UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE FORMS
Academic Program Approval
This form is a routing document for the approval of new
and revised academic programs. Proposing department should
complete this form. For more
information, call the Faculty Senate Office at 831-2921.
Submitted by: Norbert Mulders______________________phone
number_X3517___
Action: Revision of the degree requirements of the M.S. in
Physics and Astronomy
(Example: add major/minor/concentration, delete
major/minor/concentration,
revise major/minor/concentration,
academic unit name change, request for permanent status, policy change,
etc.)
Effective term_06F___________________________________________________________________________
(use format 04F, 05W)
Current degree M.S. in Physics and
Astronomy_______________________________
(Example: BA, BACH, BACJ, HBA,
Proposed change leads to the
degree of: M.S.
in Physics and Astronomy ____________
(Example: BA,
BACH, BACJ, HBA,
Proposed name:__________________________________________________________
Proposed new name for revised
or new major / minor / concentration / academic unit
(if applicable)
Revising or Deleting:
Undergraduate major / Concentration:_________________________________
(Example: Applied Music – Instrumental degree BMAS)
Undergraduate minor:_______________________________________________
(Example: African
Studies, Business
Administration, English, Leadership,
etc.)
Graduate Program Policy statement change: See attached statement___
(Attach your
Graduate Program Policy Statement)
Graduate Program of Study: M.S. in Physics and
Astronomy _______________
(Example: Animal Science: MS Animal Science: PHD
Economics: MA Economics: PHD)
Graduate minor / concentration:______________________________________
List program changes for
curriculum revisions:
The curriculum revision introduces an option to obtain an M.S.
degree based on course work
only, without research/thesis work.
List new courses required for
the new or revised curriculum:
(Be aware that approval
of the curriculum is dependent upon these courses successfully passing through
the Course Challenge list. If there are no new courses enter “None”)
None
Other affected units:
(List other departments affected by this new or revised
curriculum. Attach permission from the
affected units. If no other unit is
affected, enter “None”)
None
Rationale:
(Explain your reasons for creating, revising, or deleting the
curriculum or program.)
At one time,
the M.S. degree was the main research degree of the physics and astronomy
program at UD. This has not been the case for a long time as this role has been
taken over by the Ph.D. degree. At this point there is a need for a degree that
has content appropriate for an M.S. but does not require the commitment to
research. In first instance this will serve those students who entered the
Ph.D. program but who come to the conclusion that they do not want to pursue a
research career. Another group consist of those who in the end cannot meet
Ph.D. program requirements such as passing the Ph.D. candidacy exam, but do meet
expectations for an M.S. degree.
It should be
noted that this would also bring our graduate program in line with current
practice in most other physics or astronomy graduate programs
We do not
intend to continue the (provisional) MA program, which was intended mainly for
part-time students, for which there has been no interest.
Program Requirements:
(Show the new or revised curriculum as it should appear in the
Course Catalog. If this is a revision,
be sure to indicate the changes being made to the present curriculum.)
Proposed requirements:
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE M.S.
DEGREE
Students may choose to obtain an MS degree with or without thesis.
The
MS without thesis degree requires 30 credits hours in PHYS courses, including
at most 3 credits of research (PHYS 868).
The
MS with thesis requires 24 credits hours in PHYS courses, including at most 3
credits of research (PHYS 868). In addition 6 credits of thesis work (PHYS 869)
are required. After the M.S. thesis is completed, the candidate defends the
thesis in an oral examination administered by the thesis committee.
Both
the with and without thesis options require that of
the classroom course credits at least 6 are at the PHYS 800 level.
Approval
of the department review committee is required if more than 6 credits are from
departments other than physics or if any are in a discipline unrelated to
physic
Current version (from the course catalog):
Twenty-four credit hours of course work
are required for the M.S. degree; at least 6 must be in 800-level courses in
physics. Approval of the department review committee is required if more than 6
of these 24 are from departments other than physics or if any are in a
discipline unrelated to physics. In addition, 6 credit hours of thesis (PHYS
869) must be completed. After the M.S. thesis is completed, the candidate
defends the thesis in an oral examination administered by the thesis committee.
ROUTING AND AUTHORIZATION: (Please do not remove supporting
documentation.)
Department Chairperson Date
Dean of College Date
Chairperson, College Curriculum
Committee___________________________________Date_____________________
Chairperson, Senate Com. on UG or GR
Studies Date
Chairperson, Senate Coordinating
Com. Date
Secretary, Faculty Senate Date
Date of Senate Resolution Date
to be Effective
Registrar Program
Code Date
Vice Provost for Academic Programs
& Planning Date
Provost Date
Board of Trustee Notification Date
Revised