About this program

The Department of Physics and Astronomy (DPA) offers a graduate program leading to the Ph.D. or M.S. degree in physics.

Requirements for the M.S. degree

The M.S. with thesis degree requires 24 credit hours of graded PHYS courses, including at most three credits of research (PHYS 868). In addition, six credits of thesis work (PHYS 869) are required in order 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 department.

The M.S. without thesis degree requires 30 credit hours of graded PHYS courses, including at most three credits of research (PHYS 868). Among 30 required credits, at least six credits must be at the PHYS 800 level. In addition, the degree candidate will survey the literature on a current topic in physics or astronomy, write a report on this topic and make a public presentation to the department, represented by three members of its faculty.

Requirements for the Ph.D. degree

Students may enter the Ph.D. program directly after a bachelor’s degree, or after successfully completing an M.S. degree program. To obtain a Ph.D., students are required to complete 30 credit hours of graded class work, with an average grade of 3.0 or better, within the first five semesters after entering graduate school.

In parallel with this coursework, students are expected to begin to conduct research in their first year. Before the end of their fifth semester, they must complete a research readiness exam consisting of a written report and an oral presentation. By the end of their third year, they must present an oral dissertation proposal. Upon successful completion of a research program, the 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.