Program Overview

See a snapshot of the Online Graduate Certificate in Polymers and Coatings

The Graduate Certificate in Polymers and Coatings is a fully online five-course curriculum designed to prepare professionals who understand and apply the key theoretical concepts and practical aspects of polymers and coatings technology. This program benefits manufacturing or user industries of paints, coatings, inks, composites, and related products.

*Students can transfer all completed certificate courses with at least a C+ grade to the Polymers and Coatings Technology M.S. program.

Graduates of this program will:

• Become science and technology leaders in a global environment where coatings and polymer technology is growing rapidly.
• Build a solid foundation of chemistry and technology through core courses.
• Customize their program of study to their unique interest and educational goals.
• Be prepared for increased responsibility in industry and government.

Career Opportunities in:

Also available:

Eastern Michigan University offers a variety of graduate programs and a post-master’s certificate online. Check out our other online programs.

Calendar

View the online dates and deadlines for EMU

The Graduate Certificate in Polymers and Coatings is a fully online five-course curriculum with multiple starts a year so you can maintain a balance between work, life, and your studies. View the full calendar to find the best start date and corresponding deadlines for you.

Courses

View the degree plan for our online Graduate Certificate in Polymers and Coatings program

• Core Courses Expand dropdown
  • PC 500: Polymers and Coatings Technology Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    Introduction to synthesis, film formation, structure, and properties of polymers commonly used in coatings. Polymer systems to be covered include acrylic, vinyls, polyesters, alkyds, oils, epoxies, epoxyesters, aminoplasts, urethanes, phenolics, hydrocarbons, cellulosics.
• Elective Courses  Expand dropdown
  • PC 541: UV-Cure Coatings Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    UV-cure coating technology is very fast growing and finding an increasingly wide range of applications in the field of coatings, adhesives, inks as well as in additive manufacturing (3D printing), primarily due to their low environmental footprint combined with many enabling technical features and excellent performance of cured materials. This course discusses fundamental concepts, raw materials, formulation of UV-cure coatings. The current trends in the state-of-the-art in UV-cure materials and cure processes are emphasized.
  • PC 546: Emulsion Polymerization and Waterborne Coatings Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    A course to present the technology involved in preparing and utilizing water-based coatings. The strengths and limitations of water-based materials versus other forms of coatings (solvent-based, powder and others) are presented. The requirements for polymers and other ingredients of water-based coatings formulations are taught. Students may not receive credit for both this course and PC 416.
  • PC 570: Advanced Coating Evaluation and Testing Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    This course investigates the physical chemical analysis of coatings and polymers followed by subsequent identification of individual layers, components and/or contamination by appropriate instrumental means. Hands-on training in instrumental methods include FTIR, FTIR/Microscopy, GC/MS, Pyrolysis/GC/MS, GPC, DSC, TGA-MS, DMA, SEM, DCA, UV/VIS, dielectric spectroscopy, optical microscopy, and Particle Sizing with theoretical training in EIS, AFM, HPLC, x-ray diffraction, FE-SEM, and cryo-TEM.
  • PC 575: Crosslinking Technology for Coatings Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    A course to present the physical and chemical principles of crosslinking of organic coatings. The physical properties of thermosetting coatings depend on the degree of crosslinking and the type of chemical linkages involved in crosslinking. The effects of these factors on today’s commercial coatings are explained and examined.
  • PC 582: Principles of Coating Formulations Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    Coating formulation is art and science of selection of raw materials and processes for designing coating compositions for specific end uses. This course is designed to develop understanding of various formulation parameters, tools and develop skills for formulation of coatings for specific end uses. Regulatory aspects, pertaining to formulations are also emphasized.
  • PC 618: Surface Functionalization Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    Basic physical-chemical methods, basic organic, and inorganic coupling chemistries, and living polymerization methods are reviewed and applied to achieve diverse forms of surface modification and functionalization suitable for nanoparticles through high volume and high surface area planar substrates. The emphasis is on the application of various chemistries to enable highly value-added coatings and materials to be made in a chemically stable and robust manner.
  • QUAL 551: Design of Experiments Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    This course is an introduction to statistically-designed experiments (DOE) to improve product and/or process quality. Topics include fundamental concepts concerning the design, implementation, and analysis of factorial experiments as well as reporting results and formulating recommendations for continuous improvement.
  • or QUAL 647: Research Methods Expand dropdown
    Duration: 7.5 weeks

    Credit Hours: 3

    A course in methods applied in engineering and technical research. Emphasis is on the development of a research proposal. This includes the problem and its setting; qualitative, quantitative and mixed research methodologies’ and a review of existing research and practices (products and processes as well as literature).