PhD Completion Checklist
To complete the Physics PhD, you will need the following:
4 Core Courses
- PHYS 6103: Electromagnetism I
- PHYS 6105: Quantum Mechanics I
- PHYS 6107: Statistical Mechanics I
- PHYS 6106: Quantum Mechanics II
Must get a B or higher to pass. One C is allowed.
2 Physics Graduate Courses
These are two elective courses that must be lecture-type and 6000+ level. Must get a B or higher to pass. One C is allowed (among all 6 courses).
2 Courses for a Minor
Students must declare a minor, which consists of two courses unrelated to their research. These can overlap with the 2 Physics Graduate Courses. These courses do not need to be in the same school (and can be outside the School of Physics).
PHYS 8002 (First Year Seminar & Responsible Conduct of Research)
- Online training course must be completed within 90 days of starting the PhD
- In-class training on a pass/fail basis
CETL 8000 PH1 (Physics GTA Preparation)
- 1 credit, in-class training on a pass/fail basis for first time GTAs
- Required for first year PhD students
Special Problems
Must be taken with a research advisor -- you will register for special problems every semester starting from the second semester until obtaining candidacy. This course is used to represent your semesterly research.
Thesis Proposal by the Fall semester of the third year
- Thesis proposal committee consisting of the Principle Investigator and 3 other GT faculty
- Written proposal sent to thesis proposal committee
- Oral presentation of proposal to committee and open to public
- Proposal exam (committee members fill out Research Assessment, Technical Writing Assessment, Oral Assessment)
- Request for Admission to PhD Candidacy form signed by committee members
Thesis Proposal Annual Review
- Thesis exam committee consisting of proposal committee plus 2 other faculty, one from outside Physics
- Meet with 3-4 members of exam committee yearly
- If entering into year 7 without a significant break or late change in advisor, TPC will follow up with action plan for thesis
Dissertation
- Written document
- Public proposal
To complete the Master’s in Physics (including on the way to a PhD), you will need the following:
30 credit hours of graduate work (6000 level or above)
- a 4000 level course can be substituted for one of the courses
- minimum 2.7 GPA, no more than 3 hours pass/fail
(For PhD) Graduate Level Change form must be submitted before Phase I registration of the semester prior to graduation semester
Form found here.
- check ADD a Master’s Degree Level
- fill out Current Major
- fill out Proposed Secondary Major
- obtain Dr. Ed Greco's signature
- turn in to registrar
Online Application for Graduation form
Information can be found here.
- must be submitted in the semester prior to graduation semester
For PhD’s: If the MS is in Physics, the first-year courses plus special problem hours count toward the MS. The degree can be collected at the end of the first summer, so long as the Graduate Level Change form was submitted before Phase I registration of the first Spring and the Online Application for Graduation was filled out before the first summer.
Students with a MS degree are ineligible to apply for a NSF GRFP.
If the MS is not in Physics, the MS courses can be used toward the minor requirement. Only one course outside of the School of Physics can be taken per semester (without express permission).