Physics Major, PhD

Campus Code

Knoxville Campus

UTSI 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.
• The Graduate Record Examination (general and subject) are optional.

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 students are expected to take the graduate core curriculum in physics consisting of:

• PHYS 521 - Quantum Mechanics
• PHYS 522 - Quantum Mechanics
• PHYS 531 - Classical Mechanics
• PHYS 541 - Electromagnetic Theory
• PHYS 551 - Statistical Mechanics
• PHYS 571 - Mathematical Methods in Physics I

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• A minimum of 12 hours of 600-level courses with 3 additional hours at the 500 level  or above with approval of the student’s Doctoral Committee

   
• PHYS 600 - Doctoral Research and Dissertation (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.