application is competitive. The SAM program admission is rigorous and only a few students enter the program each year.

Required materials

• First, contact a faculty member you’d like to work with. Your application must be sponsored by a participating faculty member who is willing to take you into his or her research program.
  
  All of the following materials must be submitted through the online application portal.
  
  CMU graduate application
  Official transcripts for any B.S. and M.S. degree
  A personal statement outlining your interest in the SAM program, identifying the faculty mentor with whom you've already been in contact, and describing your prior research experiences and how they will contribute to your future success
  Three (3) letters of recommendation from people who know your work from an academic or research setting
  CV/Resume
  International students must provide evidence of English proficiency (CMU institutional code is 1106)

Contact information