• Concentrations and course offerings may vary by campus and/or by program modality.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for the course availability each term at your campus or within your program modality. 
  • Certain options within the program may be required at certain campuses or for certain program modalities.  Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for requirements at your campus or for your program modality. 

Bachelor’s Degree Entrance

Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.

Milestones

Two qualifying examinations
Annual review
Candidacy
Preliminary research seminar proposal with proposed dissertation committee
Preliminary research seminar talk
Dissertation defense

Core Requirements1

Principles
PHYS 5318Principles of Experimental Physics4
Computational
PHYS 7301Classical Mechanics/Math Methods4
PHYS 7305Statistical Physics4
PHYS 7321Computational Physics4
Theory
PHYS 7302Electromagnetic Theory4
PHYS 7315Quantum Theory 14
PHYS 7316Quantum Theory 24
Research
PHYS 7210Introduction to Research in Physics (Take this repeatable course twice)0
PHYS 9984Advanced Research1-8

Electives

Complete 8 semester hours from the following:8
If preapproved to specialize in nanomedicine or network science, consult program director.
Nonequilibrium Physics
Elementary Particle Physics
Condensed Matter Physics
Quantum Field Theory 1
Biological Physics 1
Specialization Elective
Choose 4 semester hours from your specialization below:4

PhD Specialization Options

A specialization is required.2
Note: Specialization in nanomedicine or network science requires prior approval.

Biological Physics 3
PHYS 7731Biological Physics 14
PHYS 7741Biological Physics 24
Particle Physics 4
PHYS 7323Elementary Particle Physics4
PHYS 7733Topics: Elementary Particle Physics and Cosmology4
Condensed Matter Physics
PHYS 7324Condensed Matter Physics4
PHYS 7734Topics: Condensed Matter Physics4
Nanomedicine
NNMD 5270Foundations in Nanomedicine: Therapeutics3
NNMD 5370Nanomedicine Research Techniques4
Network Science
PHYS 5116Network Science 14
PHYS 7335Dynamical Processes in Complex Networks4

Dissertation 

Taken third year and beyond.
Dissertation Term 1
Dissertation Term 2
Complete the following (repeatable) course until graduation:
Dissertation Continuation

Program Credit/GPA Requirements

42 total semester hours required
Minimum 3.000 GPA required

1

Methods for Teaching in the Introductory Physics Laboratory 1 (PHYS 7220) and Methods for Teaching Introductory Physics Laboratory 2 (PHYS 7230) are required for students awarded a Teaching Assistantship.

2

Note that the specialization will not appear on the degree diploma or on the official transcript but can be listed as the field of study on CVs and grant proposals.

3

By approval of the graduate committee, biological physics students may substitute graduate courses in biology, physics, or chemistry from the following list instead of Biological Physics 2 (PHYS 7741):   

Biochemistry (BIOL 6300)Molecular Cell Biology (BIOL 6301), Optical Methods of Analysis (CHEM 5613)Molecular Modeling (CHEM 5638), .

Additional appropriate courses may also be substituted by approval of the physics graduate committee.

4

Elementary Particle Physics (PHYS 7323) is required for a specialization in particle physics. The advanced elective may be Topics: Elementary Particle Physics and Cosmology (PHYS 7733).

Year 1
FallHoursSpringHours
PHYS 72100PHYS 53184
PHYS 73014PHYS 72100
PHYS 73024PHYS 73054
PHYS 73154PHYS 73164
 12 12
Year 2
FallHoursSpringHours
PHYS 73214PHYS 99842-8
Electives8Advanced elective4
 12 6-12
Year 3
FallHoursSpringHours
PHYS 99900PHYS 99910
 0 0
Total Hours: 42-48

The Department of Physics offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Physics with specializations in different subfields that reflect the forefront of research activities of the department, including biological physics, condensed matter physics, elementary particle physics, nanomedicine, and network science. The program for the PhD degree consists of the required coursework, a qualifying examination, a preliminary research seminar, the completion of a dissertation based upon original research performed by the student, and a dissertation defense upon completion of the dissertation. Based on these measures, students are expected to obtain a graduate-level understanding of basic physics concepts and demonstrate the ability to formulate a research plan, communicate orally a research plan, and conduct and present independent research.

Coursework

Students entering with a master’s degree from a U.S. institution in physics or a related area approved by the department will be required to take 10 semester hours of courses. The courses will be determined by the graduate director based on the student's transcripts. Students entering with a MS degree awarded by an institution outside the United States will need to consult the graduate director for a transcript evaluation to determine required coursework and course waivers.

Grade Requirements

The minimum grade required is a B (3.000) average. A student who does not maintain a 3.000 cumulative average for two consecutive semesters, or is otherwise not making satisfactory progress toward the PhD degree requirements, may be recommended for termination at the discretion of the graduate committee.

Qualifying Exam Requirement

All students registered in the PhD program are required to pass a qualifying exam unless they are granted an exemption. The qualifying exam may include both written and oral parts. Students who enter with a master's degree from a U.S. institution may take either the classical or the quantum exam, or both, at the first opportunity upon entering the program in the fall. In this case, the exam will count as a first attempt only if the student submits the exam to the examiner.

The qualifying exam consists of two parts:

  • Part 1: Classical physics (based on classical mechanics and mathematical methods), electromagnetic theory, and statistical physics.
  • Part 2: Quantum physics (based on quantum mechanics and its applications) and statistical physics. A syllabus is available and on request will be distributed by the graduate coordinator to any student prior to the exam.

The qualifying exam is given twice yearly: once prior to the start of the fall semester and again within the first two weeks of the start of the spring semester. The exam will consist of one day each on Part 1 (classical physics/mathematical methods, electromagnetism, and statistical physics) and Part 2 (quantum physics and statistical physics).

All students enrolled in the PhD program must take the fall qualifying exam after completing their first-year course of study with the required grade-point average. Students taking the exam for the first time must take both Part 1 and Part 2. A student who does not pass the exam on their first attempt must pass the exam the next time it is given in order to continue in the PhD program. However, a student who passes one part of the first attempt is not required to repeat that part.

A student who fails the written exam by less than 5% of the total possible score on the second attempt for that part will be automatically given an oral exam. A student who fails the written exam by more than 10% is excluded from taking an oral exam. These provisions apply separately to Parts 1 and 2 of the exam.

PhD Candidacy

Degree candidacy is established when the student has passed the qualifying examination and completed 10 semester hours of courses. PhD degree candidacy is certified by the college. A maximum of five years after the establishment of doctoral degree candidacy is allowed for the completion of degree requirements.

PhD Dissertation Requirement

All PhD students are required to complete a dissertation based upon new and original research in one of the three following options:

  • In one of the current theoretical or experimental research programs in the department, under direct supervision of an advisor from the Department of Physics. A dissertation committee will be formed consisting of the advisor, two full-time members of the department, and an additional member, either from within the department or from an outside department or institution.
  • In a recognized interdisciplinary field involving another research area of the university, under the direct supervision of a faculty member in that field. In this case, an interdisciplinary committee is formed under the approval of the graduate committee, consisting of the direct supervisor, a departmental advisor, one other member of the department, and an additional member of either the department or the external department.
  • In an area of applied research in one of the industrial or high-technology laboratories associated with the department’s industrial PhD program. The direct supervisor is associated with the institution where the research is performed. In this case, a dissertation advisory committee is established by the graduate committee, consisting of the direct supervisor, the departmental advisor, and two other members of the department.

PhD students must select their departmental advisor no later than the end of the spring semester of their second year or their second semester after having passed the qualifying examination, whichever comes first. This process should start as soon as the student has identified a field of research or has passed the qualifying exam.

PhD Dissertation Committee, Preliminary Thesis Proposal, and Preliminary Research Seminar

By the end of the spring semester of the third year or the second semester in which the student is enrolled for PhD dissertation, whichever comes first, each PhD student must have an approved dissertation committee and thesis proposal. 

The student (with the aid and approval of their thesis advisor) will submit a PhD thesis proposal to the graduate committee clearly outlining a plan to carry out new and original research in the context of previously published research in the scientific literature and also describe the methodologies to be employed. The thesis proposal is limited to 15 pages or less, including references. A proposed makeup of the dissertation committee will be submitted at the same time.

The graduate committee will evaluate the merit of the proposal and make recommendations for improvements when necessary, including any changes to the composition of the dissertation committee. No more than two submissions for a particular proposal may be made. In the case where a revised proposal does not meet a minimum academic standard that provides a basis for making such improvements, the graduate committee may instruct the student to select a different thesis topic or advisor.

After approval by the graduate committee, the proposal is circulated to the general faculty for comments. If the graduate coordinator receives any objections, the proposal will be referred back to the graduate committee for final resolution.

After the proposal and dissertation committee have been approved, the student will make a public presentation of the material in the preliminary research seminar before the dissertation committee in a format open to the full department and advertised one week in advance. The dissertation committee will then meet in closed session to evaluate the seminar. The preliminary research seminar must take place no later than the semester after the thesis proposal is approved and, normally, in the same semester.

In the event that the dissertation advisor is changed, a new committee must be formed, with the approval of the graduate committee, and a new preliminary research seminar given.

PhD Dissertation Defense

The dissertation defense consists of a public presentation, followed by a question period conducted by the dissertation committee and limited to them and the department faculty. The date of the dissertation presentation must be publicized and a copy of the thesis deposited with the graduate program coordinator at least one week prior to the defense. If during this posting period or in the two business days following the defense a written objection to the thesis is lodged with the department chair by a member of the faculty, the chair may appoint an ad hoc postdefense review committee to provide advice on the scientific issues raised by the objection. Students should note that they must be registered for Dissertation or Dissertation Continuation during the semester in which they defend their dissertation and that they should schedule their defenses well in advance of the end of the semester in order to accommodate the review/waiting period and the time required to deposit the thesis.

The final dissertation defense is held in accordance with the College of Science regulations.

Residence Requirement

The residence requirement is satisfied by at least one year of full-time graduate work (i.e., enrollment in PhD Dissertation, for two consecutive semesters). Students must be continually enrolled throughout the pursuit of the dissertation.

Internship Option

A PhD candidate may spend one year in a participating high-technology, industrial, or government laboratory immediately after passing the PhD qualifying examination. In this program, the student is expected to remain in touch with the university by taking one course per semester at the university and by frequent contact with a faculty advisor. After the one-year paid internship, the student returns to the university to do the dissertation. Eligibility for this program is contingent on acceptance both by the department and by the external laboratory.


Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.

Milestones

Two qualifying examinations
Annual review
Candidacy
Preliminary research seminar proposal with proposed dissertation committee
Preliminary research seminar talk
Dissertation defense

Core Requirements

Complete 10 semester hours of coursework. The courses required will be determined by the graduate program director based on the student's transcripts. 110

Dissertation

Dissertation Term 1
Dissertation Term 2
Complete the following (repeatable) course until graduation:
Dissertation Continuation

Program Credit/GPA Requirements

10 total semester hours required
Minimum 3.000 GPA required

1

Methods for Teaching in the Introductory Physics Laboratory 1 (PHYS 7220) is required for students awarded a teaching assistantship.