The PhD in Physics prepares students for professional careers in government, industry or academic institutions.  Students learn to perform independent research in thriving areas of physics.  Original research is required and the PhD dissertation must be rigorously orally defended.

Concentrations (Optional)

Astrophysics
Atomic, Molecular, Optical, and Low Temperature Physics
Biophysics
Chemical Physics
Condensed Matter and Surface Physics
Elementary Particle Physics
Energy Science and Engineering
Mathematical and Computational Physics
Nanomaterials
Nuclear and Relativistic Heavy Ion Physics
Theoretical Physics

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus

Admissions Standards/Procedures

• A student who enrolls in graduate study with the intention of attaining an advanced degree in physics will have completed an undergraduate major in physics or its equivalent.
• These courses constitute the minimum courses prerequisite to graduate study.
  • PHYS 311-312, 321, 361 (See undergraduate catalog for more information on 300-level courses)
  • PHYS 431-PHYS 432, PHYS 421, PHYS 461, PHYS 411-PHYS 412 (See undergraduate catalog for more information on 400-level courses)
• A student who intends to present physics as a graduate minor will have completed an undergraduate minor in physics or its equivalent.
  • Physics 311 and PHYS 431-PHYS 432 constitute the minimum course work prerequisite to a minor in physics.
• In addition to meeting the Graduate Council’s minimum requirements, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (general and subject).

Academic Standards

• Have at least a 3.00 GPA on the graduate core curriculum in physics

Credit Hours Required

• 72 graduate credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree
• 48 graduate credit hours beyond the master’s degree

Required Courses (All Concentrations)

• All students are expected to take the graduate core curriculum in physics consisting of:
  • PHYS 521 -PHYS 522  (Quantum Mechanics)
  • PHYS 531  (Classical Mechanics)
  • PHYS 541  (Electromagnetism)
  • PHYS 551  (Statistical Mechanics), and
  • PHYS 571  (Mathematical Methods).
• Concentration Specific Courses
  • A minimum of 15 hours of 600-level courses with 6 of these hours in their concentration area with approval of the student’s Doctoral Committee, or
  • A minimum of 12 hours of 600-level courses with 6 of these hours in their concentration area and a minimum of 3 hours of 500-level courses in their concentration area with approval of the student’s Doctoral Committee.
  • Energy Science and Engineering Concentration
    • ESE 511 , ESE 512  (3 + 3 credits), at least 3 hours from the Knowledge Breadth Curriculum (a list of courses is available from the Graduate Program Director) and 3 credit hours (1+1+1) of topical seminars in the focus area of Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education. 
• PHYS 600  (minimum 24 credit hours)

Non-Course Requirements

• All first-year graduate students are required, for advising purposes only, to take a diagnostic examination in undergraduate physics during the fall semester registration period.
• Students are required to find a research advisor and form a doctoral committee before the end of the second year of study. This committee is responsible for advising the student and monitoring his/her progress toward the doctoral degree.
• Presentation and defense of an original research proposal.