Graduate Programs in Physics

Programs are available in either Physics or Physics Teaching

Master of Science in Physical Sciences:  Emphasis in Physics

This program of study is designed to qualify candidates for teaching, industrial or governmental employment, or continued graduate work at the doctoral level.

The basic requirements for the degree are given below.

I. Admission Requirements
 For admission to this program and the area of specialization, the applicant must have completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university and specific courses in the area of specialization.  Students without the basic undergraduate background for their chosen area of specialization listed below will be required to complete additional undergraduate course work which may not count toward the graduate degree.  Such students, admitted on a provisional status, will be informed upon admission of any specific deficiencies which must be addressed.  <>

Minimum Expected Undergraduate Preparation in Physics
Completion of two courses for which the first year introductory physics course is required and have a demonstratable proficiency in calculus.

II. Entrance Examination
Students are required to pass an entrance examination in their area of specialization.  This examination will be administered at the time of the student's first enrollment or prior to the completion of 12 graduate credit hours.  (More information on the entrance examination is available in the office of the Departments of Physical Sciences.)

III. Degree Requirements
Students are required to either: 1) complete a minimum of 30 credit hours including a thesis (a maximum of 8 may be research and thesis); or 2) complete a minimum of 32 credit hours including a research project (a maximum of 6 may be research).  A student must earn a 3.0 grade point average in all courses used for the degree.  Only a grade of "A" or "B" may be used in 500 and 600 numbered graduate courses and no grade lower than a "C" may be used for degree programs.  A minimum of 60% of the credit hours must be in courses numbered 700 or higher.  For complete degree requirements the student should consult the current graduate catalog.

IV. Student's Graduate Committee
Each individual who is pursuing a graduate degree must have his/her work approved and supervised by a graduate committee.  This graduate committee is appointed by the recommendation of the department.  The student's research advisor will generally serve as the chairperson of the committee.  A student's graduate committee must approve the program of study including the outline of the research topic.  Before the degree is awarded, the committee will examine the candidate orally over the thesis or research report and related topics.

V. Seminar Participation
The student is expected to attend and participate in scheduled seminars in the area of his/her specialization during the entire period of full-time graduate study, whether enrolled in such seminars for credit or not.  A maximum of two credit hours in seminar may be applied toward the degree.  The student must present the results of their research at a scheduled public seminar prior to the oral examination over the research.

VI. A minimum of 20 credit hours must be in physics courses selected from the following list in consultation with the advisor:
PH 520 Light
 PH 530 Heat and Thermodynamics
 PH 540 Modern Physics
 PH 541 Atomic and Nuclear Physics I
 PH 547 Analog Electronics
 PH 548 Analog Electronics Lab
 PH 550 Digital Electronics
 PH 551 Digital Electronics Lab
 PH 635 Intermediate Physics
 PH 645 Nuclear Techniques
 PH 730 Seminar in Physics
 PH 741 Advanced Physics Laboratory I
 PH 742 Advanced Physics Laboratory II
 PH 752 Atomic and Nuclear Physics II
 PH 755 Microcomputer Electronics
 PH 760 Mechanics I
 PH 761 Mechanics II
 PH 762 Electricity and Magnetism I
 PH 763 Electricity and Magnetism II
 PH 765 Physics of Electronic Devices
 PH 770 Research Problem in Physics
 PH 775 Microcomputer Systems
 PH 780 Introduction to Solid State
 PH 785 Nuclear Physics
 PH 790 Theoretical Physics
 PH 795 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
 PH 810 Plasma Physics
 PH 820 Astrophysics
 PH 840 Mathematical Physics
 PH 845 Topics in Physics
 PH 860 Graduate Research
 PH 890 Thesis M.S.

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Master of Science in Physical Sciences: Emphasis in Physical Science Teaching

This program of study is designed to qualify candidates for teaching, industrial or governmental employment, or continued graduate work at the doctoral level.

The basic requirements for the degree are given below.

I. Admission Requirements
For admission to this program and the area of specialization, the applicant must have completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university and specific courses in the area of specialization.  Students without the basic undergraduate background for their chosen area of specialization listed below will be required to complete additional undergraduate course work which may not count toward the graduate degree.  Such students, admitted on a provisional status, will be informed upon admission of any specific deficiencies which must be addressed.

Required Undergraduate Preparation in Physical Science
Completion of course work equivalent to the Division requirements for secondary teaching certification in one of the physical sciences is expected.

II. Entrance Examination
Students are required to pass an entrance examination in their area of specialization.  This examination will be administered at the time of the student's first enrollment or prior to the completion of 12 graduate credit hours.  (More information on the entrance examination is available in the office of the Division of Physical Sciences.)

III. Degree Requirements
Students are required to either: 1) complete a minimum of 30 credit hours including a thesis (a maximum of 8 may be research and thesis); or 2) complete a minimum of 32 credit hours including a research project (a maximum of 6 may be research).  A student must earn a 3.0 grade point average in all courses used for the degree.  Only a grade of "A" or "B" may be used in 500 and 600 numbered graduate courses and no grade lower than a "C" may be used for degree programs.  A minimum of 60% of the credit hours must be in courses numbered 700 or higher.  For complete degree requirements the student should consult the current graduate catalog.

IV. Student's Graduate Committee
Each individual who is pursuing a graduate degree must have his/her work approved and supervised by a graduate committee.  This graduate committee is appointed by the recommendation of the department.  The student's research advisor will generally serve as the chairperson of the committee.  A student's graduate committee must approve the program of study including the outline of the research topic.  Before the degree is awarded, the committee will examine the candidate orally over the thesis or research report and related topics.

V. Seminar Participation
The student is expected to attend and participate in scheduled seminars in the area of his/her specialization during the entire period of full-time graduate study, whether enrolled in such seminars for credit or not.  A maximum of two credit hours in seminar may be applied toward the degree.  The student must present the results of their research at a scheduled public seminar prior to the oral examination over the research.

VI. Course Requirements for an Emphasis in Physical Science
There are two options available for the students wishing to pursue a masters in physical science with this emphasis.

Option A -

This option is designed for those individuals who want the maximum hours in discipline course work and who are full-time graduate students during the normal academic year.

Required:
1. A minimum of 24 credit hours must be in the disciplines of Chemistry, Physics, and/or Earth Science.
  2. WH 503 History of Science (2-3 hrs.)
  3. One of the following determined by degree option:

A.  (Project) Any one of the following:	B.  (Thesis) Any one of the following:
1. PS 839 Graduate Research (1-3 hrs.)	1. PS 875 Graduate Research (1-5 hrs.)
2. CH 729 Graduate Research (1-3 hrs.)	2. CH 875 Thesis M.S. (1-5 hrs.)
3. PH 860 Graduate Research (1-3 hrs.)	3. PH 890 Thesis M.S. (1-5 hrs.)
4. ES 739 Research Problem in ES (1-3 hrs.)	4. ES 875 Thesis M.S. (1-5 hrs.)

Electives: Courses as determined by candidate and graduate committee to bring total semester hours to 30-32.

Option B -

This program is designed for those individuals who want to do discipline course  work and gain additional competence in science education techniques as well as curriculum development.  This program is specifically designed to be completed in three to four summer sessions.  The required course work for this program is listed below. <> 

Required:
1. WH 503 History of Science (2-3 hrs.)
2. PS 768 Workshop in Physical Science Teaching (1-5 hrs.)
3. PS 801 Modern Developments in Physical Sciences (3 hrs.)
4. At least one of the following determined by degree option:
   A. (Thesis) ER 851 Research Design and Writing (3 hrs.)
   B. (Project) ER 752 Analysis of Research (3 hrs.)
5. At least 12 hours in one and no less than 6 hours* in a second from the following disciplines: Chemistry, Earth Science or Physics (* or closely related courses in a discipline different from the 12 hour emphasis).  No course listed under requirement numbers 1-4 may be used to satisfy this requirement.
6. One of the following determined by degree option:

A. (Project) Any one of the following:	B. (Thesis) Any one of the following:
1. PS 839 Graduate Research (1-3 hrs.)	1. PS 875 Graduate Research (1-5 hrs.)
2. CH 729 Graduate Research (1-3 hrs.)	2. CH 875 Thesis M.S. (1-5 hrs.)
3. PH 860 Graduate Research (1-3 hrs.)	3. PH 890 Thesis M.S. (1-5 hrs.)
4. ES 739 Research Problems in ES (1-3 hrs.)	4. ES 875 Thesis M.S. (1-5 hrs.)

Electives: courses as determined by candidates and graduate committee to bring total semester hours to 30-32.

 

Last Updated April 27, 2007