Ph.D. in Physics

The concentration in instrumentation teaches graduate physics with an additional focus on laboratory work and practical applications of physics concepts and technologies.  The program aims to produce an experimental physicist with broad skills and background in one or more areas of scientific instrumentation.  A graduate of this program should be able to create their own custom instrumentation for the study of new areas.  The skills of such a graduate are explicitly transferable to industrial design and employment in national labs.

In addition to the degree requirements specified above, students completing their Doctor of Philosophy in Physics with  in instrumentation must also complete:

Instrumentation Core: Physics 3001, 5036L, 5045 and PHYS 5080.

Specialized Math Requirement: Of the required 9-  credit hours in advanced mathematics, 3 credit hours should be from either MATH 5087 OR MATH 5099 OR MATH 5088.

Instrumentation Breadth Requirement: 

 Courses may be taken at another institution in consultation with student’s committee as appropriate to the area of study. Additional courses in the Physics department may include graduate level disciplinary courses beyond the Physics core.

The following courses are examples recommended for the breadth requirement depending on the candidate’s interests and dissertation/professional focus.  When labs are associated with these courses, they should also be taken, but will not count toward the 9 credit requirement.

In addition to the degree requirements specified above, students completing their dissertation in mathematical physics must also complete:

MATH 4035 (3), MATH 4038 (3), MATH 4042 (3), MATH 4071 (3), MATH 5035 (3).  These may be used to satisfy the 9 credit hours in mathematics required for all curricula.  

An additional 6 credits in mathematics and 6 credits in physics, approved by the student’s advisory committee.

In addition to the degree requirements specified above, students completing their dissertation in atmospheric physics must also complete:

 PHYS 4027 (3), 4028 (3)

An additional 6 credit hours must be taken in areas pertinent to the student’s program.  This can be achieved by taking PHYS 5027 (3), PHYS 5032 (3), PHYS 5033 (3), PHYS 5035 (3), and/or other courses approved by the student’s advisory committee.

In addition to the degree requirements specified above, students completing their dissertation in astrophysics must also complete:

6 credit hours chosen from PHYS 4026 (3), PHYS 5064 (3), PHYS 5065 (3), PHYS 5066 (3).  PHYS 4026 must be completed unless the student has had equivalent material in previous courses.

6 credit hours chosen from PHYS 4025 (3), PHYS 5062 (3), PHYS 5063 (3), PHYS 5067 (3).