REGULATIONS FOR GRADUATE WORK
IN PHYSICS AND
INTRODUCTION
The Department
of Physics and Astronomy (DPA) offers a graduate program leading to the M.S.
or Ph.D. degrees in Physics and Astronomy. This manual provides an outline of
the requirements for these degrees. Many aspects of graduate work at the
Nearly all graduate students in the program are at some point or another supported as Teaching Assistants. Valuable information about being a Teaching Assistant can be found in the TA Handbook, issued by the Center for Teaching Effectiveness. This handbook also provides a convenient summary of University policies that apply to the appointment of graduate teaching assistants.
Other useful information, on matters such as campus life, computer technology on campus, policies on responsible computing, resources for foreign students, as well as a very convenient index can be found at a website maintained specifically for current graduate students.
Material regarding the admissions process can be found in the relevant sections of the graduate catalog and on the DPA website.
DEGREE
REQUIREMENTS
Classroom courses: The M.S. degree requires
·
30 credits of classroom course work in physics, including at least six
at the 800-level.
·
Students may choose to obtain an MS degree with or without thesis. In
the former case, of the required 30 credits, 9 credits may be research and thesis
work (PHYS 868/869). However, the research/thesis credits cannot be substituted
for the 6 credits of 800 level course work required.
Thesis: The purpose of the M.S. thesis is to demonstrate that the student can conduct research under supervision and communicate the results clearly in English. The thesis is defended in an oral examination administered by a committee of three members of the DPA.
Course requirements: Students may enter the Ph.D. program after
successfully completing an M.S. degree program, at the
Students on the regular track must satisfy the following requirement:
· Taking and passing, with an average grade of 3.0 or better, 30 credits of course work within the first five semesters after entering graduate school. At least 18 of these credits must be from among 800-level PHYS courses.
Of these 18 credits at the 800 level, 15 credits (i.e. 5 courses) must come from the following group of 6 courses. These courses have to be passed with a grade of B or better.
PHYS 809, PHYS 810
PHYS 811, PHYS 812
PHYS 813, PHYS 815
Students following the fast track must meet the following
requirements to remain on that track:
· Taking at least 12 credits of PHYS classroom courses at the 800-level within their first year. (Also note that students who have not passed the candidacy exam must take at least 5 PHYS courses in their first year.)
Course credit earned at the
Ph.D. Candidacy Exam
The written part of the
candidacy exam: All students in the Ph.D. program must attempt the written
part of the Ph.D. candidacy exam at the latest at the end of their second
semester in the program. Students must pass all four parts of the exam
separately, but will have one opportunity, at the end of their third semester,
to retake those parts they failed. No student may take the exam more than
twice.
If a student on the fast track has not passed the written part of the exam after two semesters, the Graduate Review Committee will promptly review the student’s progress and issue a determination whether the student should remain on the fast track or should shift to the regular track.
The written part of the
examination is given twice per year. It is an exam covering four subjects,
mechanics, electricity and magnetism, statistical mechanics and thermodynamics,
and quantum mechanics (coinciding with the course content of PHYS 620,
Classical Mechanics, PHYS 603/604, Electricity and Magnetism, PHYS616,
Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics, and PHYS610, Quantum Mechanics) Passing anyone of the four sections of the exam requires a
score of at least 65%. All
members of the Physics Faculty are asked to submit questions for inclusion in
the exam. The exam is made up of questions selected by the PhD Candidacy Exam
Committee. All faculty take part in the grading, with each question graded by
two people independently. The chair of the committee reviews all grades, and
ask the graders to resolve any serious disagreements about grades.
The oral candidacy examination: Within 18 months after passing the written
part of the Ph.D. candidacy exam, a Ph.D. candidate shall make an oral
presentation on the proposed thesis research to a committee consisting of the
members of the Ph.D. thesis committee and two additional members appointed by
the director of the graduate program. This committee shall examine the students
in matters regarding the proposed research program. A student who fails the
examination has one opportunity to retake the exam. This has to take
place within 6 month of the original examination.
Ph.D. Thesis: Upon successful completion of a research program, the PhD candidate will write a dissertation showing originality of thought and scholarship, properly expressed in English. The dissertation is defended in an oral examination administered by the student's dissertation (doctoral) committee (see below). The committee may require that changes or revisions be made to the dissertation. The final oral examination is not considered to have been passed until the thesis revisions have satisfied the committee. In general, doctoral committees should strive to achieve consensus concerning the student’s performance and quality of work. In the case of dissenting votes, the majority opinion rules and a majority vote in favor is needed for a successful defense.
Role of the Ph.D. committee:
· Within six months of passing the written part of the Ph.D. Candidacy Examination, the candidate, together with his/her advisor, should decide upon the composition of the dissertation committee.
· The PhD candidate should provide the members of the Ph.D. committee with an annual report (due May 15) outlining the progress made and plans for the following year. At least six months prior to the anticipated defense of the thesis, the candidate will make a careful written and oral presentation to the dissertation committee, which may advise upon the final stages.
Composition of the Ph.D. committee: It is the policy of the University's Graduate Program that each dissertation committee will consist of between four and six members.
· At least one committee member will be drawn from an academic unit other than the department of the advisor, or from an institution or organization external to the University.
· The chair of the committee is the faculty member in charge of the candidate's research and dissertation.
· At least one member of the committee will be a member of the DPA faculty from a research area distinct from that of the candidate.
· At least one member of the committee will be from the DPA faculty
The members who satisfy the various requirements need not be distinct.
Summary of degree requirements
|
Degree |
Total course Credits |
800 Level Credits |
Thesis credits |
|
M.S. |
30 |
6 |
9* |
|
Reg. Track Ph.D. |
30 |
18 |
9 |
|
Fast track Ph.D. |
12 |
12 |
9 |
*May
replace 9 of the 30 course credits
Summary of time limits
|
Degree |
Time for Completion of the Degree |
Time for passing the written part of the Ph.D. candidacy exam |
Time for passing the oral part of the Ph.D. candidacy exam |
|
M.S. |
3 years |
- |
- |
|
Reg. Track Ph.D. |
7 years |
1 ½ years |
3 ½ |
|
Fast track Ph.D. |
5 years |
1 ½ years |
3 ½ |
GENERAL RULES of the PROGRAM
Enrolment: In order to remain in good standing in the DPA graduate program, each full-time Master's candidate must take at least six credit hours of 600 or 800 level PHYS courses during each semester, maintaining in these PHYS credit hours a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, until he/she has fulfilled the course requirements for the Master's degree. Ph.D. candidates must continue taking six or more credit hours of 600 or 800 level PHYS course work in each semester until they have passed the written part of the Ph. D. Candidacy Exam, maintaining in these PHYS credit hours a GPA of 3.0 or better. Courses designated as pass/fail and courses in research or in thesis/dissertation do not satisfy the six PHYS credit hour per semester course requirement and are not considered in computing the required grade point average.
In addition the following rules apply:
· Approval of the Graduate Review Committee is required if more than six classroom credit hours are from departments other than Physics and Astronomy, or for any credit hours in a discipline unrelated to Physics.
· First year students will register for PHYS 600/800 courses only.
·
All full-time first-year graduate students who
have not yet passed the written part of the candidacy exam are required to take
for credit in their first year at least 5 classroom PHYS courses at the 600- or
800-level.
Advisement: The Director of the Graduate Program functions as the initial advisor for the first year students. Students are encouraged to select a research advisor early, and must formally identify one (subject to possible change later) by May 15 to be eligible for financial support during summer. They are assisted in their choice of research area and research advisor by a one credit pass/fail course, PHYS 600, in which members of the faculty presents brief, informal descriptions of their research programs. Students are also encouraged to broaden their awareness of current research by attending the DPA colloquia and graduate student research talks.
The Graduate Review Committee meets immediately after the end of Spring semester to examine the time table for all students. The committee reviews their status regarding progress and financial support, and reports thereupon to the Director of the Graduate Program.
Progress towards a graduate degree: A reasonable goal for a well-prepared graduate student is the completion of an M.S. degree within two years from the time of first entering graduate school, and the completion of a Ph.D. degree within four to five years if the student enters with an MS or six to seven years when entering with a BS. In order to extend support beyond the time limits of five respectively seven years, the Graduate Student Review Committee would have to take positive action. It is in the student's interest to complete a degree as soon as possible insofar as is consistent with work of good quality. Thus every effort is made to encourage a student and his or her advisor to design a degree program which can be completed within these time limits. In the event that extensions of support are needed, a student and his or her advisor should submit a written request to the Graduate Review Committee as soon as the need for extra time becomes clear.
Students who fail to pass the written part of the candidacy exam within 1 ½ years may request transfer to the MS program, as may those who fail to pass the oral part.
Good Academic Standing: To be considered in good academic standing, a student must maintain a minimum cumulative graduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale each semester. To be eligible for an advanced degree, a student’s cumulative grade point average shall be at least a 3.00. A grade below a C- will not be counted toward the course requirements for a degree but is calculated in the student’s cumulative grade point average.
Arbitration: In those instances in which difficulties arise in communications between a student, the advisor, and/or the Graduate Review Committee, informal consultation with the Director of the Graduate Program may be helpful. Should this avenue fail to restore healthy communication, the matter may be considered by the entire Graduate Studies Committee.
Graduate student
TEACHING AND financial support
Students who are awarded
fellowships or assistantships assume a contract with the University. The
University agrees to provide a scholarship for the student’s tuition and pay a
stipend. As with any professional appointment, the amount of service may vary
but the average is usually expected to be 20 hours per week. Continuation of
the appointment is contingent upon satisfactory performance of assigned duties,
continued academic eligibility and compliance with the University’s Code of Ethics.
Eligibility for financial support: The University will not permit support of a student who has not obtained a 3.00 (B) grade-point average in graduate-level courses. The department may request a one-semester temporary continuation of support for a student whose grade-point average has fallen slightly below 3.0.
A student must be classified as full-time to be eligible to hold an assistantship or fellowship. Students holding a teaching assistantship, a research assistantship, a graduate assistantship, a tuition assistantship, or a tuition scholarship must register for at least 6 credit hours of graduate-level courses each fall and spring semester to meet full-time status. Students holding a fellowship must register for at least 9 credit hours. Students on contract in fall or spring semester who are completing a thesis or a dissertation may register in sustaining credit to meet full-time status.
SUMMER REGISTRATION. Students who are supported by the University as teaching assistants, research assistants, or fellows during the summer months are required to be registered for at least three credits during this period. Students may register in 868 (research), 869 (thesis), 969 (dissertation), sustaining, or a regular course offered in summer session. Except for 869, 969, or regular courses, grades assigned are pass/fail.
TA training: First-time recipients of Teaching Assistantships in the DPA are required to attend the Annual Conference for Graduate Teaching Assistants offered by the Center for Teaching Effectiveness. They are required also to participate in a one-credit pass/fail course, PHYS 601 Introduction to Teaching Physics and Astronomy. International TAs must also attend the ELI/ITA training program and meet the SPEAK/UDIA score requirements to be eligible for a TA appointment
Teaching in winter session: Students supported as TAs in Winter Session will have a teaching assignment amounting to one section. Provided their (research) advisor approves, both TAs and RAs may request to be TA for one (additional) section, for which the student will be paid an additional stipend. Past teaching effectiveness will be used to determine the allocation of these sections. RAs may not be assigned more than one section.
Instructorships: Some students may be offered positions as lecturers in Summer or Winter Sessions. In order to lecture, a student must have passed the written and oral parts of the candidacy exam, or have obtained a Master's degree, or have shown other convincing evidence of competence. In addition, lecturers will be expected to have shown high teaching ability, using student evaluations and classroom visits by DPA faculty members as evidence. Research Assistants may not spend more than 20 hours per week teaching in Winter Session and therefore may not hold instructorships.
