Core Courses (24 credits)
- Statistical Mechanics
- Classical Mechanics
- Electrodynamics 1
- Electrodynamics 2
- Quantum Mechanics 1
- Quantum Mechanics 2
- Computational Methods
- Solid State Physics 1
Elective Courses
(6 credits approved by advisor) Sample courses:
- Programming in Physics
- Electronics
- Optics
- Introduction to Cosmology
- Laser Physics and Applications
- Medical Imaging
- Astroparticle Physics
*with an average grade of B or higher
Research Skills
Demonstrated proficiency in an area such as:
- Foreign language
- Computer programming
- Numerical analysis
- Technologies (e.g., electronics)
- Computational Methods course
Physics seminar
(2 credits distributed over two semesters)
Comprehensive Exams
There will be three comprehensive exams, each 3 hours long, offered once every year, typically at the end of the spring semester, the week after commencement. An MS pass is lower than the level required for a doctoral pass. The three exams are Classical Physics (classical mechanics, electromagnetism, including optics, radiation, special relativity), Quantum Physics (including standard applications to atomic, molecular, solid state, and particle physics) and Statistical and Thermal Physics (thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, statistics and probability including applications from solid state physics).