In the Department of Physics and Astronomy we offer two degrees: DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY  - MASTER OF SCIENCE. The Department of Physics and Astronomy works closely with the graduate students on theoretical and experimental research in the following areas:   ASTRONOMY ASTROPHYSICS ATOMIC PHYSICS BIOPHYSICS CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS NUCLEAR PHYSICS

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DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

(71 hours beyond the baccalaureate degree in either Physics or Astronomy)

1.	Students must either complete or exempt Phys 6510, 6520,6810 and 7600. Exemption from these courses may be granted on the basis of testing or of having successfully completed similar courses elsewhere. Students not exempting at least two courses must take more than the 71 minimum hours required for the degree.
2.	Students must have competence in the following areas of mathematics: matrix algebra, vector and tensor analysis, partial differential equations, Fourier series and boundary value problems, and complex variables.
3a.	Students seeking a Ph.D. degree in Physics must complete at least 22 hours of core courses (biophysics or applied physics options may replace some of the core courses with other relevant courses) including:
3b.	Phys 8010 Advanced Classical Mechanics Phys 8100 Advanced Electromagnetic Theory I Phys 8110 Advanced Electromagnetic Theory II Phys 8210 Quantum Mechanics I Phys 8310 Statistical Mechanics II And two of the following courses   Astr 6000 Fundamentals of Astrophysics Astr 8000 Stellar Atmospheres Astr 8100 Stellar Structure and Evolution Astr 8200 Galactic Structure Astr 8300 The Interstellar Medium Astr 8450 Cosmology Astr 8700 Relativistic Astrophysics Phys 8120 Plasma Physics Students seeking a Ph.D. degree in Astronomy must complete at least fifteen hours of core courses including: Astr 6000 Fundamentals of Astrophysics Astr 6100 Astronomical Techniques and Instrumentation And at least three of the following:   Phys 8010 Advanced Classical mechanics Phys 8100 Advanced Electromagnetic Theory I Phys 8110 Advanced Electromagnetic Theory II Phys 8210 Quantum Mechanics I Phys 8310 Statistical Mechanics
4a.	Students seeking a Ph.D. degree in Physics must complete: Phys 8220 Quantum Mechanics II At least 12 additional hours of 8000-level physics courses. No more than three hours of Phys 8910 (Directed Study) can count towards the degree.
4b.	As an alternate to the standard program, applied physics and biophysics options are available. Students seeking any of these options may have to satisfy specific course requirements. Contact the relevant graduate director for details.
4c.	Students seeking a Ph.D. degree in Astronomy must complete at least 21 additional hours of 8000-level astronomy courses, including at least two (but no more than three) hours of Astr 8900 (Seminar). No more than three hours of Astr 8910 (Directed Study) can count towards the degree.
5.	Satisfactory completion of one hour of Phys 6300 or Astr 6300 (Teaching Physics/Astronomy) and two hours of Phys 6310 or Astr 6310 (Teaching Physics/Astronomy Lab Practicum).
6.	A minimum of 20 hours of either Phys 9999 or Astr 9999 (Doctoral Dissertation Research) must be completed; only 21 counts towards the 71 hours for the Ph.D. The applied Physics option will have more specific requirements. Contact the research adviser/graduate director for details.
7.	Satisfaction of the foreign language/research skill requirement. (Contact the department for details.)
8a.	Students seeking a Ph.D. degree in physics must take the physics general examination, administered as a written examination, after taking Phys 8210, 8010, 8100, and either Astr 6000 or Phys 8310. Biophysics option students may substitute one or two of the examination subjects with the approval of the research adviser and the graduate director.
8b.	Students seeking a Ph.D. degree in astronomy must take the first astronomy general examination, administered as a written examination covering the fundamentals of astronomy, within a year of entering the program.
8c.	Students seeking a Ph.D. degree in astronomy must also take the second general examination, administered as a written and oral examination, after passing at least twelve hours of 8000-level astronomy courses and at least nine hours of required 8000-level physics courses.
9.	Students pursuing the Ph.D. degree are strongly urged to satisfy the requirements for the M.S. (nonthesis option) as soon as possible after entering the program. See the appropriate director of graduate studies for details.
10.	An oral presentation discussing the student’s proposed dissertation research.
11.	A dissertation.
12.	An oral examination on the completed dissertation.

Prior to registration each semester, students must be advised by either the chair or the appropriate director of graduate studies.

 

MASTER OF SCIENCE (Physics, 30 Hours)

1.	Twenty-four hours of graduate coursework, which must include the following 13 hours of 8000-level courses: Phys 8010        Advanced Classical Mechanics Phys 8100        Advanced Electromagnetic Theory I Phys 8110        Advanced Electromagnetic Theory II Phys 8210        Quantum Mechanics I Other course requirements may apply for biophysics and applied physics options. Contact the relevant graduatedirector for details.
2.	No more than one hour of Astr/Phys 6300 and one hour of Astr/Phys 6310 can be applied to the M.S. degree.
3.	Proficiency in a foreign language or in an approved research skill.
4.	A general examination.
5.	Six hours of Phys 8999, Thesis Research.
6.	A thesis.
7.	A thesis defense.

MASTER OF SCIENCE (Astronomy, 30 Hours)

1.	Twenty-four hours of graduate coursework, which must include: a. Astr 6000, Fundamentals of Astrophysics. b. Nine additional hours of 8000-level graduate astronomy courses. c. No more than one hour of Astr/Phys 6300 and one hour of Astr/Phys 6310 can be applied to the M.S. degree.
2.	Proficiency in a foreign language or in an approved research skill.
3.	A general examination.
4.	Six hours of Phys 8999, Thesis Research.
5.	A thesis.
6.	A thesis defense.

MASTER OF SCIENCE, Nonthesis Option (36 hours)

1.	Students pursuing a nonthesis M.S. with a concentration in physics must complete all four of the following core courses; students pursuing a nonthesis M.S. with a concentration in astronomy must complete Astr 6000 and at least two of the following four core courses:
	Phys 8010 Advanced Classical Mechanics Phys 8100 Advanced Electromagnetic Theory I Phys 8110 Advanced Electromagnetic Theory II Phys 8210 Quantum Mechanics I All students must also complete at least two of the following courses: Phys 8120 Plasma Physics Phys 8220 Quantum Mechanics II Phys 8310 Statistical Mechanics Phys 8410 Atomic Physics Phys 8510 Condensed Matter Physics Phys 8610 Nuclear Physics Phys 8650 Fundamentals of Particles and Interactions Astr  8000 Stellar Atmospheres Astr  8100 Stellar Structure and Evolution Astr  8200 Galactic Structure Astr  8300 The Interstellar Medium Astr  8450 Cosmology Astr  8600 Stellar Spectroscopy Astr  8700 Relativistic Astrophysics
2.	No more than one hour of Astr/Phys 6300 and one hour of Astr/Phys 6310 can be applied to the M.S. degree.
3.	Proficiency in a foreign language or in an approved research skill.
4.	A general examination.
5.	A research paper.

APPENDIX
The following list of alternate research skills is approved for students of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. If two alternate skills are to be included in a student's program both may not be from the same area, e.g. Computer Language.

COMPUTER LANGUAGES
 

The Department allows proficiency in BASIC, C, C++, FORTRAN, IDL or Mathematica as  an alternative research skill. Proficiency may be shown by passing a test in any of those languages of by successfully completing CSc 2301, Introduction to Computer Programming: FORTRAN or CIS 3260, Introduction to Programming in C/C++ or CIS 3280 Object-Oriented Programming in C++, with a grade of 'B' or better.

NUMERICAL ANALYSIS

The Department will accept a grade of 'B' or better in CSc 6610 Numerical Analysis I, as proof of proficiency in numerical analysis.

TECHNICAL WRITING

A grade of 'B' or better in English 6110, Technical Writing, would demonstrate proficiency in the alternative research skill.

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