Entering students should normally have completed undergraduate physics courses
at the intermediate level of mechanics, electromagnetic theory, quantum physics
and statistical mechanics, with mathematics courses to or beyond advanced calculus.
Students are normally accepted for graduate work towards the Ph.D.,
although students are occasionally accepted to work towards the M.A. Our
students arrive with diverse backgrounds and interests. In each entering
class, we have students who are ready to take advanced courses and begin
research as well as students who need the material presented in 400-level
courses. In order to accommodate the needs of this diverse group of students,
no particular course is required for all students. Suggested curricula have been prepared by the faculty and should be consulted for guidance.
- Requirements for M.A.
- 30 semester hour of satisfactory course credits.
- At least 24 in classroom or seminar courses at the 400 level or higher.
- Of the latter, at least 12 units (four courses) must be chosen from among 501, 502, 505, 506, 507, 523, 524, 529.
- Students must maintain a grade average of B or better.
- Requirements for Ph.D.
Qualification for Ph.D. Candidacy is based on satisfactory performance in important graduate physics classes and passing an oral exam on advanced material.
Course Requirements
In order to qualify for Ph.D. candidacy, students must take a total of six core 500-level courses. The six courses must include the four courses 501, 505, 523, and 529, and at least two of 502, 506, 507, and 524. Students must have taken five of these 500-level courses by the end of the third semester, and six by the end of the fourth semester. Students must maintain a B average in these courses, and have at most one grade lower than a B- in these courses. Students may take no more than four 400-level classes without the permission of the graduate studies committee. In exceptional cases, course requirements and deadlines may be modified at the discretion of the graduate studies committee.
Students with previous graduate work, e.g., a Master's degree in physics, may petition the graduate studies committee for a waiver of some or all of the course requirements portion of the qualification procedure. Note that graduate students on the graduate studies committee do not participate when individual students are discussed.
Oral Examination Requirement
Students are required to pass an oral examination on advanced physics at a level appropriate for a student beginning research in that area. This examination will be administered by a committee of three physics faculty members. The examination should demonstrate a basic understanding of a major topic of current research in the selected area of study.
The committee must be chosen and approved by the chair no later than the end of the examination period of the student's third semester. The chair of this committee will normally be the student's prospective research advisor, who will assist the student with choice of topic, selection of committee members, et cetera.
However, arranging to take the oral examination is the responsibility of each student, and failure to do so in a timely manner may result in termination from the program. This oral examination must be taken by the end of a student's fourth semester. A student who fails the initial oral examination may take a second oral examination, to be completed no later than the end of the student's fifth semester.
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