The University of Alicante Masters course in Materials Science is aimed to provide specialized and advanced training in a scientific area of great fundamental and technical impact such as Materials, and more specifically Nanomaterials within this field. It is mainly aimed at graduates or people who have obtained their degree in Science in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Materials Engineering, etc. This is a research-oriented Masters course, which provides the basis for the development of research activities by carrying out a PhD and training to perform R & D activities in technological centers and companies dedicated to the area of Materials.
The Masters course in Materials Science of the University of Alicante has its origin in the training and formative courses of the Materials Science PhD program, which have been imparted since the early eighties and have evolved according to the breakthrough and increased research in the field of materials science which is carried out at the University of Alicante. The aforementioned PhD Program in 2004 received the Quality Distinction, which has been renewed in subsequent years as the program has been in effect.
In the teaching of the Masters course in Materials Science Professors from four departments from the UA: Applied Physics, Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Bromatology, Physical Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry, which can be considered as a sample of the multidisciplinary nature of the Master.
It is important to mention that the Masters course in Materials Science is coordinated and managed by the Institute of Materials Alicante (IUMA) . This relationship with the Masters course from the IUMA is interesting because it can provide students the experience and contacts (with industry and other research centers) of the research groups that make up the Institute of Materials of Alicante.
OBJECTIVES AND COMPETENCES OF THE MASTERS COURSE
Provide students with a postgraduate training covering basic and applied aspects of materials science (including those identified as nanomaterials).
Train PhDs in the area of Materials Science to develop their professional activity in research, in industry or teaching.
Open avenues for students to develop their professional activities, benefitting from the already remarkable collaboration between the University of Alicante and Industry.
Provide the students contact information with other universities and research centers active in the Materials research area .
Consolidate and potentiate scientific research and technology in the area of Materials Science and Technology.
The competences in the Masters course in Materials Science include a set of knowledge, procedures, and attitudes that complement each other. Three types of skills are defined: General Skills, Fundamental Specific Skills, and Specialization Skills. Some of these skills are:
General Skills: Develop a self-directed learning process or autonomous deepening in this area, to follow and critically interpret the latest developments in the theory and practice of Materials Science, developing research tasks and interpret its results, carry out oral and written communication with sufficient correctness, both in Spanish and English, of the contents of the research area, develop and defend a research project.
Fundamental Specific Skills: Know the fundamental concepts of the subjects that are indicated for their application in the development of the research (in both the academic and professional frameworks) in Materials Science: Solid state chemistry, solid state physics, physical chemistry of surfaces, characterization techniques, most important properties of materials (mechanical, electric, optical, etc.). Furthermore: Classify materials according to their properties and applications, determine the most adequate characterization techniques for each material, select materials for a specific application, interpret behaviours and establish relationships between properties and structure, know the concept of nanomaterials and the main properties that define them.
Specialization Skills: Those are related with the different subjects in which the specialization of the Masters course is structured, as indicated in the Plan of Studies.