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The Masters Program in PhysicsIntroductionGraduate programs leading to the Master of Science are offered in a number of concentration areas: astrophysics; atomic, molecular, optical and low temperature physics; biophysics; chemical physics; condensed matter and surface physics; elementary particle physics; geophysics; mathematical and computational physics; nuclear and relativistic heavy ion physics; and theoretical physics.Departmental graduate programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. are also available at The University of Tennessee Space Institute, Tullahoma, where opportunities for study and research are available in laser applications, quantum and applied optics, laser spectroscopy, fluid physics, medical physics, computational physics, and theoretical physics. For additional information, contact the department head. Admission RequirementsA student who enrolls in graduate study with the intention of attaining an advanced degree in physics will have completed an undergraduate major in physics or its equivalent. Physics 311-312, 321, 361, 431-432, 421, 461, and 411-412 constitute the minimum courses prerequisite to graduate study. A student who intends to present physics as a graduate minor will have completed an undergraduate minor in physics or its equivalent. Physics 311 and 431-432 constitute the minimum coursework prerequisite to a minor in physics. In addition to meeting the graduate school's minimum requirements, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination (general and subject). All first-year graduate students are required, for advising purposes only, to take a diagnostic examination in undergraduate physics during the fall semester registration period. The master's program is designed to give students maximum flexibility. The department has outlined the following programs to complete the M.S. degree:
The Thesis OptionThe course requirements for the thesis option include 24 hours of physics courses, of which at least 12 hours are taken from Physics 506, 511-512 or 513-514, 521-522, 531, 541, 571, 573. Each candidate must present an acceptable thesis, 6 hours of 500 (Thesis Registration), and pass an oral examination on both the course material and thesis. The department also offers an M.S. thesis program with a concentration in geophysics. Program requirements are: 12 hours from Physics 506, 513-514, 521-522, 531, 541, 571, 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 Physics 500, and the passing of an oral examination on course material and thesis. The university requires candidates in the thesis M.S. program to earn at least 6 semester hours of Physics 500 (Thesis Registration) while the student is preparing the thesis. A student must be registered for course 500 each semester during work on the thesis, including a minimum of 3 hours the semester in which the thesis is accepted by Graduate Student Services.
The Project OptionThe course requirements for the project option include a minimum of 30 hours of graduate credit in courses composed of Physics 506, 511-512; 6 hours from Physics 593, 594 for a Project in Lieu of Thesis; 9 hours from general physics: 411-412, 421, 431-432, 461-462, 507, 508, 521-522, 531, 541, 555, 571, 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 department available to the Internet.
The Non-Thesis OptionStudents 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 Physics 506, 511-512 or 513-514, 521-522, 531, 541, 571 and 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 or her committee. Other Sites of InterestThe University of
Tennessee Graduate School
The University
of Tennessee Graduate Catalog |
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