Materials Science

Curriculum

The Module Scheme shows the curriculum of the Materials Science M.Sc. study program. The columns on the left indicate the semester number (sem.) and the number of credit points (= CP; in German: Leistungspunkte = LP) of the respective semester. Semester I and III correspond to the winter semester, while semester II and IV to the summer semester.

The Materials Science M.Sc. study program can be started in the winter or the summer semester. If you start in the summer semester, the order of your semesters will be II, I, III, IV. In general, the curriculum shown in the Module Scheme is very flexible. For example, the modules listed in the scheme in semester I can also be taken in semester III.

The individual modules consist of one or more teaching blocks (e.g., lectures, exercises, laboratory courses, and/or seminars) and are characterized by a subject area and a certain number of credit points (1 CP corresponds to a workload of approx. 30 hours). Each module is completed by an examination. To complete a module in a semester, you have to register for the corresponding module examination at the examination office via C@MPUS. Registration must take place within the registration period for the respective semester (summer or winter semester).

Important details are given in the following. In case of remaining questions, please contact the academic adivsor, Dr. Schacherl.

The curriculum consists of 4 areas (total 120 CP):

1. Compulsory Materials Science Modules (51 CP)
2. Compulsory Elective Materials Science Modules (30 CP)
3. Compulsory Elective General Studies Modules (9 CP)
4. Thesis Preparation and Master Thesis (30 CP)

1. Compulsory Materials Science Modules (51 CP)

  dark blue in Module Scheme

The area “Compulsory Materials Science Modules” consists of the following modules:

• Synthesis and Properties of Inorganic Materials (lecture with exercises; 6 CP)
• Advanced Materials Science Laboratory (laboratory course; 9 CP)
• Atomic Transport and Phase Transformations (lecture with exercises; 6 CP)
• Polymer Materials Science (lecture and seminar; 9 CP)
• Advanced Science Seminar (seminar; 6 CP)
• Practical Skills and Project Planning (thesis preparation; 15 CP)

All modules in this area are an integral part of the curriculum and must be completed. They give 51 CP in total. Note the special role of "Practical Skills and Project Planning" mentioned below.

The respective dates and other details of the lectures and exercises can be found in the above C@MPUS links under "Courses and Exams" ("Lehrveranstaltungen und Prüfungsveranstaltungen"). Click on the plus in the "Offer node" ("Angebotsknoten") and follow the link that appears.

Special information:

Advanced Materials Science Laboratory (laboratory course; 9 CP)
The module “Advanced Materials Science Laboratory” is a practical laboratory course and is offered every year in the winter semester. Registration is required to attend this laboratory course. Information about the laboratory course and the registration process can be found on the website “Teaching / Courses” of the Institute for Materials Science as well as on the bulletin board in front of lecture hall 2R4 (Heisenbergstrasse 3). The registration period usually starts at the beginning of October.

Advanced Science Seminar (seminar; 6 CP)
The “Advanced Science Seminar“ module comprises participation in a seminar (presentation of a scientific talk and discussion of the presentations of other students) and the certified participation of at least 8 talks in the Materials Science Colloquium. The seminars usually take place in the winter semester, but occasionally they are offered in the summer semester as well. Seminar topics will be announced on the bulletin board (in front of lecture hall 2R4, Heisenbergstrasse 3) and on the institute’s website under "Lectures". The topics are selected by lecturers from the field of materials science. To attend the seminar, students must register for a topic. This is done directly with the lecturer offering the seminar (contact information can be found together with the announcements). Seminar topics will be announced 2-4 weeks before the start of the lecture period.

Practical Skills and Project Planning (thesis preparation; 15 CP)
This is a special compulsory module that is designed to prepare you for the research conducted in your Master Thesis. Formally, it is counted as a “Compulsory Materials Science Module” and its 15 CP are contributing to the total of 51 CP. Contentwise it belongs more to the Master Thesis. In the Module Scheme, it is therefore given a gradient color from dark to light blue and more details are given further below together with the Master Thesis.

2. Compulsory Elective Materials Science Modules (30 CP)

  light gray in Module Scheme

The area “Compulsory Elective Materials Science Modules” is a “module container” worth in total 30 CP and it allows students to choose 2 out of 8 specialization subjects (see the list below). There is a list of modules to choose from for each specialization subject (see the section “Specialization subject” in the C@MPUS syllabus <-- you may need to update to the current semester at the top right). The module container is filled with modules from the two selected specialization subjects. The majority of the eligible modules are offered in English, but please note that some options are only available in German. Here is the list of Specialization Subjects (written in bold):

• Polymer Science and Plastic Engineering
  The modules are in German except for "Structure and Properties of Functional Polymers".
• Advanced Materials Characterization
  The module "Physical Chemistry III" (Physikalische Chemie III) is taught in German.
• Functional Materials
  The module "Semiconductor Physics" is taught in German.
• Inorganic Materials Chemistry
  Some modules are offered in German (check with the lecturer before making a choice).
• Materials Theory and Simulation
  The modules "Computer-Based Materials Science"  (Computergestützte Materialwissenschaft) and "Methods of Material Simulation" (Methoden der Werkstoffsimulation) are offered in German.
• Metals and Structural Materials
  The modules "Materials and Strength" (Werkstoffe und Festigkeit), "Fundamentals of Ceramics and Composite Materials" (Grundlagen der Keramik und Verbundwerkstoffe), "Material Properties" (Werkstoffeigenschaften), and "Materials and Production Technology of Technical Carbons" (Werkstoffe und Fertigungstechnik technischer Kohlenstoffe) are offered in German.
• Nanomaterials and Nanostructures
• Soft Matter and Biomaterials

How to choose your specialization modules:

1. Choose 2 specialization subjects from the list above.
2. From the modules lists of the specialization subjects (see the C@MPUS syllabus <-- you may need to update to the current semester at the top right), select modules totaling 30 CP. For each specialization subject, you can select modules totaling 12, 15, or 18 CP. Thus, the credits can be allocated to the specialization subjects according to the following three possibilities.

The subjects “Polymer Science and Plastic Engineering“, “Inorganic Materials Chemistry” and “Metals and Structural Materials“ are divided into compulsory modules and optional modules. This means that you must choose at least one compulsory module in each case. The other modules can then be freely selected from both areas.

In exceptional cases, also individual choices can be approved by the Chair of the examination board, if a coherent profile is built. Some modules are only offered in biannual frequency. So early planning of your individual schedule is recommended.

Please note!
As soon as a module has been registered for examination at C@MPUS and thus explicitly assigned to a compulsory elective area ("Compulsory Elective Materials Science Modules" or "Compulsory Elective General Studies Modules"), it is no longer possible to move the module to the other area. The same also applies within the "Compulsory Elective Materials Science Modules" area with regard to the transfer of registered modules between the individual specialisation subjects. Therefore, please pay close attention to the study plan shown in C@MPUS and register your examinations via the "My degree programme" application. (Link to https://www.student.uni-stuttgart.de/digital-services/campus/pruefungsanmeldung/)
 
Changing modules in a specialisation subject: In up to four cases, you can completely remove a module that is the subject of a specialisation subject from the selected compulsory elective area. This compulsory elective module change is possible a total of four times and cannot be cancelled. This means that you cannot continue the changed module at a later date.

3. Compulsory Elective General Studies Modules (9 CP)

  dark gray in Module Scheme

The area “Compulsory Elective General Studies Modules“ is a “module container” worth in total 9 CP. The module container is filled with modules listed under “Compulsory Elective Modules“ on this C@MPUS syllabus <-- you may need to update to the current semester at the top right. The modules are subdivided into "Engineering Science Modules" and "General Skills Modules".

Note that new modules can be added to the existing elective modules at any time via the examination committee (contact Dr. Ralf Schacherl).

4. Thesis Preparation and Master Thesis (30 CP)

  light blue in Module Scheme

This area comprises the modules "Practical Skills and Project Planning" and "Master’s Thesis in Materials Science".

The module "Practical Skills and Project Planning" is intended as a preparation for the Master Thesis. During this preparatory phase, the current state-of-the-art of the Master Thesis topic as well as a structuring (e.g., experiment or simulation plan) is to be worked out through literature research. At the end of the module there will be an examination in the form of a poster presentation. The supervisor and examiner will be the same person as for the Master Thesis (main reviewer). Note that the 15 CP of this module are included already within the "Compulsory Materials Science Modules".

The module "Master’s Thesis in Materials Science" (30 CP) includes the completion of the Master Thesis. The module is completed with the submission of the Master Thesis. The maximum duration of the Master Thesis is twelve months, where the equivalent of 30 credits corresponds to a duration of 6 months of full-time study.

Details on the Master Thesis

The Master Thesis is the final part of the Materials Science M.Sc. study program. It offers you extended practical experience in actual scientific work. Under the guidance and support of a supervisor, yet mainly based on your own initiative, you will complete a defined Materials Science project of your own. The report of the results, the “Master Thesis”, should show that you are able to independently process a particular assignment of tasks within a defined time frame according to scientific methods and to present the results in an appropriate manner.

The Master Thesis is generally performed at one of the chairs of the Institute for Materials Science or the Institute of Polymer Chemistry. The subject of the thesis is only released after the achievement of at least 51 credit points. Achievement of these points must be proven upon issuance of the subject of the Master Thesis. The subject of the Master Thesis is issued by the main examiner (this is generally a professor of the Institute for Materials Science or the Institute of Polymer Chemistry). Possible subject areas are listed on the websites of the respective chairs. You may also contact the chair employees.

The Master Thesis is evaluated by 2 examiners (main examiner and associate examiner). According to the examination regulations, the following persons can generally be considered as examiners:

• Prof. Bill
• Prof. Buchmeiser
• Prof. Clemens
• Prof. Grabowski
• Prof. Ludwigs
• Prof. Schmitz

Further admissible examiners are lecturers who are authorized to take exams and are responsible for a module in the specialization subjects.

How to register the Master Thesis

To register your Master Thesis, please use the form printable from C@MPUS. You can find it under "My applications" as soon as you have achieved the necessary ECTS. Please make sure that the form is signed by both your examiner and the head of the examination committee. Additionally, an internal form of the Institute for Materials Science has to be completed and signed by both examiners and the head of the examination committee. The latter form is available in the administrative office of the respective main examiner.

„External“ completion of the Master Thesis

The Master Thesis can be also performed at other institutes or in industry if the following requirements are fulfilled:

• One of the main examiners (see the professor list above) must issue the subject of the thesis.
• Part of the thesis must be completed at the Institute for Materials Science or at the Institute of Polymer Chemistry.
• Please be aware that only those subjects that are close to the research field of the respective main examiner will have a chance.
• The student must contact the main examiner early on to discuss the planned external execution of the Master Thesis.