Program: Polymers and Coatings Technology [M.S.] - Eastern Michigan University

Mar 15, 2025

2019-2020 Graduate Catalog

This unique Master’s degree program is among a very few such programs offered in the country, is designed to prepare a cadre of scientists/engineers with specialized skills and knowledge in the fast-expanding area of polymers and coatings. The curriculum is designed to build on to chemistry into the areas of polymers and coatings by offering specialized courses in polymers and coatings technology. The courses are designed to provide fundamental and advanced knowledge of coatings and related materials. The laboratory courses help develop skills related to processing and testing of coating materials, and advanced instrumentation. The required research courses provide unique research experience of working on real-world projects led by faculty mentors, that is essential to be successful in a future career or for pursuing Ph.D. program. This program, supported by faculty with vast industrial experience and national recognition, is well recognized by industries and institutions all over the country. The graduates of this program find outstanding employment and career advancement opportunities.

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This is a designated STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) program.

Program Admission

Applicants must:

Meet degree admission requirements of the Graduate School;
Submit a Personal Statement
Possess an ACS-approved Bachelor’s degree in chemistry (minimum 24 hours in chemistry), or equivalent;
Have had one year of physical chemistry;
Have had one year of organic chemistry; and
Have had an instrumentation class.

School Information

Engineering | Bob Lahidji, Ph.D., Interim Director | 101 King Hall, 734.487.0354, blahidji@emich.edu

Advisor Information

John Texter, Ph.D., 101 King Hall, 734.487.2040, jtexter@emich.edu

Degree Requirements: 30-34 hours

The M.S. program in Polymer Technology requires the completion of 30 to 34 hours of course work to be distributed among required core courses, concentration courses and capstone experience courses:

Core Courses: 12 hours

Select 12 credit hours from the following:
CHEM 562 - Statistical Mechanics and Chemical Kinetics 2 hrs
CHEM 566 - Physical Chemistry of Polymers 2 hrs
CHEM 572 - Spectrometric Organic Structure Determination 3 hrs
CHEM 575 - Advanced Organic Polymer Chemistry 3 hrs
CHEM 610 - Information Retrieval in Chemistry 1 hr
PC 545 - Advanced Polymer Synthesis for Coatings Technology 3 hrs
PC 546 - Emulsion Polymerization and Waterborne Coatings 3 hrs
PC 575 - Crosslinking Technology for Coatings 3 hrs
PC 650 - Powder Coatings 2 hrs
PC 652 - Durability and Performance of Coatings 3 hrs

Concentration Courses: 12 hours

Select from either option I or option II. Students who have taken the 400-level versions of PC 500, 501, and 502 in their undergraduate studies may choose Option II or select courses from core concentration or capstone experience.

Option I: Coatings Concentration
PC 500 - Polymers and Coatings Technology I 3 hrs
PC 501 - Polymers and Coatings Technology I Laboratory 3 hrs
PC 502 - Polymers and Coatings Technology II 3 hrs
PC 503 - Advanced Polymers and Coatings Technology Laboratory 3 hrs
Option II: Management Concentration
MGMT 505 - Organizational Theory and Behavior 3 hrs
MGMT 509 - Strategic Human Resource Management 3 hrs
MGMT 604 - Strategic Communication and Ethical Decision-Making 3 hrs
TM 555 - Technology and Organization 3 hrs

Capstone Experience Courses: 0-6 hours

Select up to six hours from special topics or other graduate courses with advisor approval.

PC 570 - Advanced Coating Evaluation and Testing 3 hrs
PC 591 - Special Topics 2 hrs
PC 592 - Special Topics 3 hrs
QUAL 551 - Design of Experiments 3 hrs

Research or Independent Studies: 4-6 hours

Select from either option I or option II. A non-thesis option may be elected by students from industry on the recommendation of the graduate advisory committee.