Physics, Ph.D.

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Return to: 3460 Department of Physics and Astronomy

Degree Requirements

(Minimum of 71 hours beyond the baccalaureate degree)

Students must either complete or exempt PHYS 6510 , PHYS 6520 , PHYS 6810 , PHYS 7600 and PHYS 7700 (0-17 hours). Exemption from these courses may be granted on the basis of testing or of having successfully completed similar courses elsewhere. Students not exempting at least three courses must take more than the 71 minimum hours required for the degree.
Students must have competence in the following areas of mathematics: matrix algebra, vector and tensor analysis, partial differential equations, Fourier series and boundary value problems, and complex variables.
Students seeking a Ph.D. degree in Physics must complete the following core courses (19):

PHYS 8010 - Advanced Classical Mechanics 4 Credit Hours
PHYS 8100 - Electromagnetic Theory I 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 8110 - Electromagnetic Theory II 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 8210 - Quantum Mechanics I 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 8220 - Quantum Mechanics II 3 Credit Hours
PHYS 8310 - Statistical Mechanics 3 Credit Hours

Additional Requirements

Students seeking a Ph.D. degree in physics must complete at least two graduate level courses appropriate to the focused research area (6-8 hours). Course choices should be selected after discussion with the research adviser, and approval of the graduate director.
Students seeking a Ph.D. degree in physics in any concentration must complete at least 12 additional hours of 8000-level physics (PHYS) courses, excluding PHYS 8710 , PHYS 8910 , or PHYS 8999 . This must include at least two (but not more than three) hours of PHYS 8900 /ASTR 8900 Seminar. Courses should be selected in consultation with the student’s research adviser and the graduate director. Alternatively, up to 9 hours of 8000-level non-physics graduate courses in the area of concentration may be counted toward this requirement with approval of the graduate director.
Students must complete PHYS 6300 Teaching Physics and PHYS 6310 Teaching Physics Lab Practicum for a total of 3 hours.
A minimum of 20 hours of either PHYS 9999 or ASTR 9999 Doctoral Dissertation Research must be completed. No more than 20 hours may count towards the 71-hour program of study for the Ph.D.
Additional graduate levels courses should be taken to complete the 71 hour program of study for the Ph.D.
Proficiency in an approved language or research skill. Contact the graduate director for details.
Students seeking a Ph.D. degree in Physics must take the physics general examination, administered as a written examination, after taking the required core courses.
Students pursuing the Ph.D. degree are strongly urged to satisfy the requirements for the M.S. (non-thesis option) as soon as possible after entering the program. See the appropriate director of graduate studies for details.
An oral presentation and discussion of the student’s proposed dissertation research.
A dissertation.
A final oral presentation and defense of the dissertation.

Prior to registration each semester, students must be advised by either the chair of the department or the appropriate director of graduate studies. Please note, graduate assistants are required to enroll for a minimum of 12 credit hours each for the fall/spring semesters and 9 credit hours for the summer semester. These credit hours will consist of courses required for the prescribed 71-hour program of study, as well as additional hours of ASTR 9999 /PHYS 9999 , ASTR 8710 /PHYS 8710 , and ASTR 8910 /PHYS 8910 .