Physics - M.A., M.S., and Ph.D. Download to print

The Master of Arts in Physics is a highly flexible program that can be customized according to the constraints of the individual student. This flexibility is a good match for the needs of part-time students who continue to hold full-time employment in secondary education or in industry. Also, students in the Ph.D. program can apply for this M.A. degree after completing the requisite number of credit hours.

The Master of Science in Physics emphasizes basic research in theory and experiment, as well as some areas of applied research. The focus is on soft condensed matter, biophysics, correlated electron systems and nuclear/particle physics. Master's students normally take most of the same courses as doctoral students and defend an M.S. thesis that is briefer than a Ph.D. dissertation.

The Ph.D. in Physics emphasizes basic research in theory and experiment, as well as some areas of applied research. The focus is on soft condensed matter, biophysics, correlated electron systems and nuclear/particle physics.
 

Official transcript(s), 3.0 GPA (for unconditional admissions), goal statement, three letters of recommendation and resume or vita.

M.A.: A total of 32 semester hours of graduate credit is required, with no more than one half at the 50000 level. The distribution of these hours will be planned by the student together with the faculty advisor to best fulfill the needs of the student.

M.S.: A total of 32 semester hours of credits is required, which includes 6 hours of thesis and the following physics courses or their equivalents: 55201, 55202, 6/75101 and 6/76161. The remaining hours may be divided among course, seminar and research credits according to the interests of the student with the consent of the advisor. A thesis presenting and interpreting results of original research is required. The research areas are outlined in the dissertation section under the doctoral program.

Ph.D: Each student is required to take a set of basic courses as outlined in the Departmental Information and Policy Guide. Students may petition to have specific course requirements waived if a grade of B (3.000) or higher was obtained for an equivalent course at another school. The basic physics courses will prepare the student for the candidacy examination. Students present at least one seminar during their graduate career.
 

Ph.D.: The dissertation presents results of original research. Topics available for dissertation research are primarily in the areas of condensed matter physics and high-energy nuclear physics. Condensed matter research emphasizes liquid crystal/soft condensed matter physics and systems exhibiting highly correlated electrons/superconductors. It includes problems involving theory and computation, critical phenomena, X-ray scattering, nuclear magnetic resonance, light scattering, magnetic and electric phenomena, ultrasonics, and thermal and optical properties. Small angle neutron scattering and synchrotron X-ray experiments are carried out at national facilities such as the National Institute for Standard and Technology and Argonne National Laboratory. High-energy nuclear research probes the subatomic structure of matter via the subatomic particles and their strong interaction processes. Experiments are carried out at national accelerator facilities such as the Thomas Jefferson National Laboratory and the Brookhaven Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Research in subatomic theory concentrates on modeling hadrons in terms of quarks and gluons using relativistic quantum field theory and describing high energy collision processes of hot, dense nuclear matter in terms of basic quark-gluon interactions.
 

Official transcript(s), 3.0 GPA (for unconditional admissions), goal statement, three letters of recommendation and resume or vita.