Graduate Studies

 

Graduate students in Applied Physics develop their own course of study and research with the guidance and advice of faculty members in the areas of their research interests. Courses are typically selected from listings in the School of Engineering & Applied Science and the Department of Physics.

The requirements of the Ph.D. program can be found in the Degree Guidelines for Applied Physics.  Nine term courses, normally completed in the first two years, are required for the Ph.D. program. Graduate students in Applied Physics are normally required to take certain core courses, as described in the Degree Guidelines.

There is no general qualifying examination and no foreign language requirement. Formal course work is typically limited to the first two years in residence, with an opportunity to choose from an extensive course list.

Students are urged to participate in ongoing research as soon as possible. During the first year, a student typically will take a “Special Investigation” research course as one of the four courses in each term, to explore research areas and thesis topics.

The minimum residency requirement for the Ph.D. is three full years; most students finish their degree in four or five years. All work must be completed within six years.