Thesis Option
The course requirements include 24 hours of physics courses, of which at least 12 hours are taken from PHYS 506 , PHYS 511 -PHYS 512 or PHYS 513 -PHYS 514 , PHYS 521 -PHYS 522 , PHYS 531 , PHYS 541 , PHYS 571 , PHYS 573 . Each candidate must present an acceptable thesis, 6 hours of PHYS 500 , and pass an oral examination on course material and thesis.
Geophysics Concentration. The department offers an MS thesis program with a concentration in geophysics. Program requirements are 12 hours from PHYS 506 , PHYS 513 -PHYS 514 , PHYS 521 -PHYS 522 , PHYS 531 , PHYS 541 , PHYS 571 , PHYS 573 ; a minimum of 12 additional hours in geology, geophysics, and/or physics, as approved by the student’s committee; and the presentation of an acceptable thesis, 6 hours of PHYS 500 , and the passing of an oral examination on course material and thesis.
Project Option
The course requirements include a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit in courses composed of PHYS 506 , PHYS 511 -PHYS 512 ; 6 hours from PHYS 593 , PHYS 594 for a Project in Lieu of Thesis; 9 hours from PHYS 411 -PHYS 412 , PHYS 421 , PHYS 431 -PHYS 432 , PHYS 461 -PHYS 462 , PHYS 507 , PHYS 508 , PHYS 521 -PHYS 522 , PHYS 531 , PHYS 541 , PHYS 555 , PHYS 571 , PHYS 573 (at least 3 hours above the 500 level); and 6 hours from a single minor field outside of the Physics Department, such as computer science, mathematics, engineering, chemistry, biology, education, business, or law.
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 the Physics Graduate Committee and the department head. An electronic version of the written report must also be submitted to the permanent electronic archive of the Physics Department available on the Internet.
Non-Thesis Option
Students seeking the non-thesis option must apply to the department’s graduate committee for permission to enroll under this program. The requirements are the satisfactory completion of 30 hours of course work composed of 18 hours from PHYS 506 , PHYS 511 -PHYS 512 or PHYS 513 -PHYS 514 , PHYS 521 -PHYS 522 , PHYS 531 , PHYS 541 , PHYS 571 , PHYS 573 ; 6 hours in a minor field; and 6 hours from other courses numbered above 400 (preferably of advanced laboratory nature.) At least 20 hours must be taken at the 500-level or above. In addition, the candidate must pass a written examination administered by his/her committee.
