The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln offers graduate education leading to the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Physics. The Department has a flexible program of graduate study to accommodate students with a wide variety of goals and backgrounds.

Our program is comparable to most research-intensive universities. The first and second years of graduate study are devoted primarily to coursework. An Elementary Qualifer Exam, which covers elementary undergraduate physics, normally is taken in the fall of the student's first year. After completing most of the graduate coursework requirements, students take either a M.S. Comprehensive Exam or the Advanced Qualifying Exam, depending on their career goals.

After passing the Advanced Qualifying Exam, Ph.D. students focus fully on their research. Between seven months and three years prior to the expected thesis defense, students complete a Comprehensive Exam that demonstrates their ability to apply their skills to problems beyond their thesis topic. The final step is writing and defending the Ph.D. thesis.

Please click on an option below for more details on specific degrees.