Faculty
Benjamín Alemán, assistant professor (experimental condensed matter, optical physics). BS, 2004, Oregon; MA, 2010, PhD, 2011, California, Berkeley. (2013)
David Allcock, assistant professor (ion trapping and quantum information). MS, 2007, PhD, 2012, Oxford. (2019)
Jayanth Banavar, professsor (statistical physics). BS, 1972, MS, 1974, Bangalore University, PhD, 1978, University of Pittsburgh. (2019)
Dietrich Belitz, professor (condensed matter theory). Dipl Phys, 1980, Dr.rer.nat., 1982, Technical University Munich. (1987)
Bryan S. Boggs, senior lecturer (optical physics). BS, 1995, MS, 1996, PhD, 2012, Oregon. (2013)
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, associate 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)
Ben Farr, assistant professor (gravitational waves). BS, 2009, Rochester Institute of Technology; PhD, 2014, Northwestern. (2017)
R. Scott Fisher, senior 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)
James N. Imamura, professor (astrophysics); director, Institute of Theoretical Science. BA, 1974, California, Irvine; MA, 1978, PhD, 1981, Indiana. (1985)
Laura Jeanty, assistant professor (high-energy physics). BS, 2006, Yale; MS, 2009, PhD, 2013, Harvard. (2018)
Elsa Johnson, instructor (astronomy). BS, 1993, Oregon State University, MS, 1999, California; Irvine, PhD, 2010, Oregon. (2010)
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, associate professor (experimental elementary particle physics). BS, 2002, Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; PhD, 2007, Stanford. (2012)
Benjamin McMorran, associate 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, Alec and Kay Keith Professor (condensed matter physics, biophysics). BA, 1997, California, Berkeley; PhD, 2002, Chicago. (2006)
Jayson Paulose, assistant professor (condensed matter theory). AB, 2007, Princeton; SM, 2009, PhD, 2013, Harvard. (2018)
Michael G. Raymer, Philip H. Knight Professor (quantum optics and optical physics). BA, 1974, California, Santa Cruz; PhD, 1979, Colorado. (1988)
William C. Scannell, lab instructor (physics education). BS, 2002, MS, 2004, PhD, 2010, Oregon. (2016)
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)
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)
Tristan S. Ursell, assistant professor (condensed matter physics, biophysics). BS, 2003, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; MS, 2003, PhD, 2009, California Institute of Technology. (2014)
Steven J. van Enk, professor (theoretical optical physics). MSc, 1988, Utrecht; PhD, 1992, Leiden. (2006)
Hailin Wang, professor (quantum optics); Alec and Kay Keith Chair. BS, 1982, Science and Technology (China); MS, 1986, PhD, 1990, Michigan. (1995)
David Wineland, research professor (atomic spectroscopy, quantum information, quantum-limited metrology). BA, 1965, California, Berkeley; MA, 1966, PhD, 1970, Harvard. (2018)
Tien-Tien Yu, assistant professor (high-energy physics). AB, 2007, Chicago; PhD, 2013, Wisconsin, Madison. (2017)
Research Faculty and 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
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)
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. 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.
Bachelor of Arts: Physics
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 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 1 | 2 |
| PHYS 351–353 | Foundations of Physics II | 12 |
| PHYS 391 | Physics Experimentation Data Analysis Laboratory | 4 |
| 2 | 8 |
| General Chemistry I | |
| General Chemistry II | |
| Advanced General Chemistry I | |
| Advanced General Chemistry II | |
| General Biology I: Cells | |
| General Biology II: Organisms | |
| General Biology III: Populations | |
| Computer Science I | |
| Computer Science II | |
| Computer Science III | |
| Dynamic Planet Earth | |
| Scientific Investigation in Physiology | |
| 3 | 6 |
| Total Credits | 92 |
Physics Sample Program
| First Year | Credits |
|---|
| CH 221–222 | General Chemistry (or any two courses from the Interdisciplinary Science Core) | 8 |
| PHYS 251–253 | Foundations of Physics I | 12 |
| PHYS 290 | Foundations of Physics Laboratory (two or more terms) | 2 |
| MATH 251–253 | Calculus I-III | 12 |
| 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 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| PHYS 411–413 | Mechanics, Electricity, and Magnetism | 12 |
| Upper-division laboratory course from the following list: PHYS 424–425, PHYS 431–432, PHYS 491–493, or PHYS 401 | | 2-4 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| PHYS 414–415 | Quantum Physics | 8 |
| PHYS 417 | Topics in Quantum Physics | 4 |
| Upper-division laboratory course from the following list: PHYS 424–425, PHYS 431–432, PHYS 491–493, or PHYS 401 | | 2-4 |
| | Total Credits: | 91-94 |
Bachelor of Science: Physics
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 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 1 | 2 |
| PHYS 351–353 | Foundations of Physics II | 12 |
| PHYS 391 | Physics Experimentation Data Analysis Laboratory | 4 |
| 2 | 8 |
| General Chemistry I | |
| General Chemistry II | |
| Advanced General Chemistry I | |
| Advanced General Chemistry II | |
| General Biology I: Cells | |
| General Biology II: Organisms | |
| General Biology III: Populations | |
| Computer Science I | |
| Computer Science II | |
| Computer Science III | |
| Dynamic Planet Earth | |
| Scientific Investigation in Physiology | |
| 3 | 6 |
| Total Credits | 92 |
Physics Sample Program
| First Year | Credits |
|---|
| CH 221–222 | General Chemistry (or any two courses from the Interdisciplinary Science Core) | 8 |
| PHYS 251–253 | Foundations of Physics I | 12 |
| PHYS 290 | Foundations of Physics Laboratory (two or more terms) | 2 |
| MATH 251–253 | Calculus I-III | 12 |
| 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 |
| Third Year |
|---|
| PHYS 411–413 | Mechanics, Electricity, and Magnetism | 12 |
| Upper-division laboratory course from the following list: PHYS 424–425, PHYS 431–432, PHYS 491–493, or PHYS 401 | | 2-4 |
| Fourth Year |
|---|
| PHYS 414–415 | Quantum Physics | 8 |
| PHYS 417 | Topics in Quantum Physics | 4 |
| Upper-division laboratory course from the following list: PHYS 424–425, PHYS 431–432, PHYS 491–493, or PHYS 401 | | 2-4 |
| | Total Credits: | 91-94 |
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:
| 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 |
| 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 |
| | 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 another institution. 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 another institution. 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 for Fundamental Science (IFS) enhances the experimental, theoretical, and astronomy research activities at the University of Oregon. IFS is one of several centers and institutes supported by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, and maintains a close relationship with the Department of Physics as well as the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Mathematics.
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 General Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), is required; the Physics GRE is strongly recommended. 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 employee (GE) opportunities or research fellowships is available on a competitive basis to PhD students. GEs 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.
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 department offers a traditional master’s as well as an internship-based master’s program in applied physics, designed to serve physics students whose primary interests lie in applied research and development rather than in basic research. The Master’s Industrial Internship Program includes course work, professional development, and a nine-month paid internship that helps prepare physicists for a career in industry or government labs. The internship salary helps offset the cost of tuition for students in this program; the traditional master’s program does not include financial support.
Master of Science: Applied Physics
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| 1 | 24 |
| 10 |
| 11-19 |
| Total Credits | 45-53 |
Additional Requirements
For a student to be in good academic standing, the cumulative GPA of the graded-credit total must be 3.00 or better.
Graduate School requirements, including time limits, must be satisfied.
The applied physics master of science (MS) degree requires the completion of 54 total credits—24 graded credits at the 500 level or higher and 30 internship research credits. The internship requirement must be fulfilled through the industrial internship program. Internship credits are taken pass/no pass. A student who is working full-time as an intern typically earns 10 credits each term.
Graded credits must be selected from an approved departmental list. The table below highlights courses commonly taken by students in the Master’s Industrial Internship Program. 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.
Course List | Code | Title | Credits |
| PHYS 581 | Design of Experiments | 4 |
| PHYS 626 | Physical Optics with Labs | 4 |
| PHYS 627 | Optical Materials and Devices | 4 |
| PHYS 628 | Laser and Nonlinear Optics with OpticStudio | 4 |
| PHYS 677M | Semiconductor Device Physics | 4 |
| PHYS 678M | Semiconductor Processing and Characterization Technology | 4 |
| PHYS 679M | Device Processing and Characterization Laboratory | 4 |
| CH 680 | Electronics and Vacuum Systems | 4 |
| CH 681 | Introduction to Electron Microscopy | 4 |
| CH 682 | Electron Microprobe Analysis | 4 |
| CH 683 | Surface Analysis | 4 |
| CH 685 | Advanced Transmission Electron Microscopy | 4 |
Master of Science: Physics
Typically this degree is based solely on course work. Detailed requirements can be found in the Graduate Student Handbook on the department’s website.
Candidates must either submit a written thesis or take a program of specialized courses.
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 graded graduate credits in physics with a GPA of at least 3.00 in these courses; 36 of those 40 credits 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 solely on course work. Detailed requirements can be found in the Graduate Student Handbook on the department’s website.
Candidates must either submit a written thesis or take a program of specialized courses.
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 graded graduate credits in physics with a GPA of at least 3.00 in these courses; 36 of those 40 credits 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 also must take and pass the core graduate sequences, listed below, achieving a B– or better grade in each course. Courses may be retaken once to achieve this minimum grade. The director of graduate studies can selectively waive these requirements in exceptional cases:
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.
