For some students, the master’s degree will be used as part of a continuing Ph.D. program; for others, it will be a terminal degree leading to employment in government laboratories, industrial programs, hospitals, teaching positions, and other occupations. The Master of Science with a Major in Physics is offered under Plan A or Plan C.

Admission Requirements

Admission to this program is contingent upon admission to the Graduate School. In addition, applicants must satisfy the following criteria.

Prerequisite Preparation

Prerequisite preparation should include:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
A minimum of general college physics with laboratory equivalent to:
PHY 2170	University Physics for Scientists I
PHY 2180	University Physics for Scientists II
PHY 3300	Introductory Modern Physics
Fifteen credits in intermediate physics courses, for example, those equivalent to the following:
PHY 5100	Methods of Theoretical Physics I
PHY 5200	Classical Mechanics I
PHY 5210	Classical Mechanics II
PHY 5340	Optics
PHY 6400	Quantum Physics I
PHY 6410	Quantum Physics II
PHY 6500	Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
PHY 6600	Electromagnetic Fields I
PHY 6610	Electromagnetic Fields II
PHY 6850	Modern Physics Laboratory
Mathematics equivalent to mathematics prerequisites required in those physics courses
A minimum of general college chemistry with laboratory equivalent to:
CHM 1100 & CHM 1130	General Chemistry I and General Chemistry I Laboratory

The Graduate Record Examination, both the General section and the Physics subject test, is strongly recommended as a counseling aid in preparing the student’s plan of study.

Program Requirements

The Master of Science degree in Physics is offered in three concentrations and under Plans A (Thesis), B (Essay) and C (Courses only). In all cases, 32 total credits are required to graduate. Specific requirements are based on concentration:

• Advanced Physics
• Biomedical Physics
• Applied Physics

Advanced Physics Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
The following physics courses or their equivalents must be completed or must have been completed previously at the undergraduate level. If these courses have not been taken previously and are taken at the graduate level, they can be counted towards the required credits for the degree.
PHY 6400	Quantum Physics I
PHY 6500	Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
PHY 6600	Electromagnetic Fields I
PHY 6860	Computational Physics
or PHY 6750	Applied Computational Methods
Mathematics equivalent to mathematics prerequisites required for the course work listed above.
PHY 7850	Data Analysis Techniques	3
PHY 6995	Professional Development Seminar in Physics	2
At least six credits of coursework in physics or astronomy at the 7000 level or above (exclusive of PHY 7990, PHY 7996,PHY 7999, PHY 8991, PHY 8995).
Other graduate courses can be taken at the 5000 level or above and can include up to 4 credits of PHY 7990, PHY 7999, PHY 8991, or PHY 8995. Courses in departments other than physics and astronomy can be taken with permission of the graduate director.
Plan A (plan-specific requirements)
PHY 8999	Master's Thesis Research and Direction (8 credits required)
A departmental final oral examination is required of all candidates.
Plan B (plan-specific requirements)
Three additional credits in physics at the 7000 level and above.
PHY 7999	Master's Essay Direction (3 credits required)
A departmental final oral examination is required of all candidates.
Plan C (plan-specific requirements)
Three additional credits in physics at the 7000 level and above.

Biomedical Physics Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
The following physics courses or their equivalents must be completed or must have been completed previously at the undergraduate level.If these courses have not been taken previously and are taken at the graduate level, they can be counted towards the required credits for the degree.
PHY 5750	Biological Physics
ROC 6710	Physics in Medicine
PHY 6750	Applied Computational Methods
or PHY 6860	Computational Physics
Mathematics equivalent to mathematics prerequisites required for the course work listed above.
PHY 7850	Data Analysis Techniques	3
PHY 6995	Professional Development Seminar in Physics	2
PHY 7090	Survey of Biophysics (if students have taken PHY 6090 as an undergraduate student, another 7000 level course in physics and astronomy, such as PHY 7560)	3
PSL 7215	Nanobioscience	3
At least three nine credits of graduate coursework in physics and astronomy at the 7000 level or above (exclusive of PHY 7990, PHY 7996, PHY 7999, PHY 8995, PHY 8991, PHY 8999 and equivalent courses taken as an undergraduate student).
Other graduate courses can be taken at the 5000 level or above and can include up to 4 credits of PHY 7990, PHY 7999, PHY 8991, PHY 8995. Courses in departments other than physics and astronomy can be taken with permission of the graduate director.
Plan A (plan-specific requirements)
PHY 8999	Master's Thesis Research and Direction (8 credits required)
A departmental final oral examination is required of all candidates.
Plan B (plan-specific requirements)
PHY 7999	Master's Essay Direction (3 credits required)
A departmental final oral examination is required of all candidates.

Applied Physics Concentration

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
The following physics courses or their equivalents must be completed or must have been completed previously at the undergraduate level. If these courses have not been taken previously and are taken at the graduate level, they can be counted towards the required credits for the degree.
PHY 6500	Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
PHY 6600	Electromagnetic Fields I
PHY 6860	Computational Physics
or PHY 6750	Applied Computational Methods
Mathematics equivalent to mathematics prerequisites required for the course work listed above.
PHY 7850	Data Analysis Techniques	3
PHY 6995	Professional Development Seminar in Physics	2
PHY 6450	Introduction to Material and Device Characterizations	4
PHY 7050	Survey of Condensed Matter Physics	3
At least three credits of coursework in physics or astronomy at the 7000 level or above (exclusive of PHY 7990, PHY 7996,PHY 7999, PHY 8991, PHY 8995).
Other graduate courses can be taken at the 5000 level or above and can include up to 4 credits of PHY 7990, PHY 7999, PHY 8991, PHY 8995. Courses in departments other than physics and astronomy can be taken with permission of the graduate director.
Plan A (plan-specific requirements)
PHY 8999	Master's Thesis Research and Direction (8 credits required)
A departmental final oral examination is required of all candidates.
Plan B (plan-specific requirements)
PHY 7999	Master's Essay Direction (3 credits required)
A departmental final oral examination is required of all candidates.