MS-Non-Thesis
THE M.S. (Non-Thesis) DEGREE PROGRAM
M.S. (non-thesis) Degree
A Master of Science Degree in Physics is required for entry level teaching positions in junior colleges and for many research-related positions at government and industrial laboratories. For students who are planning a teaching career or who are on their way to a Ph.D., the M.S. with the non-thesis option is an ideal choice. It requires about two years of course work and provides an excellent grounding in fundamental physics at the advanced level.
Coures Requirements for M.S.(non-thesis) Degree:
Thirty (30) hours of course work are required for the M.S. degree. The required courses are:
- Classical Mechanics (PHYS7100) (3)
- Electricity and Magnetism I & II (PHYS7200 & 7250) (6)
- Quantum Mechanics I & II (PHYS7300 & 7350) (6)
- Statistical Physics (PHYS7400) (3)
- Colloquium (PHYS7950) (3)
A curriculum model for the masters degree is as follows:
|
Year |
Fall |
Hrs |
Spring |
Hrs |
|
1st |
PHYS 7100 - Classical Mechanics |
3 |
PHYS 7400 - Statistical Mechanics |
3 |
|
PHYS 7200 - Electricity & Magnetism I |
3 |
PHYS 7200 - Electricity & Magnetism II |
3 |
|
|
PHYS 7950 - Colloquium |
1 |
PHYS 7950 - Colloquium |
1 |
|
|
2nd |
PHYS 7300 - Quantum Mechanics I |
3 |
PHYS 7350 - Quantum Mechanics II |
3 |
|
PHYS 6000 or greater - Elective |
3 |
PHYS 6000 or greater - Elective |
3 |
|
|
PHYS 7950 - Colloquium |
1 |
PHYS 6000 or greater - Elective |
3 |
The Graduate School requires a cumulative 3.0 GPA in all graduate level classes in order to receive a graduate degree. In order to complete the requirements for a non-thesis Master of Science Degree in Physics, the student must achieve at least a 2.8 GPA in the 18 hours of required graded courses as well as the overall 3.0 GPA. Students may re-take one or more of the courses in order to improve their GPA, but no substitutions are allowed. Students who do not achieve the required 2.8 GPA in the core required courses but still have a 3.0 average from other courses can receive a non-thesis MS if they achieve a score of 35% or above on each of the four parts of the GDE (qualifying examination).
It is expected that a student can complete the non-thesis option within two years of entering the graduate program. Limited extensions may be granted upon a request from the student and their advisory committee.