In the four course Advanced Materials Characterization Certificate (AMCC) students will explore techniques for characterizing and analyzing the atomic-through-mesoscale structure of materials and their surfaces. Students will learn the fundamental principles and limitations of a range of techniques, to prepare samples, and to operate state-of-the-art equipment. The program provides direct, hands-on experiences to both on-campus and distance learning participants by leveraging internet-based remote operation of characterization equipment in the UK Electron Microscopy Center.
Students will study and work with:
Scanning Electron Microscope with integrated Focused Ion Beam (FIB/SEM, Helios Nanolab 660/G3 from ThermoFisher Scientific)
Surface imaging techniques, elemental analysis, and crystal orientation and texture analysis via Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) and Electron Back Scatter Diffraction (EBSD) (Oxford Instruments), and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS)
TEM (Talos F200X, ThermoFisher Scientific) offering ultra-high-resolution imaging capabilities, coupled with advanced analytical techniques
Nanoscale cross-sectioning and FIB milling for TEM sample preparation
X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS, K-Alpha system from ThermoFisher Scientific)
Fall Semester:
Spring Semester:
All required courses are available fully online and in person. Courses should be taken either together in each semester may be taken in any order, although if taken one at a time, MSE 585 should be completed first. Please contact the AMCGC Director, Matt Beck with questions.
Admission to the AMCGC program requires an earned Bachelor’s degree in a related science or engineering field and earned credit or experience equivalent to an introductory course in Materials Engineering. Students with diverse backgrounds and experiences are strongly encouraged to apply. Admission requirements are in place only to help position students to succeed. If you have questions about these requirements, or are unsure if your background is appropriate, please contact the AMCGC Director, Matt Beck.
Please note that federal financial aid is not available for certificate programs, but other financial resources may be available on the Financial Aid page.
College of Engineering
If you plan to complete a University of Kentucky online program while living outside of Kentucky, you should check the Out-of-State Students page to determine if the University of Kentucky is authorized to provide this program in your state of residence. If you plan to use the degree to seek licensure, you should also determine if the degree meets the educational requirements for licensure in your state.