Programs by Campus
Bloomington
Physics
College of Arts and Sciences
Departmental E-mail: gradphys [at] indiana [dot] edu
Departmental URL: physics.indiana.edu
Curriculum
Chairperson
Professor Richard Van Kooten*
Degrees Offered
Master of Science, Master of Arts for Teachers, and Doctor of Philosophy. The department also participates in the Ph.D. programs in astrophysics, chemical physics, and mathematical physics (described elsewhere in this bulletin).
Special Departmental Requirements
(See also general University Graduate School requirements.)
Grades
B average (3.0) required. See special requirement under “Master of Science Degree” for courses numbered below 501 that are to be counted toward that degree.
Master of Science Degree
Admission Requirements
Physics P201, P202, P301, P309, P331, P332, and P340 (or equivalents); Mathematics M211-M212, M311 (or equivalents). Deficiencies must be removed without graduate credit.
Course Requirements
A total of 30 credit hours, 20 in physics, of which at least 14 credit hours must be in physics courses numbered 501 or above. Seminars, research, and reading courses may not be counted toward this 14 credit hour requirement. Physics courses numbered below 501 that are listed in this bulletin may count toward the 30 credit hour requirement only if passed with a grade of B (3.0) or above.
Thesis
Not required.
Final Examination
Written. May be taken only twice.
Master of Science in Beam Physics and Technology Degree
Admission Requirements
Same as for Master of Science degree.
Course Requirements
A total of 30 credit hours, including the following: proof of proficiency in undergraduate senior-level classical mechanics and electromagnetism, or passing the Classical Mechanics and Electromagnetism in Beams examination offered by the U.S. Particle Accelerator School (USPAS) with grade B or higher, P570, one course at the 500 level or above in laboratory techniques or computational methods, and a master’s thesis course (P802). Four advanced courses in beam physics should be chosen from among the special topics courses P571, P671, and P672, with topics to be listed in a syllabus prepared jointly by the Department of Physics and USPAS. A grade point average of 3.0 or better must be maintained in the courses satisfying the 30 credit hour requirement. In particular, both senior-level classical mechanics and electromagnetism (or equivalents) must be passed with a grade of B (3.0) or above.
Thesis
Required.
Final Examination
Either a defense of the thesis or a written final examination is required, and should take place at Indiana University. The written examination may be substituted for the defense only with the permission of the thesis committee. The defense of the thesis will follow the same guidelines as the Master of Science thesis of the Indiana University Graduate School.
Master of Arts for Teachers Degree
Admission Requirements
8 credit hours of undergraduate physics courses.
Course Requirements
20 credit hours in physics courses numbered P300 or higher, selected from the course listings that follow (recommended: P301, P309, P331, P332, P360, P451, P453, P454), the remaining 16 credit hours in graduate education and in mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, or computer science. Candidates for the M.A.T. must obtain a teacher’s certificate (or license) by the time they complete the M.A.T.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree
Admission Requirements
Same as those for Master of Science degree.
Course Requirements
A total of 90 credit hours, including two courses in one of the following six areas: accelerator physics (P671 plus one of P633, P634, P640, P641, P672), biological physics (P575 plus one of P581, P582, P583, P676), chemical physics (P615 or P557 plus one of P614, P616, P625, or P627), condensed-matter physics (P557, P615, P616, P627, P657), high-energy physics (P635, P636, P640, P641, P707, P708), mathematical physics (P607, P609, P610, P622, P625, P637, P638, P647, P665, P743), nuclear physics (P626, G630, P633, P634, P640, P641). Courses offered for the (optional) inside minor cannot be used to satisfy this requirement. A minimum of 9 credit hours per semester at the P501 level or above with a minimum 3.0 (B) grade point average is required. Mathematics courses suited to the student’s fields will be specified by advisors in the Department of Physics.
Minor
The minor may be taken either inside or outside of the department. The inside minor for all majors except biological physics consists of either P621 or P625, and at least two courses, falling within at least two nonmajor areas of concentration, among six areas: accelerator physics (P570, P671, or P672), chemical or condensed-matter physics (P557, P615, P616, P657, P627), high-energy physics: P535, P635, P636, P640, P641, P707, P708), mathematical physics (P522, P607, P609, P610, P622, P625, P637, P638, P647, P665, P743), nuclear physics (P535, P537, P626, G630, P633, P634, P640, P641), biological physics (P548, P575, P581, P582, P583, P676) or electronics (P540, P541). For biological physics the inside minor consists of at least two different courses, falling within two of the six areas of concentration. Programs of study for outside minors are determined by the individual departments and typically require 9 to 12 credit hours of course work. Recommended outside fields: astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, biology, biochemistry, and scientific computing. All outside minors must be approved by the graduate advisor of the Department of Physics. Note that P535 Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics cannot be counted toward the inside minor for students specializing in either nuclear physics or high-energy physics. For students specializing in other fields, P535 can be counted once toward the inside minor and can be considered as a course in either nuclear physics or high-energy physics for that purpose.
Outside Minor in Physics
For students in other departments who wish an outside minor in physics, the requirement is a minimum of 9 credit hours at the 501 level or above. The grade point average for the 9 credit hours must be at least 3.0. Students who wish to complete the physics minor should bring the Nomination to Candidacy form to the Physics Academic Services Office for a signature upon completion of this requirement.
Qualifying Examination
Written. May be taken only twice. Must be taken at the end of the first year and must be passed by the end of the second year. The written examination covers the subjects of mechanics, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics, and thermodynamics/statistical physics at the level of first-year graduate work. Relevant courses are P506, P507, P511, P512, P521, and P556. Not attempting the qualifying examination at the required time constitutes an automatic failure.
Candidacy Seminar
Must be presented after the first attempt at the qualifying examination but before the end of the fifth semester. Usually pertains to a proposed dissertation topic.
Dissertation
Result of a significant piece of original research.
Final Examination
Oral defense of dissertation.
Mathematical Physics
The Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Mathematical Physics is described elsewhere in the Bulletin.