Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Physics

John Sutherland, Chairperson, C-209A Howell Science Complex
Edson Justiniano, Assistant Chairperson for Graduate Studies, E-203 Howell Science Complex

MS in Physics

The Department of Physics offers the master of science in physics with concentrations in applied physics and medical physics. The applied physics concentration requires the completion of a thesis whereas the medical physics concentration requires 6 s.h. of clinical study in lieu of thesis. A satisfactory knowledge of an acceptable computer language or of an acceptable foreign language is required. Attendance at a minimum of one-half of the regular Department of Physics seminars given during the student’s residence in the graduate program is required.

1. Core - 16-22 s.h.

   PHYS 5410*, 5600, 5601, 5900, 5901, 6816

   Applied physics concentration: Thesis 7000 (repeated once); 6 s.h. electives from: PHYS 6250, 6700, 6715, 6900

   Medical physics concentration: PHYS or RONC 6992, 6993; PHYS 5410* or 3 s.h. electives from: PHYS 6300, 6900

2. Concentration (Choose one area.) - 12-18 s.h.

   Applied physics (12 s.h.):

   PHYS 5311, 6200, 6300, 7450

   Medical physics (18 s.h.):

   BIOL or RONC 7370; PHYS 6700, 6710, 6715, 6720; PHYS or RONC 6718

*Students in the medical physics concentration who have had an undergraduate course in quantum mechanics may substitute the 3 s.h. elective, listed above, for PHYS 5410.

In addition, a student in the medical physics concentration must demonstrate a satisfactory knowledge of medical terminology through taking BIOL 2130 (preferred) or HIMA 3000.

Termination rules:

1. A student must receive a minimum final grade of B in each of the required courses in the medical physics option.
2. A student, because of inappropriate behavior in a clinical setting, will be immediately suspended by the instructor. A review by the Graduate Committee will determine if the student is eligible to continue in the medical physics option.

PhD in Biomedical Physics

Top

The primary objective of the PhD program in biomedical physics is to graduate scientists who can apply the tools and concepts of physics to solve significant biological and medical problems and advance our understanding of fundamental biomedical processes. Core curricula in both applied physics and biomedical areas are designed to provide training for students with diverse backgrounds in physics, applied physics, biochemistry, and engineering. All students are required to complete a dissertation project under supervision of a faculty advisor.

Admission

The applicant must have a master’s degree in physics, applied physics, medical physics, or related fields or must have shown a significant progress towards obtaining a master’s degree in the above fields. Acceptable performance on the GRE and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in graduate work are required.

The following documents are required before final admission is approved: completed application form for admission to Graduate School, official transcripts from colleges and universities attended, official or certified copy of score reports of the GRE and TOEFL (if applicable), letters of reference from three persons who can attest to the applicant’s academic competence, and an essay describing the applicant’s career goals and research interests which are consistent with the educational opportunities offered in the PhD program.

Course and Residence Requirements

The PhD program requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of courses beyond the master’s degree. The student will take a minimum of 6 s.h. of courses from a physics core, a minimum of 6 s.h. of courses from a biomedical core, and a minimum of 18 s.h. of dissertation research courses. Additional courses may be required by the executive committee, depending on the individual student’s preparation. Students must demonstrate a working knowledge of at least one high-level computer language, such as FORTRAN or C. Students must pass doctoral candidacy exam and write and successfully defend a doctoral dissertation.

Students must complete at least five consecutive semesters in residence (excluding summers).

Transfer Credits

Because of the broad interest and collaborative nature of the PhD program, the executive committee will evaluate transfer credits on a case-by-case basis. A maximum of 6 s.h. of transfer credit may be accepted.

If a student enrolls in this program and already has the equivalent of the 12 s.h. beyond the master’s degree, he or she may petition the executive committee for a waiver of or substitution for these courses. After a majority of the core courses have been completed, students in this program must pass the doctoral candidacy examination before being admitted to candidacy for the PhD in biomedical physics.

Other Requirements

The PhD program should be completed by the end of three years following the student’s initial enrollment. With the endorsement of the advisory committee, a student having deficiencies in preparation may request an extension of no more than two years.