• UNM 2010-2011 Catalog
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• »Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies
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• »Graduate Program

Graduate Program

M.S. and Ph.D. in Nanoscience and Microsystems (NSMS)

The M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs in NSMS prepare individuals for careers in the emerging fields in Nanotechnology and Microsystems. The program includes three Concentrations: Nano-Bio Interfaces, Complex Functional Materials, and Information Nanotechnology. It is a collaborative effort among several departments in the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering, with numerous cross-listed and team-taught courses. The participating departments are: Biology, Biochemistry, Civil Engineering, Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth and Planetary Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mathematics and Statistics, Mechanical Engineering, andPhysics and Astronomy. Students who choose the NSMS degree program can continue to be advised by, supported by and conduct research with faculty in these departments. There are numerous courses in these departments that may be of interest as electives–some of which are listed below–for students in the NSMS program. Faculty in three departments within the School of Medicine also collaborate with NSMS. These departments are Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Neuroscience, and Pathology.

Master’s Degree (M.S.) Requirements

M.S. Admission Prerequisites

The general admission requirements described in the Graduate Program in this Catalog apply to the NSMS program. Applicants who plan to apply to the NSMS program must have a bachelor’s degree in a natural science or engineering field. All incoming NSMS students should meet a minimum level of competency indicated by passing grade in a math class of MATH 316 or higher. If needed, incoming students who are otherwise qualified may take MATH 316 during their first semester and pass with a B or better or by taking and passing an equivalency exam that certifies their mathematical ability.

M.S. Application Process

The general application process for domestic and international students is described in the graduate program section of this Catalog. In addition to meeting those requirements, applicants must submit the following directly to the NSMS Program Office for the Admissions Subcommittee review and selection process:

1. Letter of Intent from the applicant about why this program is of interest. (Approximately 250 words stating the rationale and motivation for entering the NSMS Program.)
2. Three sealed letters of recommendation (sent directly to the NSMS Office).
3. GRE entrance examination scores.
4. Any other materials that are relevant to this application, such as experiential credit.
5. Departmental application available online or at program office.

M.S. Admission and Advising Roles

The Admissions Subcommittee reviews applications and makes admission decisions. Selected applicants are sent a notice of acceptance. Students are encouraged to meet with the program director or program administrator to discuss fellowship opportunities, class enrollment and UNM standard procedures such as the details of becoming a student, obtaining an ID card and procedures for enrolling in classes.

M.S. Faculty Advisor/Mentor. Students are responsible for selecting a faculty mentor who will help them establish a Committee on Studies. The program office will aid students in their selection process. Ideally, students and faculty members will agree about the advising/mentoring relationship but for those who need assistance, the Director will request that the Admissions Subcommittee assist in this process.

M.S. Committee on Studies. The student and faculty mentor invite three faculty members to serve on the student’s Committee on Studies. The committee members help the student to plan a Program of Studies–a list of courses that meets the student’s interests and needs which will be counted toward the degree. This plan must be approved by the student’s advisor and the NSMS Program Director prior to being submitted to the OGS. The Committee also supervises the student’s progress and conducts the required thesis or other exams. If the student subsequently qualifies for entering the doctoral program, this committee can continue in the role of Doctoral Studies and Dissertation Committee to assist the student in completing the Ph.D.

Two M.S. Plans: Degree Completion Requirements

There are two options to receive an M,S, in NSMS.

Plan I (Thesis Option)–

1. The student must complete all core course requirements.
2. Student must complete a total of 24 credit hours.
3. Student must complete 6 thesis hours.

Plan 2 (Course Option)–

1.  Students must take core course requirements.
2.  Student must complete 30 credit hours.

Students planning on continuing to pursue a PhD are encouraged to follow Plan 1 (Thesis Option). These are the minimal requirements. In most cases the actual course load completed by a student are likely to be more as dictated by their educational needs and committee on studies.

Ph.D. Degree Requirements

Ph.D. Candidacy Requirements

To advancement to candidacy students must;

1. Satisfactory completion of all NSMS course requirements.
2. Pass a qualifying exam.
3. Pass a comprehensive exam
4. File all required paperwork by required time deadlines.

Ph.D. Application and Admission Process

For prospective doctoral students, the process of applying and being selected is the same as for applicants to the Master’s program, with the Admissions Subcommittee assuming responsibility for reviewing applications and selecting candidates. Students can also qualify while they are in the NSMS M.S. program. Academic requirements for the M.S. program are designed to permit any current student who meets basic requirements to make a smooth transition into the Ph. D. program at any point in their graduate studies. That is, students in the M.S. program who complete the four core courses with grades of A- or better can qualify for entry into the Ph.D. program. And, any applicant who has completed a M.S. degree program that is comparable in quality and subject matter will qualify for entry directly into the NSMS Ph.D. program. That is, an eligible applicant must have at least a Master’s degree in a natural science or engineering field with an emphasis on Nanoscience and Microsystems from an accredited institution, including UNM, and have a scholastic average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better.

PhD Faculty Advisor/Mentor. Newly admitted doctoral students must also go through the process of selecting an advisor/mentor. They will then request the Graduate Subcommittee that the Qualifying Exam be scheduled sometime during or immediately after they have completed all of the core courses. The program office will aid students as needed in their selection process.

Ph.D. Committee on Doctoral Studies. The student and faculty mentor invite three faculty members to serve on the student’s Dissertation Committee on Studies. The committee members help the student to plan a program of studies that is reflected on the student’s Petition for Candidacy form. These courses meet the student’s interests and needs which will be counted toward the degree. The Petition for Candidacy must be approved by the student’s advisor and the NSMS Program Director prior to being submitted to the OGS. The Dissertation Committee also supervises the student’s progress and conducts the required exams.

General Degree Completion Requirements

The NSMS Ph.D. requires that students complete 48 credit hours of courses plus 18 credit hours of dissertation research credit (699). Overall, the basic requirements for Ph.D. candidates includes 4 core courses and an ethics course, plus 4 courses in a Concentration, and 8 additional elective courses as recommended by the students Dissertation Committee. UNM requires 24 credit hours (8 courses) for the M.S. and an additional 24 credits for the Ph.D. Students can enter the Ph.D. degree program after completing their B.S. degree, and proceed directly towards the Ph.D. by taking 48 credit hours past their B.S. degree plus 18 dissertation research (699) credit hours. These are minimum requirements. The actual number of thesis or dissertation credits will in most cases be larger. Students who already have a Master’s degree in one of accepted disciplines automatically acquire a Concentration. Ph.D. candidates have a maximum of five years from the semester in which they pass the doctoral comprehensive examination to complete all of the degree requirements.

Ph.D. Minor in Nanoscience and Microsystems

Students who satisfactorily complete 3 of the 4 NSMS core courses required by the NSMS Ph.D. program (NSMS 510, 512, 518, 519) and an ethics course (NSMS 550) will be awarded a transcripted minor at the Ph.D. level.

NSMS Qualifying Examination Procedure

General requirements for the Ph.D. degree are set by the Office of Graduate Studies and are stated in other pages of this Catalog. Required NSMS core courses are described below. Students who wish to Advance to Candidacy in NSMS must pass a program qualifying examination. This examination covers the four core subject areas listed in this section, and should be taken as soon as possible after entering the program. The qualifying exam is in two parts:

1. Written Examination: Mastery of the core Nanoscience and Microsystems subjects will be demonstrated by the cumulative grades in the Core NSMS classes.
2. Oral Examination: The Ph.D. qualifying exam will consist of an independent, critical analysis of a research article by the student and the preparation of a research proposal. The student will deliver a 30 minute presentation to critique the research paper and present the research proposal. The written exam is not required if the student has obtained a grade of A- or better in 3 of the 4 core courses (excluding ethics). The student will be allowed two attempts for each exam.

Catalog Details About Meeting Degree Requirements

The Catalog provides significant details about requirements that master’s and doctoral candidates must meet to complete their degree, which apply equally for students in the NSMS Graduate Degree Program. These include what is necessary if a student wishes to defer entry into the program, or have a leave of absence, or to have credits transferred, or issues regarding academic standing or petitions to modify academic requirements.

Curriculum for Students in the NSMS M.S. & Ph.D. Degree Program

M.S. Plan I and M.S. Plan II candidates must complete the four Core courses and the Ethics course, plus four courses in one Concentration. In addition, Plan I students must complete 6 hours of thesis credit (599), and Plan II students must complete 6 hours of additional coursework at a 500-level or higher.

Ph.D. candidates must complete a total of 48 credit hours past the bachelor’s degree, 24 of which are taken as doctoral candidates. Thus, in addition to the courses completed at the M.S. level - the 4 core courses plus an ethics course and a Concentration consisting of 4 courses - the Ph.D. candidate will complete a second Concentration, one of those listed below or 4 courses in one of the NSMS departments plus 4 elective courses, as approved by the student’s Committee on Studies, plus 18 dissertation research (699) credit hours.

General Electives

Many courses offered at UNM will be accepted for NSMS elective credit with the intent to supplement the nano-based coursework. We have also listed numerous elective courses here, some of which were developed as new courses specifically for this degree program, with very specific relevance to the nanoscience program. This is not an exclusive list. Many other courses will be added as they are developed and identified. Currently, the list of electives includes: