Materials & Textiles Graduate Programs

The Department of Materials and Textiles offers programs leading to the Master of Science degree in Textile Technology and in Textile Chemistry. Both programs are being updated to stress future areas of development in textiles, including nanotechnology, biomedical materials, smart textiles and robotic processing and manufacturing.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

1. To provide a sound education in selected subjects essential to developing the student's ability to initiate and conduct independent investigations.
2. To develop a comprehensive understanding of the student's major area of interest through course work, independent study, and a thesis endeavor.
3. To offer a certain degree of flexibility in order that the interests and goals of the student may be best served.

ADMISSION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applicants must complete the application procedures for admission to the Graduate School. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required of all applicants. Applicants are further required to submit a comprehensive statement of educational objectives and goals, to accompany the student's application. Each applicant will be examined in light of his or her academic record as well as specific work experience. Applications are considered only for September admission.

Prerequisites for the Master of Science degree in Textile Technology will most likely have been completed by those individuals having an undergraduate degree in Textile Sciences, Textile Engineering, Textile Technology, or similar degrees. Prerequisites for the Master of Science degree in Textile Chemistry will most likely have been completed by those individuals having an undergraduate degree in Textile Chemistry. Applicants with degrees in other disciplines will be required to undertake foundation courses prior to acceptance as candidates for a degree in Textiles. Those foundation courses required will be determined in accordance with the student's background, interests, and goals. Credit may be given for prior experience in the textile industry.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

The student is required to complete 30 graduate credits of study as outlined in subsequent pages. There is no foreign language requirement. Dependent on the student's background, completion of the program will normally require 2 years of study.

Every student will do a master's thesis. The thesis requirement may be fulfilled in the textile sciences or may be of an interdisciplinary nature. In the latter instance, however, the emphasis must be on some aspect of either textile chemistry or textile technology, depending on the student's chosen program. Students with an undergraduate specialty in an area other than textiles have the opportunity to couple this knowledge with textiles in either a scientific, theoretical, or a more applied project approach to fulfilling the thesis requirement. The student should meet at the earliest possible date after the start of studies with the Textile Sciences Department Graduate Council to discuss his or her interests regarding thesis study. At that time, he or she will be assigned a main advisor whose background is compatible with the student's area of interest. The student will also receive a copy of the outline for a thesis proposal. The Textile Sciences Department Graduate Council will function as the student's advisory examining committee.

Upon the student's completion of a thesis proposal, the committee will meet with him or her to finalize the proposed work. The proposal should be made available to the committee members at least one week prior to the scheduled meeting.

Each committee member should be provided with a rough-draft copy of the completed thesis, no later than two calendar months prior to the scheduled graduate date. An oral examination in defense of the thesis is required to be given before the committee at least six weeks prior to graduation. At this time, the rough-draft copies, comments and corrections having been made, will be returned from each committee member.

The approved thesis must be available at least three weeks prior to graduation. Two copies will be prepared for deposit in the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Library in accordance with requirements of the Graduate School. An additional two bound copies will be given to the student's main advisor and the Textile Sciences Department.

TEXTILE TECHNOLOGY

Read the full descriptions for
Courses in the Textile Technology Graduate Program.

Course Schedule. This is subject to change as we increase the emphasis on new technologies

The Master of Science in Textile Technology requires that the student complete thirty graduate credits of studies as follows:

Fall Semester

TET 503 Research Techniques - 1 credit
TET 506 Independent Study - 3 credits
Major Areas of Study, a graduate level course - 3 credits
Elective - 400-600 level course in related field - 3 credits
Total 10 credits

Spring Semester

TET 508 Design and Analysis of Experiments - 3 credits
Major Areas of Study, a graduate level course - 3 credits
Elective - 400-600 level course in related field - 3 credits
Total 9 credits

Year 2 - Fall Semester

TET 504 Graduate Seminar - 3 credits
TET 500 Thesis - 8 credits
Total 11 credits

Year 2 - Spring Semester
Continue with thesis research and writing

GRAND TOTAL 30 credits

TEXTILE CHEMISTRY
Read the full descriptions for
courses in the Textile Chemistry Graduate Program.

Course Schedule

The Master of Science in Textile Chemistry requires that the student complete thirty graduate credits of study as follows:

Fall Semester Credits

TEC 506 Survey of Current Textiles - 3 credits
TEC 5XX Graduate Textile Chemistry course - 3 credits
TET 503 Research Techniques - 1 credit
Elective - 400-600 level in related field - 3 credits
Total 10 credits

Spring Semester

TEC 5XX Graduate Textile Chemistry course - 3 credits
TEC 510 Polymer Chemistry - 3 credits
Elective - 400-600 level in related field - 3 credits
Total 9 credits

Year 2 - Fall Semester

TET 504 Graduate Seminar - 3 credits
TEC 500 Thesis - 8 credits
Total 11 credits

Year 2 - Spring Semester
Continue with thesis research and writing:

GRAND TOTAL 30 credits

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Further inquiries may be directed to:

Professor Yong Ku Kim
Department of Textile Sciences
University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300
Telephone: 508-999-8452
ykim@umassd.edu

or

Graduate Admissions Office
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300
Telephone: 508-999-8604