MA/MS in Physics

This master's degree is available en route to the PhD for students who meet its requirements, but applicants cannot initially seek a master's degree alone. The degree aims to give students a deep advanced grasp of the central areas of physics, from mechanics and electromagnetism to quantum theory and the physics of heat and large ensembles, along with the mathematics used to analyze them. Students should also show they can gather, examine and make sense of numerical data in those areas. The requirements are eight courses totaling thirty-two units, earning B- or better, with a B average held in the core lectures. Five must be lectures, including mathematical physics and two quantum mechanics courses, an advanced laboratory that may be waived, and a first-year scholarly methods course. As many as three courses outside the lecture format may be counted. No foreign language is required.