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Degree Options
There are two degree options, Thesis and Non-Thesis. The thesis option requires 24 credits of courses and a 6-credit research based thesis, while the Non-Thesis option requires 30 credits of courses and a short paper. Within the first semester of enrollment in the program, all students are advised to submit a degree plan that details the courses to be taken, selects Thesis or Non-Thesis option, and gives a proposed thesis topic for Thesis option students. The degree plan must be approved by the department.
For both degree options, the student will be required to take 15 credits of core physics courses. Non-Thesis option students are required to take 15 credits from approved elective courses beyond the core courses. The elective courses should be primarily from within the department, but out-of-department electives are allowed as approved by the faculty. Thesis option students are required to take an additional 9 credits from approved elective courses.
Additionally, students must complete a significant research project with an accompanying thesis in addition to the required course load. The thesis must be defended in front of a committee consisting of the project adviser, a second member of the department, and an additional member from outside the department. Prior to beginning work towards the thesis option, the student must present a short proposal of the work to be performed for the approval of the department faculty.
Plan of Study
(30 credits for both tracks.)
Required Courses
(for both) |
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Course# |
Course Title |
Credits |
| PHY 507 |
Quantum Mechanics I |
3 cr. |
| PHY 502 |
Electrodynamics |
3 cr. |
| PHY 513 |
Solid State Physics for Optics |
3 cr. |
| PHY 505 |
Optical Instrumentation |
3 cr. |
| PHY 515 |
Modern Optics Laboratory |
3 cr. |
Thesis Track: 6 credits of thesis research and at least 9 credits from the list below.
Non-Thesis Track: at least 15 credits from the list below.
Elective Courses
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|
|
Course# |
Course Title |
Credits |
| PHY 603 |
Lasers I |
3 cr. |
| PHY 604 |
Lasers II |
3 cr. |
| PHY 606 |
Physical Optics |
3 cr. |
| PHY 608 |
Nonlinear Optics |
3 cr. |
| PHY 607 |
Quantum Mechanics II |
3 cr. |
| PHY 642 |
Quantum Optics |
3 cr. |
| PHY 658 |
Laser Cooling and Trapping |
3 cr. |
| PHY 648 |
Fiber Optics |
3 cr. |
| PHY 662 |
Optical Radiation: Sources, Detection, and Noise |
3 cr. |
| PHY 620 |
Advanced Mathematical Methods for Physics |
3 cr. |
| PHY 613 |
Statistical Mechanics |
3 cr. |
| PHY 628 |
Atomic Physics & Spectroscopy |
3 cr. |
| PHY 623 |
Classical Mechanics |
3 cr. |
| PHY 699 |
Master's Thesis Research |
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