Physics, M.S.

Master of Science in Physics

This is a comprehensive physics master’s degree with plans in General Physics or Computational Physics.

Prerequisites

A bachelor’s degree with a major in physics; or
A bachelor’s degree with at least 24 units of upper division physics. Students deficient in undergraduate preparation must take courses to remove these deficiencies without credit toward the degree at the discretion of graduate advisor.

Requirements

Take all the following:

PHYS 510 - Graduate Mechanics (3 units)
PHYS 522 - Statistical Physics (3 units)
PHYS 540A - Graduate Electrodynamics (3 units)
PHYS 550A - Quantum Mechanics I (3 units)
PHYS 560A - Mathematical Methods of Physics (3 units)
PHYS 595 - Colloquium (1 unit)

Take one of the following:

General Physics Plan

Take the following course:

PHYS 550B - Quantum Mechanics II (3 units)

Take one of the following two choices after consultation with the graduate advisor:

1. Completion of at least 2 additional units of graduate-level PHYS courses, 6 units of PHYS 698, a written thesis or project approved by the student’s thesis or project committee consisting of a thesis or project chair (a Physics/Astronomy faculty member) and at least two more members, one of which must be a member of the Department, and an oral presentation of the research. Note: Students must be advanced to candidacy before enrolling in PHYS 698.

2. With the permission of the Graduate committee, an additional 8 units of 500-level PHYS courses, and satisfactorily complete a comprehensive examination.