Faculty
Benjamín Alemán, assistant professor (experimental condensed matter, optical physics). BS, 2004, Oregon; MA, 2010, PhD, 2011, California, Berkeley. (2013)
Dietrich Belitz, professor (condensed matter theory). Dipl Phys, 1980, Dr.rer.nat., 1982, Technical University Munich. (1987)
Gregory D. Bothun, professor (astronomy). BS, 1976, PhD, 1981, Washington (Seattle). (1990)
James E. Brau, Philip H. Knight Professor (experimental elementary particle physics). BS, 1969, United States Air Force Academy; MS, 1970, PhD, 1978, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (1988)
Spencer Chang, assistant professor (theoretical high-energy physics). BS, 1999, Stanford; PhD, 2004, Harvard. (2010)
Timothy Cohen, assistant professor (elementary particle theory). BS, 2006, MS, 2009, PhD, 2011, Michigan, Ann Arbor. (2015)
Eric Corwin, associate professor (biophysics, soft condensed matter). BA, 2001, Harvard; PhD, 2007, Chicago. (2010)
Paul L. Csonka, professor (elementary particle theory). PhD, 1963, Johns Hopkins. (1968)
Nilendra G. Deshpande, professor (elementary particle theory). BSc, 1959, MSc, 1960, Madras; PhD, 1965, Pennsylvania. (1975)
Miriam Deutsch, professor (optical physics). BSc, 1988, PhD, 1996, Hebrew. (2000)
R. Scott Fisher, lecturer (astronomy). BS, 1993, PhD, 2001, Florida. (2012)
Raymond E. Frey, professor (experimental elementary particle physics). BA, 1978, California, Irvine; MS, 1981, PhD, 1984, California, Riverside. (1989)
Stephen Gregory, associate professor (solid state physics). BSc, 1969, Manchester; MSc, 1970, Essex; PhD, 1975, Waterloo. (1992)
Roger Haydock, professor (solid state theory). BA, 1968, Princeton; MA, PhD, 1972, ScD, 1989, Cambridge. (1982)
James N. Imamura, professor (astrophysics); director, Institute of Theoretical Science. BA, 1974, California, Irvine; MA, 1978, PhD, 1981, Indiana. (1985)
Timothy Jenkins, senior instructor (physics education). BA, 1975, Linfield College; PhD, 1992, Clarkson. (1992)
Stephen D. Kevan, professor (solid state physics). BA, 1976, Wesleyan; PhD, 1980, California, Berkeley. (1985)
Graham Kribs, professor (elementary particle theory). BASc, 1993, Toronto; PhD, 1998, Michigan, Ann Arbor. (2004)
Dean W. Livelybrooks, senior instructor (geophysics). BS, 1977, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; MS, 1984, PhD, 1990, Oregon. (1996)
Stephanie Majewski, assistant professor (experimental elementary particle physics). BS, 2002, Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; PhD, 2007, Stanford. (2012)
Brian W. Matthews, professor (protein crystallography). BSc, 1959, BSc, 1960, PhD, 1964, Adelaide. (1969)
Benjamin McMorran, assistant professor (experimental condensed matter, optical physics). BS, 2000, Oregon State; MS, PhD, 2009, Arizona. (2011)
Stanley J. Micklavzina, senior instructor (physics education). BS, 1982, MS, 1985, Oregon. (1985)
Jens Nöckel, associate professor (optical physics). Dipl. Phys., 1992, Hamburg; PhD, 1997, Yale. (2001)
Raghuveer Parthasarathy, associate professor (condensed matter physics, biophysics). BA, 1997, California, Berkeley; PhD, 2002, Chicago. (2006)
Michael G. Raymer, Philip H. Knight Professor (quantum optics and optical physics). BA, 1974, California, Santa Cruz; PhD, 1979, Colorado. (1988)
Stephen J. Remington, professor (protein crystallography). BS, 1971, Oregon State; PhD, 1977, Oregon. (1985)
James M. Schombert, Noble F. and Frances L. Miller Professor in Astrophysics (astronomy). BS, 1979, Maryland; MPhil, 1982, PhD, 1984, Yale. (1996)
Brian J. Smith, associate professor (quantum optics, optical physics). BA, 2000, Gustavus Adolphus College; PhD, 2007, Oregon. (2015)
Davison E. Soper, professor (elementary particle theory). BA, 1965, Amherst; PhD, 1971, Stanford. (1977)
Daniel Steck, associate professor (atom optics and nonlinear dynamics). BS, 1995, Dayton; PhD, 2001, Texas, Austin. (2004)
David M. Strom, professor (experimental elementary particle physics). BA, 1980, St. Olaf; PhD, 1986, Wisconsin, Madison. (1991)
Richard P. Taylor, professor (solid state physics). BS, 1985, PhD, 1988, Nottingham. CAD, 1995, Manchester School of Art; MA, 2000, New South Wales. (1999)
John J. Toner, professor (condensed matter theory). BS, 1977, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; MA, 1979, PhD, 1981, Harvard. (1995)
Eric Torrence, professor (experimental elementary particle physics). BS, 1990, Washington (Seattle); PhD, 1997, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (2000)
Steven J. van Enk, professor (theoretical optical physics). MSc, 1988, Utrecht; PhD, 1992, Leiden. (2006)
Hailin Wang, Alec and Kay Keith Chair in Physics; professor (quantum optics). BS, 1982, Science and Technology (China); MS, 1986, PhD, 1990, Michigan. (1995)
Special Staff
Robert Schofield, senior research associate (nuclear biophysics). BS, 1982, Brigham Young; PhD, 1990, Oregon. (1993)
Nikolai Sinev, senior research associate (experimental high energy physics). BS, 1968, PhD, 1974, Moscow State. (1993)
Frank Vignola, senior research associate (solar energy). BA, 1967, California, Berkeley; MS, 1969, PhD, 1975, Oregon. (1977)
Emeriti
Bernd Crasemann, professor emeritus. AB, 1948, California, Los Angeles; PhD, 1953, California, Berkeley. (1953)
Rudolph C. Hwa, professor emeritus. BS, 1952, MS, 1953, PhD, 1957, Illinois; PhD, 1962, Brown. (1971)
Harlan Lefevre, professor emeritus. BA, 1951, Reed; PhD, 1961, Wisconsin. (1961)
Joel W. McClure Jr., professor emeritus. BS, 1949, MS, 1951, Northwestern; PhD, 1954, Chicago. (1954)
David K. McDaniels, professor emeritus. BS, 1951, Washington State; MS, 1958, PhD, 1960, Washington (Seattle). (1963)
John T. Moseley, professor emeritus. BS, 1964, MS, 1966, PhD, 1969, Georgia Institute of Technology. (1979)
George W. Rayfield, professor emeritus. BS, 1958, Stanford; PhD, 1964, California, Berkeley. (1967)
David R. Sokoloff, professor emeritus. BA, 1966, City University of New York, Queens; PhD, 1972, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. (1978)
Robert L. Zimmerman, professor emeritus. BA, 1958, Oregon; PhD, 1963, Washington (Seattle). (1966)
The date in parentheses at the end of each entry is the first year on the University of Oregon faculty.
Undergraduate Studies
As it involves the development of analytical, technical, problem-solving, and science communication skills, a major in physics provides a good start for many career paths. In addition to major and minor programs, the Department of Physics offers a variety of courses for nonmajors and health science premajor students.
Preparation
Entering freshmen should have taken as much high school mathematics as possible in preparation for starting calculus in their freshman year. High school study of physics and chemistry is desirable.
Transfer Students
Because of the sequential nature of the physics curriculum, it is useful for students from two-year colleges to complete as much as possible of calculus, differential equations, several-variable calculus, chemistry, and calculus-based physics (part of an associate's degree) before transferring.
Physics Transfer Students
| Years Completed Before Transfer |
Suggested Completed Courses |
UO Equivalent Courses |
| Two, more than two |
One year of differential and integral calculus |
MATH 251–253-253 |
| Two, more than two |
One year of calculus general physics with laboratory |
PHYS 251–253-253, PHYS 290 |
| Two, more than two |
General chemistry |
CH 221–222-222 or CH 224H–225H-225H |
| Two, more than two |
One term of differential equations and two terms of multivariable calculus |
MATH 256, MATH 281–282-282 |
| More than two |
Second year of physics |
|
Transfer students should also have completed as many as possible of the university requirements for the bachelor’s degree (see Bachelor’s Degree Requirements).
Careers
Fifty percent of graduates with bachelor’s degrees in physics find employment in the private sector working as applied physicists, software developers, managers, or technicians, typically alongside engineers and computer scientists. About 30 percent of students who earn an undergraduate degree continue their studies in a graduate degree program, leading to a career in teaching or research or both at a university, at a government laboratory, or in industry. In addition, a degree in physics is good preparation for a career in business. Students who have demonstrated their ability with a good record in an undergraduate physics program are generally considered very favorably for admission to medical and other professional schools.
Major Requirements
The major in physics leads to a bachelor of arts (BA) or a bachelor of science degree (BS). Complete requirements are listed under Bachelor’s Degree Requirements. The bachelor of arts degree has a second-language requirement. Knowledge of a language other than English is recommended for students planning graduate study in physics.
Required courses must be taken for letter grades and a grade point average of 2.00 (mid-C) or better must be earned in these courses. Courses beyond the minimum requirement may be taken pass/no pass (P/N). At least 20 of the upper-division credits must be completed in residence at the University of Oregon. Exceptions to these requirements must be approved by the physics director of undergraduate studies.
Undergraduate research is strongly encouraged. Laboratory courses such as Foundations of Physics Laboratory (PHYS 290) and Physics Experimentation Data Analysis Laboratory (PHYS 391) provide the correct foundation. Approximately 50 percent of physics undergraduates engage in substantive research during their course of study—typically beginning with Research Project I-III (PHYS 491–493). Contact the physics advisor for more information.
The sequential nature of physics courses makes it imperative to start planning a major program in physics early. Interested students should consult the advisor in the Department of Physics near the beginning of their studies. Sample programs are designed for students who are preparing for employment in industry and choose the applied physics emphasis or who are preparing for graduate studies and choose the physics emphasis. The programs assume that students are prepared to take calculus in their freshman year. Consult the physics advisor for assistance in planning a specific program adapted to a student’s individual needs.
The department offers three areas of emphasis for the physics major.
- physics—designed for majors with a strong interest in studying physics in graduate school
- applied physics—designed for majors who seek a less theoretical study of physics and a more applied focus in optics, electronics, and other project areas
- teaching physics—designed for majors preparing to teach physical sciences in middle or high school
All physics majors have the same curriculum for the first two years.
Bachelor of Arts: Applied Physics
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
|---|
| CH 221–222 | General Chemistry | 8 |
| or CH 224H–225H | Honors General Chemistry |
| MATH 251–253 | Calculus I-III | 12 |
| or MATH 261–263 | Calculus with Theory I-III |
| PHYS 251–253 | Foundations of Physics I | 12 |
| MATH 256 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 4 |
| MATH 281–282 | Several-Variable Calculus I-II | 8 |
| PHYS 290 | Foundations of Physics Laboratory | 3 |
| PHYS 351–353 | Foundations of Physics II | 12 |
| PHYS 391 | Physics Experimentation Data Analysis Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 412–413 | Mechanics, Electricity, and Magnetism | 8 |
| 8 |
| Classical Optics
and Modern Optics | |
| Analog Electronics
and Digital Electronics | |
| 1 | 12 |
| Total Credits | 91 |
Applied Physics Sample Program
Bachelor of Science: Applied Physics
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
|---|
| CH 221–222 | General Chemistry | 8 |
| or CH 224H–225H | Honors General Chemistry |
| MATH 251–253 | Calculus I-III | 12 |
| or MATH 261–263 | Calculus with Theory I-III |
| PHYS 251–253 | Foundations of Physics I | 12 |
| MATH 256 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 4 |
| MATH 281–282 | Several-Variable Calculus I-II | 8 |
| PHYS 290 | Foundations of Physics Laboratory | 3 |
| PHYS 351–353 | Foundations of Physics II | 12 |
| PHYS 391 | Physics Experimentation Data Analysis Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 412–413 | Mechanics, Electricity, and Magnetism | 8 |
| 8 |
| Classical Optics
and Modern Optics | |
| Analog Electronics
and Digital Electronics | |
| 1 | 12 |
| Total Credits | 91 |
Applied Physics Sample Program
Bachelor of Arts: Teaching Physics
Teaching Physics Sample Program
Plan of Study Grid | First Year | Credits |
|---|
| CH 221–222 | General Chemistry | 8 |
| PHYS 251–253 | Foundations of Physics I | 12 |
| PHYS 290 | Foundations of Physics Laboratory (two or more terms) | 3 |
| MATH 251–253 | Calculus I-III | 12 |
| | Credits | 35 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| MATH 256 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 4 |
| MATH 281–282 | Several-Variable Calculus I-II | 8 |
| PHYS 351–353 | Foundations of Physics II | 12 |
| PHYS 391 | Physics Experimentation Data Analysis Laboratory | 4 |
| | Credits | 28 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| ASTR 321 | Topics in Astrophysics | 4 |
| PHYS 409 | Supervised Tutoring | 6 |
| PHYS 420 | Physics Demonstrations | 4 |
| PHYS 431 | Analog Electronics | 4 |
| PHYS 432 | Digital Electronics | 4 |
| | Credits | 22 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| PHYS 491–493 | Research Project I-III | 8 |
| | Credits | 8 |
| | Total Credits | 93 |
Bachelor of Science: Teaching Physics
Teaching Physics Sample Program
Plan of Study Grid | First Year | Credits |
|---|
| CH 221–222 | General Chemistry | 8 |
| PHYS 251–253 | Foundations of Physics I | 12 |
| PHYS 290 | Foundations of Physics Laboratory (two or more terms) | 3 |
| MATH 251–253 | Calculus I-III | 12 |
| | Credits | 35 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| MATH 256 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 4 |
| MATH 281–282 | Several-Variable Calculus I-II | 8 |
| PHYS 351–353 | Foundations of Physics II | 12 |
| PHYS 391 | Physics Experimentation Data Analysis Laboratory | 4 |
| | Credits | 28 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| ASTR 321 | Topics in Astrophysics | 4 |
| PHYS 409 | Supervised Tutoring | 6 |
| PHYS 420 | Physics Demonstrations | 4 |
| PHYS 431 | Analog Electronics | 4 |
| PHYS 432 | Digital Electronics | 4 |
| | Credits | 22 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| PHYS 491–493 | Research Project I-III | 8 |
| | Credits | 8 |
| | Total Credits | 93 |
Bachelor of Arts: Physics
Physics Sample Program
Plan of Study Grid | First Year | Credits |
|---|
| CH 221–222 | General Chemistry | 8 |
| PHYS 251–253 | Foundations of Physics I | 12 |
| PHYS 290 | Foundations of Physics Laboratory (two or more terms) | 3 |
| MATH 251–253 | Calculus I-III | 12 |
| | Credits | 35 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| MATH 256 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 4 |
| MATH 281–282 | Several-Variable Calculus I-II | 8 |
| PHYS 351–353 | Foundations of Physics II | 12 |
| PHYS 391 | Physics Experimentation Data Analysis Laboratory | 4 |
| | Credits | 28 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| PHYS 411–413 | Mechanics, Electricity, and Magnetism | 12 |
| PHYS 422 | Electromagnetism | 4 |
| Select one or two of the following: | | 4-8 |
| Analog Electronics | 4 |
| Digital Electronics | 4 |
| Research Project I | 2-4 |
| Research Project II | 2-4 |
| Research Project III | 2-4 |
| Physics or mathematics electives or both | | 4 |
| | Credits | 24-28 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| PHYS 414–415 | Quantum Physics | 8 |
| PHYS 417 | Topics in Quantum Physics | 4 |
| Select one or two of the following: | | 4-8 |
| Analog Electronics | 4 |
| Digital Electronics | 4 |
| Research Project I | 2-4 |
| Research Project II | 2-4 |
| Research Project III | 2-4 |
| Physics or mathematics electives or both | | 12 |
| | Credits | 28-32 |
| | Total Credits | 115-123 |
Bachelor of Science: Physics
Physics Sample Program
Plan of Study Grid | First Year | Credits |
|---|
| CH 221–222 | General Chemistry | 8 |
| PHYS 251–253 | Foundations of Physics I | 12 |
| PHYS 290 | Foundations of Physics Laboratory (two or more terms) | 3 |
| MATH 251–253 | Calculus I-III | 12 |
| | Credits | 35 |
| Second Year |
|---|
| MATH 256 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 4 |
| MATH 281–282 | Several-Variable Calculus I-II | 8 |
| PHYS 351–353 | Foundations of Physics II | 12 |
| PHYS 391 | Physics Experimentation Data Analysis Laboratory | 4 |
| | Credits | 28 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| PHYS 411–413 | Mechanics, Electricity, and Magnetism | 12 |
| PHYS 422 | Electromagnetism | 4 |
| Select one or two of the following: | | 4-8 |
| Analog Electronics | 4 |
| Digital Electronics | 4 |
| Research Project I | 2-4 |
| Research Project II | 2-4 |
| Research Project III | 2-4 |
| Physics or mathematics electives or both | | 4 |
| | Credits | 24-28 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| PHYS 414–415 | Quantum Physics | 8 |
| PHYS 417 | Topics in Quantum Physics | 4 |
| Select one or two of the following: | | 4-8 |
| Analog Electronics | 4 |
| Digital Electronics | 4 |
| Research Project I | 2-4 |
| Research Project II | 2-4 |
| Research Project III | 2-4 |
| Physics or mathematics electives or both | | 12 |
| | Credits | 28-32 |
| | Total Credits | 115-123 |
Sample Programs for Transfer Students
These sample programs are for transfer students who have completed two years of college work including one year of calculus, one year of general physics with laboratories, one year of general chemistry, and as many as possible of the university requirements for the bachelor’s degree. In addition to graduation requirements for the bachelor’s degree, transfer students should plan to take the following courses, depending on their area of emphasis:
Applied Physics Emphasis
Plan of Study Grid
| Third Year | Credits |
|---|
| MATH 256 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 4 |
| MATH 281–282 | Several-Variable Calculus I-II | 8 |
| PHYS 351–353 | Foundations of Physics II | 12 |
| PHYS 391 | Physics Experimentation Data Analysis Laboratory | 4 |
| | Credits | 28 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| PHYS 412–413 | Mechanics, Electricity, and Magnetism | 8 |
| PHYS 422 | Electromagnetism | 4 |
PHYS 424
& PHYS 425 | Classical Optics | 8 |
| Select one or two of the following: | | 4-8 |
| Analog Electronics | 2-4 |
| Digital Electronics | 2-4 |
| Research Project I | 2-4 |
| Research Project II | 2-4 |
| Research Project III | 2-4 |
| | Credits | 24-28 |
| | Total Credits | 52-56 |
Teaching Physics Emphasis
Physics Emphasis
Plan of Study Grid
| Third Year | Credits |
|---|
| MATH 256 | Introduction to Differential Equations | 4 |
| MATH 281–282 | Several-Variable Calculus I-II | 8 |
| PHYS 351–353 | Foundations of Physics II | 12 |
| PHYS 391 | Physics Experimentation Data Analysis Laboratory | 4 |
| | Credits | 28 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| PHYS 411–413 | Mechanics, Electricity, and Magnetism | 12 |
| PHYS 414–415 | Quantum Physics | 8 |
| PHYS 417 | Topics in Quantum Physics | 4 |
| PHYS 422 | Electromagnetism | 4 |
| Select one or two of the following: | | 4-8 |
| Classical Optics | 4 |
| Modern Optics | 4 |
| Analog Electronics | 4 |
| Digital Electronics | 4 |
| Research Project I | 4 |
| Research Project II | 4 |
| Research Project III | 4 |
| Mathematics or physics electives or both | | 8 |
| | Credits | 40-44 |
| | Total Credits | 68-72 |
Honors
To be recommended by the faculty for graduation with honors in physics, a student must complete at least 46 credits in upper-division physics courses, of which at least 40 credits must be taken for letter grades, and earn at least a 3.50 grade point average in these courses.
As an alternative, undergraduate research leading to the defense of a thesis accompanied by at least a 3.30 grade point average can lead to recommendation for graduation with honors. Contact the director of undergraduate studies for more information.
Minor Requirements
Course List
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|
| PHYS 251–253 | Foundations of Physics I 1 | 12 |
| or PHYS 201–203 | General Physics |
| PHYS 351–353 | Foundations of Physics II | 12 |
| or PHYS 411–413 | Mechanics, Electricity, and Magnetism |
| 4 |
| Physics Experimentation Data Analysis Laboratory | |
| |
| 8 |
| Total Credits | 36 |
Additional Requirements
Course work must be completed with grades of C– or better or P. At least 12 of the upper-division credits must be completed in residence at the University of Oregon.
Engineering
Students interested in engineering may complete preparatory course work at the University of Oregon before enrolling in a professional engineering program at Oregon State University (OSU) or elsewhere. The Department of Physics coordinates a three-plus-two program that allows a student to earn a bachelor’s degree in physics from Oregon and one in engineering from OSU. For more information, see Preparatory Programs in the Academic Advising section of this catalog.
Engineering students interested in semiconductor process engineering or polymer science may be interested in the nationally recognized master's industrial internship program. For more information, visit internship.uoregon.edu.
Preparation for Kindergarten through Secondary School Teaching Careers
The College of Education offers a fifth-year program for middle-secondary teaching licensure in physics and integrated sciences and a program for elementary teaching. Students considering a career pathway to teaching should consider following the physics teaching emphasis to prepare for the licensure programs. More information is available from the department’s education advisor, Dean Livelybrooks; see also the College of Education section of this catalog.
The Department of Physics offers graduate programs leading to the master of science degree in applied physics or to the master of arts (MA), master of science (MS), and doctor of philosophy (PhD) degrees in physics with a variety of opportunities for research. Current research areas include astronomy and astrophysics, biophysics, condensed matter physics, elementary particle physics, and optical physics.
The interdisciplinary Institute of Theoretical Science houses theoretical research in some of the above areas as well as in areas of overlap between chemistry and physics.
The Center for High Energy Physics conducts research in particle physics, much of it in laboratories outside Oregon.
The Materials Science Institute and the Oregon Center for Optics provide facilities, support, and research guidance for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in the interdisciplinary application of concepts and techniques from both physics and chemistry to understanding physical systems.
Cooperative programs of study are possible in molecular biology through the Institute of Molecular Biology.
Pine Mountain Observatory
Pine Mountain Observatory, operated by the Department of Physics for research and advanced instruction in astronomy, is located thirty miles southeast of Bend, Oregon, off Highway 20 near Millican, at an altitude of 6,300 feet above sea level. The observatory has three telescopes—fifteen inches, twenty-four inches, and thirty-two inches in diameter—the largest governed by computer. All are Cassegrain reflectors. A wide-field CCD camera is available on the thirty-two-inch telescope. The site has an astronomers’ residence building and a caretaker’s house. Professional astronomical research is in progress at the observatory on every partially or totally clear night of the year, and the site is staffed year round.
Admission and Financial Aid
For admission to graduate study, a bachelor’s degree in physics or a related area is required with a minimum undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 (B) in advanced physics and mathematics courses. Submission of scores on the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), including the physics test, is required. Students from non-English-speaking countries must demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Information about the department and the Graduate Admission Application are available through the department’s website.
Financial aid in the form of graduate teaching or research fellowships (GTFs) is available on a competitive basis to PhD students. GTFs require approximately sixteen hours of work a week and provide a stipend and tuition waiver. New students are typically eligible only for teaching fellowships.
The sequential nature of most physics courses makes it difficult to begin graduate study in terms other than Fall. Furthermore, financial aid is usually available only to students who begin their studies in the Fall.
To ensure equal consideration for fall term admission, the deadline for applications for financial aid is January 15. Late applications for admission may be considered until July 15.
Degree Requirements
Entering students should consult closely with their assigned advisors. Students showing a lack of preparation are advised to take the necessary undergraduate courses in order to remedy their deficiencies.
Students should consult the Graduate School section of this catalog for general university admission and degree requirements. Departmental requirements, outlined in a handbook for incoming students that is available in the department office and online, are summarized below.
Industrial Internships and the Applied Physics Master’s Degree
The applied physics master’s program leads to a professional MS degree, an alternative to the research-based PhD. It is designed to serve physics students whose primary interests lie in applied research and development rather than in basic research. An important component of this degree program is the industrial internship. These internships in local and regional industries are designed to enhance the ability of physics graduates to obtain good jobs after graduation. Qualified students can complete this program in one year. Students must apply via the Materials Science Institute for admission to the industrial internship program, which is a prerequisite for admission to the master’s program in applied physics. Further information is available in the Research Centers and Institutes section of this catalog.
Master of Science: Applied Physics
Course List
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|
| 1 | 24 |
| 10 |
| 11-19 |
| Total Credits | 45-53 |
Additional Requirements
A grade of B– or better must be achieved in each course applied to the graded-credit total. The overall GPA in physics courses must be 3.00 or better.
Graduate School requirements, including time limits, must be satisfied.
Total credits required for the degree depend on the number of graded credits and internship credits the student earns. This allows flexibility in adjusting the balance between course work and the internship experience. The more graded credits a student earns, the fewer total credits are required for the degree. The minimum total required is 45 credits if the student earns 32 or more graded credits. The minimum required is 53 credits if the student earns only 24 graded credits. In general, 1 credit is added to the minimum total of 45 for each graded credit less than 32 a student earns. For example, a student who earns 28 graded credits needs a minimum total of 49 credits
The internship requirement must be fulfilled through the industrial internship program. Internship credits are taken pass/no pass. A student typically earns 10 credits for every three months of full-time internship experience
Graded credits must be selected from an approved departmental list. This list includes the following:
Course List
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|
| PHYS 581 | Design of Experiments | 4 |
Other 600-level physics courses qualify, but may require additional prerequisites. Some graduate-level courses in chemistry may qualify. Other courses may be added or substituted with the approval of the applied physics program advisor.
Master of Science: Physics
Typically this degree is based on course work and the master’s final examination. Detailed requirements can be found in the Graduate Student Handbook on the department’s website.
Candidates must either pass the combined graduate exam at the master’s level or submit a written thesis or take a program of specialized courses.
A combined graduate exam covering the four core subject areas—mechanics; electricity, magnetism, and optics; modern physics and quantum mechanics; and thermal and statistical physics—is used for both the master’s and doctoral qualifying examinations. For the master’s exam, a separate total score is obtained by removing, in each core area, the student’s problem with the lowest score. Material covered by the combined exam is primarily at the level of advanced undergraduate physics, but as much as one-third of the exam tests core graduate-level material. The examination is given each fall and spring, and master’s candidates must pass the examination by spring of their second year of study.
Thesis Option
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
|---|
| 9 |
| Thesis | |
| Thesis
and Research: [Topic] | |
| Total Credits | 9 |
Specified-Course Option
The specified-courses option requires 40 graduate credits in physics, 36 of which must be selected from a list of courses approved by the department.
The master’s degree program is typically completed in four terms, unless sufficient transfer credits are available, in which case it can be obtained in three.
Master of Arts
Typically this degree is based on course work and the master’s final examination. Detailed requirements can be found in the Graduate Student Handbook on the department’s website.
Candidates must either pass the combined graduate exam at the master’s level or submit a written thesis or take a program of specialized courses.
A combined graduate exam covering the four core subject areas—mechanics; electricity, magnetism, and optics; modern physics and quantum mechanics; and thermal and statistical physics—is used for both the master’s and doctoral qualifying examinations. For the master’s exam, a separate total score is obtained by removing, in each core area, the student’s problem with the lowest score. Material covered by the combined exam is primarily at the level of advanced undergraduate physics, but as much as one-third of the exam tests core graduate-level material. The examination is given each fall and spring, and master’s candidates must pass the examination by spring of their second year of study.
Thesis Option
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
|---|
| 9 |
| Thesis | |
| Thesis
and Research: [Topic] | |
| Total Credits | 9 |
Specified-Course Option
The specified-courses option requires 40 graduate credits in physics, 36 of which must be selected from a list of courses approved by the department.
The master’s degree program is typically completed in four terms, unless sufficient transfer credits are available, in which case it can be obtained in three.
In addition to all the preceding requirements, candidates for the master of arts (MA) degree must demonstrate foreign-language proficiency.
Doctor of Philosophy
The doctor of philosophy degree (PhD) in physics is based primarily on demonstrated knowledge of physics and doctoral dissertation research. PhD students must achieve qualifying scores on the master’s and doctoral combined examination, and are required to pass the qualifying exam by the end of the first term in their third year of study. Students also must take and pass the core graduate sequences, unless some of these are waived by the graduate director:
Next, students must locate an advisor and an advisory committee, who then administer a comprehensive oral examination testing whether the student is ready to undertake dissertation research. The heart of the PhD requirements is research leading to a doctoral dissertation.
Detailed information is available in the Graduate Student Handbook on the department’s website.
