Build a Stronger, Lighter, and Safer World

Utah’s advanced manufacturing industries are booming! Our state is home to more than 200 advanced manufacturing companies with 12,000 employees in the aerospace, biomedical, outdoor products, renewable energy, and defense industries. This new master’s degree was created to meet the growing need for well-trained professionals who specialize in composite materials and structures. Course delivery can be customized to meet students’ needs with face-to-face and online options available. Lab requirements can be arranged with your program coordinator. The program is designed for working professionals who want to expand career opportunities in the field of composite materials.

Studing using equipment in one of our labs

Degrees Offered

Master of Science (MS-Plan C) in Composite Materials and Structures

  • Requires 33 credits of coursework. No thesis required. Some courses may be available online or face to face. Alternatives to on-campus classes and lab instruction can be arranged with your program coordinator.

Coming soon: Professional Certificate in Composites

This new certificate program is designed for working engineers who want to expand their technical capabilities. Requires 12 credits from our core curriculum. Contact joan.rudd@usu.edu to get started.

Training Topics

  • –Additive Manufacturing
  • –Adhesion Science
  • –Analytical & Numerical Modeling
  • –Design and Analysis
  • –Manufacturing and Processing
  • –Material Science of Composites
  • –Materials Joining
  • –Mechanics of Composite Materials
  • –NDE and Repair
  • –Testing and Quality
Professor helping a student

Meet Your Future Mentor

At USU we take pride in quality teaching and mentorship. Our faculty create rich learning experiences inside the lab and classroom, providing students the training they need for a successful career. Beyond the classroom, students can take advantage of the many partnerships our professors have with industry contacts who recruit USU engineering graduates.

Faculty

Greg Anderson

Greg Anderson

Materials, Processes and Testing

greg.anderson@usu.edu

Ryan Berke

Ryan Berke

Aerospace Materials and Structures

ryan.berke@usu.edu

Thomas Fronk

Thomas Fronk

Analytical & Numerical Modeling

thomas.fronk@usu.edu

Nadia Kouraytem

Nadia Kouraytem

Additive Manufacturing

nadia.kouraytem@usu.edu

Juhyeong Lee

Juhyeong Lee

Aerospace Materials and Structures

juhyeong.lee@usu.edu

Haoran Wang

Haoran Wang

Analytical & Numerical Modeling

haoran.wang@usu.edu

Yanqing Su

Yanqing Su

Mechanics of Composite Materials

yanqing.su@usu.edu

Facilities

Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer

Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer

A state-of-the-art instrument for characterizing the dynamic-mechanical properties of materials.
Idea Factory

Idea Factory

USU’s premier makerspace is equipped with CNC router, laser cutter, monoFab machine, thermoform machine, the newest 3-D printers and much more.
Layup Laboratory

Layup Laboratory

A dedicated space for composite layup. Equipped with walk-in freezer, curing oven, and industry-grade ventilation.
Metal Factory

Metal Factory

USU’s largest machine shop has everything you need to complement your advanced manufacturing design and production needs.
Instron MicroTester

Instron MicroTester

Performs tensile, compression, flex, shear, and cyclic tests on a variety of fibers, polymer matrices, and small composite specimens.
Tension/Compression Testing

Tension/Compression Testing

Our labs are equipped with the same industry standard testing equipment used by professionals.

Ready to Apply?

Minimum Requirements

  • –GRE scores are used by some faculty in choosing students and in funding decisions and are therefore strongly encouraged.
  • –Bachelor's in mechanical or aerospace engineering from an accredited program
  • –Minimum 3.3 GPA
  • –Familiarity with FORTRAN, C, or MATLAB
  • –International students have additional requirements

Application Materials

  • –Official Transcript
  • –TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Exam
  • –Resume
  • –Letter of Recommendation
  • –Statement of Purpose (approx. 750 words)

Contact Us

Ready to learn more? Before applying to the USU School of Graduate Studies, contact Joan Rudd to explore current funding and enrollment opportunities.

Joan Rudd

Graduate Program Coordinator

435-797-0330
joan.rudd@usu.edu
ENGR 417

Joan Rudd

Learn More