MS-Thesis Degree

COSAM Departments Physics Graduate MS-Thesis

Graduate Handbook Prospective Graduate Students Current Graduate Students Degree Requirements Student Learning Outcomes Financial Assistance Application Physics Ph.D. Program MS-Thesis MS-Non-Thesis Physics Graduate Courses About Auburn Graduate Doctoral Exam Physics Graduate Student Association

THE M.S. (Thesis) DEGREE PROGRAM

M.S. (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 research related career, the M.S. with thesis may be an appropriate choice. In addition to acquiring an excellent grounding in fundamental physics at the advanced level, the student will have experience in working in a research group and in completing an extensive research project. The required course work can be completed in two years with an additional year usually required to complete the thesis.

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 Course # and Title	Hrs	Spring Course # and Title	Hrs
1^st	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
2^nd	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 7990 - Research and Thesis	1
3^rd	PHYS 7990 - Research and Thesis	1	PHYS 7990 - Research and Thesis	1

The Graduate School requires a cumulative 3.0 GPA in all graduate level classes in order to receive a graduate degree. For the thesis option in addition to the successful completion of the required course work, a successful defense of the thesis is required. A major professor and thesis committee is chosen to guide the student and to conduct the thesis defense. The procedure is analogous to the one for the Ph.D. program.

It is expected that a student can complete the thesis option within three years of entering the graduate program. Limited extensions may be granted upon a request from the student and the advisory committee.