The Department of Physics and Astronomy is changing its graduate program in several significant ways. These changes represent the beginning of an effort to provide graduate training that is relevant to the changing job market for students of physics and astronomy. The changes may be summarized in four broad categories:

1. We are updating and modernizing the curriculum, in particular by adding courses in numerical methods, modern laboratory techniques, and the phenomenology of modern physics and devices.

2. We are reducing the requirements for the Ph.D. degree and making them more flexible.

3. We are explicitly offering the M.S. degree by thesis, in addition to the existing M.S. degree by exam. Formerly, the thesis option was only available under special circumstances. The new emphasis on the M.S. by thesis reflects the fact that it is now widely acknowledged that this route better prepares students for subsequent employment in physics and related fields.

4. We are introducing a new Concentration in Chemical and Materials Physics which is an interdisciplinary M.S./Ph.D. program that will train students broadly in the physical sciences in preparation for careers in modern industry. In the future we hope to develop other Concentrations in BioMedical Physics and Computational Physics.

Following is a full description of the revised program.

The Department offers the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Physics. These degrees are awarded in recognition of demonstrated knowledge of the basic facts and theories of physics, and of a demonstrated capacity for independent research. Active programs of research are underway in high energy physics, condensed matter physics, low temperature physics, plasma physics, gravitational physics, and astrophysics.

In general, graduate study in the physics Ph.D. program is expected to be a full-time activity. Other proposed arrangements should be approved by the Graduate Committee. Completion of the Ph.D. typically requires six years of full-time study. Students may pursue the M.S. degree on either a full-time or part-time basis.

Complementing the formal courses, the Department offers regular colloquia and informal seminars. The graduate student is a member of an intellectual community and is expected to participate fully in departmental activities. Attendance at colloquia is considered an essential part of graduate study. In addition, there are regular weekly research seminars in condensed matter, high energy, plasma physics, and astrophysics.

Sources of support available to graduate students include teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and fellowships. Students planning to pursue graduate work in physics should obtain a copy of the Department's graduate brochure.

CONCENTRATION IN CHEMICAL AND MATERIALS PHYSICS:

Students admitted into the graduate program in Physics and Astronomy will also be eligible to pursue the M.S. and Ph.D. degree with a Concentration in Chemical and Materials Physics (ChaMP). The requirements for the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees with a Concentration in Chemical and Materials Physics (ChaMP) differ from those described below. Students will be allowed to transfer between the core graduate program and ChaMP; this entails that they satisfy a different set of degree requirements.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

The criteria used for admission will be the undergraduate course record, letters of recommendation, and normally the GRE scores. The general policy will be to restrict admission to those obviously well qualified to work toward an advanced degree. The precise standards will, of course, depend upon the number of applicants and their quality. Roughly, we will expect applicants to have at least a B+ record in physics and mathematics, at least a B average in other subjects, strong GRE verbal and quantitative scores, and an advanced physics score in at least the 50th percentile. Higher standards will be applied to Ph.D. applicants than to M.S. applicants. Relatively little weight will be given to the specific courses taken, although consideration will be given to the general quality of the undergraduate institution. While we intend to draw students from a broad base nationally and internationally, it is our hope and expectation that some M.S. students will come from local industrial laboratories, perhaps on a part time basis.

For successful completion of graduate work in physics, a student will be expected to demonstrate certain auxiliary skills beyond a knowledge of physics. Chief of these is mathematics; hence a good undergraduate background in mathematics is required for admission. Next is a facility with written and spoken English; verbal ability will be considered for admission. Graduate students will be given opportunities to speak at seminars and most of them will gain some instructional experience. The quality of writing and expression will be taken into account on examinations. Students badly deficient will be asked to take an undergraduate composition course.

APPLICATION DEADLINES: FALL March 1 WINTER N/A SPRING N/A

The requirements for the MS degree are (1) at least three quarters of residence; (2) mastery of graduate course material, which must be demonstrated by passing, with a grade of B or better, a minimum of eight quarter courses including 211, 213AB, 215A, 223, and at least one other course numbered between 200 and 259; and (3) either [Option A] a research project and written thesis or [Option B] a comprehensive written examination.

A typical program of study for the M.S. degree would consist of the following 9 courses: 211 (Classical Mechanics); 213A-B (Electromagnetic Theory); 215A (Quantum Mechanics); 223 (Numerical Methods); 224 (Phenomenology); 206 (Laboratory Skills) for experimentalists or 212 (Mathematical Physics) for theorists; plus two electives chosen from Physics 215B or undergraduate upper division courses in related areas.

NORMAL PROGRESS TOWARD DEGREE: Two to three years

ADVISING: Advising is critical to the success of this program. Each student will meet regularly with an advisor; and approval of the student's program by the Graduate Advisor will be required.

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT: 3 quarters

TEACHING REQUIREMENT: None.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:

The student may pursue the M.S. degree by one of the two following plans.

Plan A: Thesis. The M.S. thesis need be of no specified length or format, but must report significant results in readable, meaningful form, at the same time revealing the student's general grasp of the field and awareness of related work.

Plan B: Comprehensive Examination. The comprehensive examination for the M.S. degree shall be identical to that for the Ph.D. degree. The level of performance required for the M.S. degree by examination shall also be identical to the required level of performance for the Ph.D. degree. This examination will be given at the start of each academic year, extending over a period of three or four days and covering all major fields of physics. It will be both written and oral with major emphasis on the written part. The student will not be expected to do equally well on all parts of the exam and a good performance on one part will balance a poor performance on another part. On the other hand, an extremely poor performance on any part will be disqualifying.

Fields of Emphasis: The specific research interests in the department will be emphasized only at the advanced level through seminar-type courses for second- and third-year students. The M.S. student will be expected to demonstrate general knowledge of physics.

Coursework: A minimum of eight courses is required including: 211 (Classical Mechanics), 213AB (Electromagnetic Theory), 215A (Quantum Mechanics), and 223 (Numerical Methods). Students with exceptionally strong preparation may place out of one or more of the above courses (with the exception of Numerical Methods) with a sufficiently high level of performance on the corresponding qualifying examination, subject to the approval of the Graduate Committee.

Language/Alternate Skills Requirement(s): There will be no foreign language requirement for the M.S. degree. Graduate students in physics will be expected to acquire a working knowledge of computer programming to the extent of being able to carry out successful scientific computations using one of the programming languages such as C and/or Mathematica.

Related Fields Of Study: There will be no required minor. Students with certain interests and aptitudes will be encouraged to take some courses outside the department, e.g., in mathematics, chemistry, biology, or engineering.

The principal requirements for the Ph.D. degree are a minimum of six quarters of residence, passage of a written and a two-part oral examination, and successful completion and defense of a dissertation reporting results of original research. In addition, the Ph.D. candidate must complete certain graduate course requirements. There is no foreign language requirement for the Ph.D. degree.

Course requirements: The student is required to exhibit mastery of the basic sequences - Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, Quantum Mechanics, and Statistical Mechanics. A minimum of 12 quarter courses including 211, 213 AB, 214 A, 215 A-B, 223, and at least three other courses numbered between 200 and 259, must be passed with a grade of B or better. Students are strongly encouraged to take 211, 213A-B, 214A, 215 A-B, 223, 223, and 206 (experimentalists) or 212 (theorists) in their first year of study. It is expected that students, having selected a research specialty, will ordinarily take the core course in that subject (236A-B-C, 237A-B-C, 238A-B-C, or 239A-B-C) in their second year of study.

ADVISING: Advising is critical to the success of the Ph.D. program. Initially, each student will meet regularly with an advisor and approval of the student's program by the Graduate Advisor will be required. On successful completion of the Qualifying Exam the student will be expected to find a thesis advisor, who will be responsible for monitoring the student's progress towards the degree.

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT: 6 quarters

TEACHING REQUIREMENT: A minimum of three quarters teaching experience is to be required of all Ph.D. candidates. This requirement has been left somewhat vague, and could presumably be satisfied by service as some non-negligible fraction of a T.A. An effort would be made to see that all Ph.D. students receive some T.A. support for the minimum period required.

COURSEWORK

Fields of emphasis: Not all fields of physics and astronomy are represented in the department's research, but instruction will be offered in most of the major subdisciplines. All basic theories and most areas of application are represented in the formal courses. The specific research interests in the department will be emphasized only at the advanced level through seminar-type courses for second- and third-year students. The Ph.D. student will be expected to demonstrate primarily the capacity for independent research. The M.S. student will be expected to demonstrate general knowledge of physics. The M.S. level of general knowledge (or better) will, of course, also be required for the Ph.D. student.

Coursework: The minimum course requirement is 12 courses and must include: 211 (Classical Mechanics), 213AB (Electromagnetic Theory), 214A (Statistical Physics), 215AB (Quantum Mechanics), and 223 (Numerical Methods). Students with exceptionally strong preparation may place out of one or more of the above courses (with the exception of Numerical Methods) with a sufficiently high level of performance on the corresponding qualifying examination, subject to the approval of the Graduate Committee.

Language/Alternate Skills Requirement(s): There will be no foreign language requirement for the Ph.D. degree. Graduate students in physics will be expected to acquire a working knowledge of computer programming to the extent of being able to carry out successful scientific computations using one of the programming languages such as C and/or Mathematica.

Related Fields Of Study: There will be no required minor. Students will be allowed to take certain courses outside the department, e.g., in mathematics, chemistry, biology, or engineering in fulfillment of the course requirement.

EXAMINATIONS:

Qualifying Exam: The primary hurdle for Ph.D. qualification will be the Qualifying Examination, to be given once each year. It will extend over a period of three or four days and will cover all major fields of physics. It will be both written and oral, with major emphasis on the written part. The student will not be expected to do equally well on all parts of the examinations; a good performance on one part will balance a poor performance on another part. On the other hand, an extremely poor performance on any part will be disqualifying.

Advancement to Candidacy: To Advance to Candidacy the Ph.D. candidate will be expected to pass a separate oral exam on the advanced topic proposed for his thesis research. Ordinarily this will take place within a year of passing the Qualifying Exam.

Dissertation: A dissertation will be required without exception for the Ph.D. degree. The Ph.D. dissertation need be of no specified length or format, but must report results of an original piece of work in readable, meaningful form, at the same time revealing the student's general grasp of the field and awareness of related work. Roughly, a criterion for acceptability will be that the dissertation--probably in condensed form--would be suitable for publication in a recognized journal. A final oral dissertation defense will be required of Ph.D. candidates.