Department of Physics and Astronomy

M.S. in Physics Milestones

At the time of entering our graduate program in Physics, all students are required to take placement examinations in classical mechanics, electromagnetic theory, and quantum mechanics. The results of these examinations are completely advisory; they are used to advise entering students on whether or not they have the appropriate physics background to take the 8000-level courses or whether it would be prudent to review the material prior to taking the 8000-level courses. The student makes the final decision as to which courses to take.

All new graduate students who wish to have teaching assignments are required to attend and pass the Teaching Assistant Workshop, which is offered by the University once a year just before the beginning of the Fall semester. All international students who wish to continue to have teaching assignments are also required by the College of Arts and Sciences to take and obtain a satisfactory score on the Test of Spoken English exam (TSE) by the end of their first year at MSU.

Graduate School rules require that a Program of Graduate Study be completed for each M.S. student by the end of their first semester. Courses for the Program of Graduate Study will be chosen by the student and his/her Advisory Committee, which consists of the Physics Department Graduate Coordinator and two other faculty members who are appointed by the head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. This document is held in the Department until the student is just about to complete the M.S. when it is submitted to the Graduate School. The Program of Graduate Study may be modified based upon a change of research interests or upon the availability of courses.

By the end of the first year in our department, the student should choose a research area and a research advisor, and begin research. In consultation with his/her research advisor, a new Advisory Committee is chosen to annually review the progress of the student and recommend to the head whether or not the student should receive a graduate assistantship for the following year. Ultimately the student's Advisory Committee will serve as the examining committee for the defense of the thesis.

By two and a half years after entering the M.S. program, students are expected to complete the Program of Graduate Study form and to defend their M.S. thesis. An M.S. student should not expect financial support beyond her/his third year in the M.S. program. [See Guidelines for the Master's Degree in Physics.]

Students who wish to enter the Engineering Physics Ph.D. program should apply for admission to this program at least three, and preferably six months before they expect to defend their M.S. thesis.

Research Areas

Astrophysics

Atomic & Molecular Physics

Computational Physics

Physics Education

Nuclear Physics

Theoretical Optics