Physics
Doctorate in Physics
Curriculum
- Seventy-two credit hours beyond B.S. or 60 credit hours beyond M.S. required
- Qualifying exam
- Submission and defense of dissertation based on original, independent research
- Required courses include Statistical Thermodynamics and Kinetic Theory, Statistical Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, Classical Mechanics, Methods of Theoretical Physics, Quantum Mechanics I and II
- Elective courses in physics or allied fields
ASSISTfaculty with teaching and research
Stipends and tuition waivers are available as compensation. The graduate committee also actively pursues national fellowships for outstanding students.
Research
The graduate programs in the Department of Physics provide an excellent mix of both pure and applied research on a variety of problems ranging from developing new optical materials to unraveling the mysteries of neutrinos.
Admissions Requirements
- Transcripts (official or unofficial) from each college or university attended
- Resumé/vitae
- Statement of purpose
- Recommendation letters - submit contact information of three persons familiar with your academic preparation and/or job-related skills
Test Scores:
- GRE recommended with no minimum score
- GRE Physics test strongly recommended
- TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE (but not Duolingo) required for international applicants who are not native English speakers
Application Deadline:
- Feb. 1 (fall admission)
Cost & Assistance
Most students enter the graduate program with a teaching assistantship (TA), but often
accept a research assistantship (RA) in one of the research groups during their second
year. Current TA and RA stipends are competitive, and tuition waivers are available.
In addition, the graduate committee actively pursues national fellowships for outstanding
students.
Among the duties performed by the TAs are teaching recitation sections, instruction
in the general physics laboratories, and occasionally grading assignments. The typical
TA duties require 20 hours or less per week.