This
form will be updated on a regular basis
Physics Graduate Program
The
University of Texas at Arlington
502 Yates Street
108 Science Hall
Arlington, TX 76019
Transfer Credit
Credit may be transferred from other
universities subject to the following restrictions: Only courses with grades of B or better and approved by the
Graduate Studies Committee will be considered for transfer of credit and
transfer of credit will be limited to 9 hours of M.S. students from U.S.
universities.
Program of Work
All graduate students must submit a tentative
program of work to the Graduate Studies Subcommittee before the end of their
first semester. Subsequent
modifications to the program should be discussed with the graduate advisor so
that the student may be sure of approval, and so that the Graduate School can
be notified.
Grades
To graduate with any pos-baccalaureate
degree, a student must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 with no more
than one C in the list of Physics courses given in the students final program
of work.
Funding
Students may be funded by the department for
up to two full years for an M.S. or up to three full years for a Doctoral
degree (including any support during an M.S.)
Further funding may be obtained from the thesis/dissertation
supervisor. According to University
regulations, a student must be unconditionally admitted or, if continuing, in
good standing (not on academic probation) to receive either a teaching or a
research assistantship. in exceptional
circumstances, but only on one occasion, a student not in good standing can
petition the Physics Department Graduate Studies Committee and the graduate
School for continued support. Students
receiving GTA’s or GRA’s form the Physics Department will be expected to
complete a graduate degree program in Physics before they transfer to a program
in another department at the University.
Changes of Program
All students with less than 30 hours of
approved graduate level course work or without a Master’s Degree in Physics
will initially be registered as Masters students. On completion of ether of the above-noted requirements, students
may seek the approval of the Graduate Studies Committee for admission to a
Doctoral degree program. Forms are
available in the Physics Department office.
Research
Masters (Doctoral) students cannot choose a
research supervisor or begin research for their thesis or dissertation before
completing two (one) semesters of study. Students must submit a proposal of
research (about one page) for review by the Graduate Studies Committee prior to
the commencement of research.
Doctoral Programs – Diagnostic/Qualifying
Examination
Commencing Fall 1992, all students entering a
doctoral program will be required to pass a diagnostic/qualifying examination,
consisting of oral and written parts, during their first year of study. The written examination, counting towards
approximately two-thirds of the grade, will consist of two parts: 1. Classical
Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics; 2. Electromagnetic Theory, Thermodynamics and
Statistical Mechanics. The examination
will be given twice yearly, usually in January and may. Classical and Quantum Mechanics will be
covered in the morning and the remaining areas in the same afternoon.
Students failing any part of the examination
at their first attempt will be required to pass that part the next time the
examination is offered to continue in the doctoral program.
Doctoral Programs – Comprehensive Exam
The comprehensive examination is an oral
presentation based on dissertation research.
This examination should be taken at least one year prior to the intended
date of dissertation defense so that the candidate has sufficient time to make
up for any deficiencies in his (her) research or understanding or his (her)
chosen field. If a candidate fails the
exam, s(he) must retake the exam within one semester and can expect his (her)
defense to be delayed so that it will follow in no less that one year’s time.
Degree Requirements:
Master of Science
A minimum of 30 hours is required for the
Master of Science degree, of which 24 hours, including a six hour thesis
(minimum registration), will be in physics, and six hours may be selected from
physics, mathematics, chemistry, geology, biology, or engineering as approved
by the Graduate Advisor.
Degree Requirements:
For each of the degree programs below, a list of requirements is given. These include: (a) total number of graded
(A,B,C, or P) credit hours, (b) number
of credit hours and specific courses in physics, (c) examinations, (d) thesis
or dissertation, and (e) special requirements.
All courses in physics are referred to in Groups which are listed on the
next page.
Master of Science Degree in
Physics: Thesis Option
(a) A minimum of 30 hours is
required for this degree.
(b) 24 hours will be in physics. The 24 hours in physics include all Group 1
courses, a choice of two courses from Groups 2 and 3, and Thesis 5698. (The remaining 6 hours may be selected form
physics, mathematics, chemistry, geology, biology, or engineering as approved
by the Graduate Advisor).
(c ) There are no entry exams, but
there is an oral thesis defense.
(d) Students in the M.S. (thesis
option) must complete a thesis, and must enroll in Thesis (5698) in their final
semester.
Master of Science Degree in
Physics: Non-Thesis Option
(a) A minimum of 36 hours is required
for this degree.
(b) 27 hours will be in physics. The 27 hours in physics include all Group 1
courses, and a choice of five courses from Groups 2 and 3. (The remaining 9 hours may be selected from
physics, mathematics, chemistry, geology, biology, or engineering as approved
by the Graduate Advisor).
(c ) In addition to course requirements, all
candidates for the M.S. program – non-thesis option will be required to pass an
exam similar to the Doctoral Qualifying Exam described earlier.
Doctor of Philosophy in
Mathematical Sciences: Physics
For general requirements look up the Ph.D.
program in Mathematical Sciences in the Graduate Catalogue.
(a) The Physics Department requires a minimum
of 42 hours of courses, and 9 hours of dissertation.
(b) Of the 42 course hours, 27 hours will be
in physics and 15 hours will be in mathematics. The mathematics courses are specified by the mathematics
department. The 27 hours in physics
include all Group 1 and Group 2 courses, and a choice of two courses from Group
3.
(c ) Each student is required to pass the
qualifying exam (see previous page) to enter the program, the comprehensive
exam to continue in the program, and the dissertation defense.
(d) Students in the Ph.D. program must
complete a dissertation. Students must
enroll in nine hours of dissertation in their final semester.
Doctor of Philosophy in Physics
and Applied Physics
For general requirements look up the Ph.D.
program in the Physics section of the Graduate Catalogue.
(a) The Physics Department requires a minimum
of 42 hours of courses, 9 hours of internship and 9 hours of dissertation.
(b) Of the 42 hours, 36 hours will be in
physics. The 36 hours in physics
include all Group 1 and Group 2 courses, and a choice of five courses from
Group 3. (The remaining 6 hours may be
selected from physics, mathematics, chemistry, geology, biology, or engineering
as approved by the Graduate Advisor).
(c ) Each student is required to pass the
qualifying exam (see previous page) to enter the program, the comprehensive
exam to continue in the program, and the dissertation defense.
(d) Students in the Ph.D. program must
complete a dissertation. Students must
enroll in nine hours of dissertation in their final semester.
(e) Ph.D. students must perform an
internship. A proposal for the
internship must be submitted to the graduate studies subcommittee for approval
prior to its commencement. A final report
must also be submitted before a final grade of P is given. Students on an internship must be registered
in 6304, 6604, or 6904.
Courses
Group 1:
Required for all graduate students.
5307 Quantum Mechanics I
5309 Electromagnetic Theory I
5310 Statistical Mechanics
5311 Mathematical Methods in Physics I
Group 2: Required for all doctoral students.
5308 Quantum Mechanics II
5312 Mathematical Methods in Physics II
5313 Electromagnetic Theory II
Group 3: Electives for students in all
programs
5306 Classical Mechanics
5314 Advanced Optics
5315 Solid State I
5316 Solid State II
5317 Statistical Mechanics II
5319 Mathematical Methods in Physics III
5320 Quantum Mechanics III
5325 Introduction to Elementary Particle
Physics I
5326 Introduction to Elementary Particle
Physics II
5328 Surface Physics
6301 Methods in Applied Physics I – Electronics
6302 Methods in Applied Physics II –
Computers
6303 Methods in Applied Physics III -
Spectroscopy