M.S. in Physics
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Program Title
Department(s)
Degree Designation
Optional Specialization/Concentration(s)
Program Description
With Thesis:
The student’s course of study and thesis topic must be approved by the student’s advisory committee. A thesis consists of directed research, usually of a nature which would be suitable for publication in a refereed journal, and a write-up of the research. An oral defense of the thesis is required. The thesis is an archival document published electronically and kept in the NMT Library.
Independent Study:
The student’s course of study must be approved by the student’s advisory committee. A student who elects not to write a thesis will instead write an independent study paper on a topic selected with guidance from their advisory committee. Unlike a thesis, this paper is not archived electronically by the NMT Library.
PhD students who wish to earn an MS
If a PhD student would like to earn an MS while completing PhD requirements, they may initiate the process by petitioning the department. They may choose either the thesis or independent study option. All coursework may count toward both the MS and PhD degree. The independent study paper may be a dissertation proposal, a journal article, or another appropriate written product. For further details, see the Physics Department webpage.
MS in Physics Requirements
Choose from the following Courses according to requirements above:
PHYS5001 - Intro Resrch & Scientific Comm (must be completed in first two semesters)
PHYS5002 - Intro Resrch & Scientific Comm (must be completed in first two semesters)
PHYS5009 - Methods of Theoretical Physics
PHYS5005 - Advanced Dynamics
OR
PHYS4025 - Astrophysics III
OR
PHYS5026 – Fluid Dynamics
OR
PHYS5027 – Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
PHYS5079 - Graduate-Faculty Seminar (must be taken during first four semesters)
PHYS5008 - Statistical Mechanics
PHYS5010 - Electromagnetism
PHYS5018 - Quantum Mechanics
While the listed courses are the simplest route to achieving this credit, a student may petition their committee and the department chair either with proposed substitute course work or other prior experience that demonstrates competence in any of these areas.
Procedure for MS students to petition to PhD program
Graduate students wishing to petition to change from M.S. to Ph.D. status can do so no earlier than the end of their second semester and no later than Aug 1 of that year. The petition should include: a) a letter stating the reason for the petition, b) a copy of the first full-year of transcripts, c) a letter of support from the potential research advisor, d) any updates in scores (e.g. GREs, TOEFL/ELTS, Department Prelim) that should be considered as evidence of ability to pursue a Ph.D.
The petition should be copied in email to the Department Chair, Graduate Admissions Committee chair and Dean of the Graduate School. The Graduate Admissions committee will render a decision regarding the petition in writing to the petitioner, Chair and Dean no later than Sept 15 that year. This decision will include both an adjudication of the petitioner's request to pursue a Ph.D. as well as any potential funding commitments from the department.
If the student’s petition fails, the student may apply for readmission for the Ph.D. through the regular graduate admissions process after the M.S. degree is completed