Mar 29, 2024  
2019-2020 Graduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Physics, Ph.D.


Degree Requirements


Candidates for the Ph.D. degree must satisfactorily complete eight core courses, four elective graduate courses in physics or astrophysics, and at least 48 credit hours of graduate courses in total. Students typically take the core sequence of courses during their first two years, and may take electives during their second and later years, according to their interests and in consultation with their research adviser.

Elective Courses (12 Credit Hours)


Four elective graduate courses chosen upon the recommendation of the Ph.D. adviser from a list found in the Physics Department Graduate Student Handbook.

Research Courses


After completing core courses and electives, students typically sign up for 8000-level research courses   under their adviser until reaching the required 48 credit hours.

Comprehensive Qualifying Exam


In order to advance to Ph.D. candidacy, students must pass a comprehensive qualifying exam in the form of a four-part written exam on the topics of Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Electrodynamics, and Statistical Mechanics. Exams are given annually, usually just prior to the start of the spring semester. Students are allowed two attempts to pass all four sections and must do so before the beginning of their fourth semester.