694897 - Physics (PhD)
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Application Deadline
Fall: January 15
Contact Information
N-284 ESC
801-422-5387
graduatesecretary@physics.byu.edu
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Required Tests
GRE is not required, but is highly recommended
Additional Requirements
Baccalaureate degree or equivalent preparation in physics
Apply here
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Program Requirements
The physics PhD program prepares students for professional careers in physics. These careers include faculty positions at universities and colleges and work in research laboratories and industry.
Requirements for Degree.
Credit hours (54): Students must pass a minimum 36 hours in approved course work with a B– grade or better in each class and complete 18 hours of dissertation research in course. The required graduate seminars course and course do not count toward the approved coursework hours. The final GPA must be 3.0 or above.
Required courses: Students are required to enroll in course and course their first year, in course each semester of residence, in course the first two semesters of residence, and in 3 hours of course at or before the beginning of the dissertation.
Suggested courses vary by discipline –
Atomic, Molecular, and Atomic Physics: course, course, course, course, course
Condensed Matter Physics: course, course, course, course, course, course, course
Plasma Physics: course, course, course, course, course, course, course, course
Theoretical and Mathematical Physics: course, course, course, course, course, course
Additional hours from 500-, 600-, and 700-level courses, subject to departmental approval, to make a total of at least 36 hours (may include up to 3 hours of course).
Study list: In the first year of study a student must be accepted as a research student by a member of the department graduate faculty and with their guidance submit a study list which is the list of courses they will take to complete the 54 hour requirement. This list must be approved by the department graduate coordinator.
Qualifying examination: A department-administered written examination to demonstrate a graduate-level understanding of the physical principles on which the graduate courses build must be successfully passed within 22 months of entering the program. A student has three opportunities to pass the exam. These exams are scheduled near the beginning of fall, winter and spring semester, depending upon demand.
Candidacy examination: After two years each student presents a written and oral report of research accomplished at BYU to an examining committee. A passing grade is given if the committee decides that the student displays sufficient mastery of background knowledge and research acumen to successfully complete the PhD. Passing the qualifying examination, having a GPA of 3.0 over at least 5 courses on the study list with no grade lower than a B-, and passing the candidacy examination admits the student to PhD candidacy.
Prospectus: No later than the third year of residency, a student must submit and successfully defend before their advisory committee a prospectus detailing their proposed plan of research.
Dissertation: A dissertation must be completed and successfully defended in an oral examination before the student's advisory committee.
