Degree Requirements

Students may choose between a thesis option MS degree or non-thesis option MS degree. A minimum of 30 credits is required for either option. At least 18 of these 30 credits must be taken at the 600-level or higher.

All students must complete the core curriculum of PHYS 621  (3 credits) and PHYS 622  (3 credits). These two core courses must be passed with a grade of “B−” or higher.  Students must also take two semesters of PHYS 698  (1 credit each).

Students selecting the thesis option MS must complete a further 16 credits of lecture coursework approved by the Graduate Program Director, and a minimum of 6 credits of PHYS 799  . In addition, students must write and defend a thesis before a Master’s Thesis Examination Committee formed in accordance with Graduate School policies.

Students selecting the non-thesis option MS must complete a further 22 credits of lecture coursework approved by the Graduate Program Director, write a scholarly paper, and pass the written part of the Qualifying Exam at the MS level. The Qualifying Exam must be passed within the first two years of the program.