Earning a Master’s in Physics, students develop expertise for scientific problem solving and find an area of interest for specialization in physics.

Concentrations (Optional) and Options Available

Astrophysics — Thesis, Project, Course Only with Comprehensive Exam
Atomic, Molecular, Optical, and Low Temperature Physics — Thesis, Project, Course Only with Comprehensive Exam
Biophysics — Thesis, Project, Course Only with Comprehensive Exam
Chemical Physics — Thesis, Project, Course Only with Comprehensive Exam
Condensed Matter and Surface Physics — Thesis, Project, Course Only with Comprehensive Exam
Elementary Particle Physics — Thesis, Project, Course Only with Comprehensive Exam
Geophysics — Thesis, Project, Course Only with Comprehensive Exam
Mathematical and Computational Physics — Thesis, Project, Course Only with Comprehensive Exam
Nuclear and Relativistic Heavy Ion Physics — Thesis, Project, Course Only with Comprehensive Exam
Theoretical Physics — Thesis, Project, Course Only with Comprehensive Exam

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus
UTSI Campus

Thesis Option

Credit Hours Required

30 graduate credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree

Required Courses (All Concentrations)

• PHYS 500  (6 credit hours)
• 12 credit hours are taken from PHYS 513 -PHYS 514 , PHYS 521 -PHYS 522 , PHYS 531 , PHYS 541 , PHYS 571 , PHYS 573 .
• 12 graduate credit hours of physics (PHYS) courses in addition to the specific core courses, depending upon the concentration, selected in consultation with the major professor and guidance committee

Concentration Specific Courses

• Geophysics Concentration
  • 12 credit hours selected from geology (GEOL), geophysics (PHYS), and/or physics (PHYS) as approved by the major professor and/or committee.

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.
• Present an acceptable thesis
• Pass an oral examination on course material and thesis.

Project Option

Credit Hours Required

30 graduate credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree

Required Courses (All Concentrations)

• PHYS 513 -PHYS 514  (6 credit hours)
• 9 credit hours from PHYS 411 -PHYS 412 , PHYS 421 , PHYS 431 -PHYS 432 , PHYS 461 , PHYS 521 -PHYS 522 , PHYS 531 , PHYS 541 , PHYS 555 , PHYS 571 , PHYS 573 (at least 6 credit hours above the 500-level)
• 6 credit hours which may come from physics or from a single minor field outside of the Physics Department, such as computer science (COSC), mathematics (MATH), engineering, chemistry (CHEM), biology (BCMB. EEB, MICRO, CBE), education, business, or law (LAW), selected in consultation with the major professor and guidance committee.
• PHYS 593 , PHYS 594  for a Project in Lieu of Thesis (6 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.
• The candidate must pass an oral examination on course material and on the project representing the culmination of an original research project completed by the student.
• A written report must be approved and accepted by his/her committee and the department head.
• An electronic version of the written report must be submitted to the permanent electronic archive of the Physics Department.

Coursework Only with Comprehensive Exam Option

NOTE: Students seeking the Coursework Only with Comprehensive Exams Option must apply to the Director of the Graduate program for permission to enroll under this program.

Credit Hours Required

30 graduate credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree

Required Courses (All Concentrations)

• PHYS 513 -PHYS 514 , PHYS 521 -PHYS 522 , PHYS 531 , PHYS 541 , PHYS 571 , PHYS 573  (18 credit hours);
• 6 additional credit hours from physics or a minor field selected in consultation with the major professor and guidance committee; and
• 6 credit hours from other courses numbered above 400 (preferably of advanced laboratory nature.) selected in consultation with the major professor and guidance committee
• At least 20 credit hours must be taken at the 500-level or above selected in consultation with the major professor and guidance committee.

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.
• Pass a written examination administered by his/her committee

 

Five-Year BS/MS Program – Physics Major, MS

Qualified students completing a BS degree from a department of the Tickle College of Engineering or the College of Arts and Sciences who have added a physics minor by completing the requirements listed under the Five-Year BS with Physics Minor-MS program in the Undergraduate Catalog, must apply to the department’s graduate committee for permission to enroll under this program. Six credit hours of 400-level courses required for a minor in physics combined with a BS engineering degree may be applied toward a master’s degree (project option or non-thesis option) in physics during a fifth year following the award of the BS. This program is designed for students attending the University of Tennessee for the Master of Science degree because other universities may not accept these courses for graduate credit since they were used to satisfy requirements for an undergraduate program. Significant components of the program are:

• Students must have an overall GPA of 3.40 in required course work. Conditional admission may be granted after completing the required 100- and 200-level requirements for the minor while full admission is granted after enrolling in the final semester of courses required for all BS and minor course requirements with a minimum overall GPA of 3.40.
• Students must at least be conditionally admitted to the program prior to taking graduate courses for both their minor and master’s degree. All courses taken for graduate credit must be approved by the graduate program director. Students admitted to the program must request permission from the Graduate School to take approved courses for graduate credit.
• Students admitted to the program must also follow the normal procedure for admission to the Graduate School. Admission of students into this program must be approved by the department and the Graduate School. Students will not be eligible for assistantships until they are enrolled as graduate-level students in the Graduate School.

Five-Year Program Project Option
The requirements for the project option are PHYS 411 , PHYS 412 , PHYS 593 , PHYS 594 , and 12 credit hours (four courses) chosen from any 500-level physics courses. Examination and reporting requirements are the same as for the standard physics major MS project option.

Five-Year Program Non-Thesis Option
The requirements for the non-thesis option are PHYS 411 , PHYS 412 , and six courses (18 credit hours) chosen from PHYS 513 , PHYS 514 , PHYS 521 , PHYS 522 , PHYS 531 , PHYS 541 , PHYS 571 , PHYS 573 . Examination requirements are the same as for the standard physics major MS non-thesis option.