Washington University's Physics graduate program has two main goals: the development of a broad background in basic physics, and, through the completion of a thesis, the expansion of research abilities in a more specialized area. In this process, students first develop a solid and broad base of physics knowledge through our core curriculum and departmental colloquia. Upper level courses and departmental seminar series subsequently provide more specialized exposure. Armed with the core knowledge, a graduate student joins a research group working in an area of interest to him/her. At Washington University, this research is performed in very close collaboration with one or more of our faculty, and faculty research interests span a wide range of physics fields. Learning takes place in both formal and informal settings with a broad spectrum of colleagues, including faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, research scientists, and graduate student peers