M.S. IN PHYSICS - DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
MASTER OF SCIENCE
For a degree of Master of Science, a student must complete at least 30 hours of graduate credit including the following.
- PHYS 6140 (Fundamentals of Modern Physics)
- An additional 15 hours of graduate course credit in physics, with six of the 15 hours numbered above 6000. Credit in PHYS 5900 (Research Techniques), 6010 (Colloquium), and/or 6020 (Journal Seminar) will not count toward either degree.
- A satisfactory thesis based on directed research for no more than eight hours of degree credit.
- Additional hours to complete the 30 total required hours will be chosen from any courses approved for graduate credit not previously elected, with the approval of the student's committee.
In some cases, students working toward the Ph. D. may earn the M. S. degree without formal presentation of the M. S. thesis if they have: (1) passed the Ph. D. Qualifying Examination; (2) satisfied the course requirements for the M. S.; and (3) completed a research project under the supervision of a research adviser, resulting in acceptance for publication of a peer-reviewed research paper with the student as its first author. A substantial paper mainly written by the student is an acceptable substitution for a thesis, and the peer review process substitutes for a thesis defense. Students meeting the above requirements may petition the department to grant the M. S. without formal presentation of a thesis.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PHYSICS - Material Science Option
A Master of Science Degree in Physics with a Materials Science Option is available. For this degree, a student must complete 30 hours of graduate credit including:
- PHYS 6140 (Fundamentals of Modern Physics), 6/8540 (Structure, Defects, and Diffusion), 6/8550 (Thermodynamics and Phase Transformation in Condensed Systems), and an additional 12 hours of graduate course credit in Physics with six of the 12 hours numbered above 6000 (no degree credit for PHYS 5900, 6010, or 6020)
- The student must present a satisfactory thesis based on directed research for no more than eight hours of degree credit
- The remainder of the 30 required credit hours may be chosen from any courses approved for graduate credit not previously elected, with the approval of the student's committee.
PROFESSIONAL SCIENCE MASTER'S IN PHOTOVOLTAICS (PSM-PV)
A Professional Science Master’s in Photovoltaics degree program is available. For this degree, a student must complete 37 hours of graduate credit. More Info.