The Materials Science Ph. D. Program of the University of Alabama System (UAS) is an interdisciplinary, interdepartmental, and intercampus doctoral program linking the three universities that make up the UAS: The University of Alabama (UA), in Tuscaloosa, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), and the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH).

Narrative and Philosophy
The program was started in 1987 and awarded its first pH D. degree in June 1990. The program was deliberately constructed without erecting new Materials Science departments on the three campuses. The idea was to add strengths to traditional departments, rather than weakening them by draining their resources. Following a national trend, several participating traditional engineering departments that participate in this program have added "Materials Science" as a hyphenated appellation of their programs. In the period June 1990 to April 1999, 33 pH D. degrees were awarded (8 from UA, 8 from UAB, and 17 from UAH) . The graduates have mostly found industrial and governmental laboratory positions. Some graduates have chosen a teaching and research career.

Statistical Data
As of February 1999, there were 23 UA faculty, 24 UAB faculty, and 22 UAH faculty participating in the program; there were 5 students at UA, 5 at UAB, and 23 at UAH enrolled in the program. This low student-to-faculty ratio fosters good learning and excellent research productivity.

How It Works
Each student elects a "home campus," either UA , UAB, or UAH; a program of study in a "home department" within that campus; and a research advisor to direct his/her research program. The course offerings straddle departmental boundaries, and also campus boundaries:

• Certain examinations are administered jointly by all three campuses
• The student must take at least one formal lecture course from a sister campus
• The student's doctoral committee must contain at least one faculty member from a sister campus.

The flavor of the student's research program crucially depends upon the research advisor. While the student's life integrates very well with the activities of the other students in the home departments , the course and degree requirements are subtly different, as befits a materials science mission.

For further information
Contact the program's director, Dr. Robert J. Naumann.