Graduate Doctoral Examination
THE GRADUATE DOCTORAL EXAMINATION
The Graduate Doctoral Examination (GDE) is a general examination of basic physics knowledge including undergraduate material and material from the first year of graduate study. For most students, the exam is given in the second year of graduate school. Passing this exam is a requirement for admission to Ph.D. candidacy. The exam covers four core physics topics: Classical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, Statistical and Thermal Physics, and Electricity and Magnetism.