This page guides you through the departmental requirements for earning a Ph.D. degree; however, each student is responsible for knowing the requirements of his or her degree program as specified in the Graduate Studies Bulletin, which are in addition to the requirements listed here. These requirements are not included in this discussion. The Bulletin is available online (PDF), or a copy may be obtained from the Graduate Studies Office, 301 Administration Building.

1. Pass the Elementary Qualifying Examination.
2. Complete all course work.
3. Pass the Advanced Qualifying Examination and be admitted to Ph.D. Candidacy
4. Form a supervisory committee;
5. File a memorandum of courses approved by the supervisory committee;
6. Pass the Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination at least 7 months (but not longer than 3 years) prior to the final oral examination on the dissertation;
7. Complete a Ph.D. Dissertation, including an oral defense of the dissertation.

Elementary Qualifying Examination (back)

This examination tests the student's understanding of physics at the level of introductory undergraduate courses for physics and engineering majors, such as the courses 211, 212, and 213 offered by the Department. The examination comprises 12 problems covering Mechanics (3 problems), Electricity and Magnetism (3 problems), Modern Physics (3 problems), Optics (1 problem), Heat and Thermodynamics (1 problem), and Electric Circuits (1 problem). Students must complete any 10 of the 12 problems. Students are allowed at least 3 hours to complete the Elementary Qualifying Examination.

All students must take this examination and receive a passing grade. The examination is offered around the middle of October and February each year. Sample exams are available online or from the main departmental office (216 Brace).

Ph.D. Course Work (back)

The required courses for every student seeking a Ph.D. degree are:

• Physics 911: Classical Mechanics
• Physics 912: Statistical Physics
• Physics 913: Electromagnetic Theory I
• Physics 914: Electromagnetic Theory II
• Physics 916: Quantum Mechanics I
• Physics 917: Quantum Mechanics II
• Physics 918: Quantum Mechanics III
• Physics 925: Introduction to Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Physics 926: Introduction to Elementary Particle and Nuclear Physics
• Physics 927: Introduction to Solid State Physics
• Physics 998: Special Topics in Current Research
• Math 842: Methods of Applied Mathematics I
  

• Math 814: Applied Linear Algebra (Matrix Theory)
• Math 822: Advanced Calculus
• Math 823: Introduction to Complex Variable Theory
• Math 824: Introduction to Partial Differential Equations
• Math 827: Mathematical Physics
• Math 843: Methods of Applied Mathematics II
• Stat 880: Statistics and Applications
• Math 935/936: Advanced Methods of Applied Mathematics
  
  

Students with little or no laboratory experience as undergraduates are urged to take Physics 231: Electrical and Electronic Circuits I and/or one of the advanced laboratory courses. The recommended order in which a fully prepared student should take these courses is:

Normally 911, 912, 913, 914, 916, and 917 will be offered once each year, and Quantum Mechanics III, and the Introductory courses will be offered at least once every two years.

Students participating in research may register for one of the following: Physics 899 (Masters Thesis), Physics 996 (Research other than Thesis), Physics 999 (Doctoral Dissertation). Note that all beginning graduate students, both M.S. and Ph.D., must take Physics 998 ("Special Topics in Current Research"). This is a 1 credit hour course introducing students to the research activities in the Department.

Advanced Qualifying Examination (back)

Students must have passed the Elementary Qualifying Exam before attempting the Advanced Qualifying Exam. Usually, a student will take the Advanced Qualifying Exam during his or her second year as a graduate student. The student may be allowed to take it a second time.

The Examination Committee prepares and administers the Advanced Qualifying Examination, whose purpose is to test the student's understanding of physics at the graduate level. The exam comprises both written and oral parts. The written part is given in three sessions lasting a minimum of 3 hours each. The oral part is given in one session of about 1 hour.

The first session of the Advanced Qualifying Exam serves as the M.S. Comprehensive Exam for most students seeking an M.S. degree. A student who passed the first session needs to take only the second and third sessions for the Ph.D. degree.

The Advanced Qualifying Exam is normally given during the second week of classes in the Spring Semester. At the beginning of the prior fall semester the Graduate Committee will review the academic progress of all students who have not yet formed a supervisory committee and, after consulting with the students, will specify which students must take the exam. A student may not withdraw from the examination without the permission of the Graduate Committee.

Qualifying Procedure/Candidacy (back)

As soon as practical after a student has taken the Advanced Qualifying Exam, the entire Departmental faculty will meet to decide whether the student is qualified to begin Ph.D. dissertation research. This decision is to be based on all information available, including the student's performance on the Advanced Qualifying Exam, in courses, in research projects, etc. If the faculty decides, by vote, that the student is qualified to begin Ph.D. dissertation research, the Graduate Committee will recommend to the Dean of Graduate Studies that a supervisory committee be formed for the student.

Memorandum of Courses (back)

A memorandum of courses, approved by the supervisory committee, must be filed with the Office of Graduate Studies. See Kay Haley in the main office for assistance with this.

Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination (back)

A written comprehensive examination of each Ph.D. applicant is required by the Graduate College. This examination is administered by the student's supervisory committee and will normally have the form of a written report based on approximately one week of intensive research on a subject approved by the Supervisory Committee.

Ph.D. Dissertation (back)

The dissertation must be completed between 7 months and 3 years following the passing of the Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam.