Degree Requirements

Ph.D. Degree

Most entering graduate students intend to earn a Ph.D. in physics. An M.S. degree is usually an intermediate step in the graduate program. (For students who intend to stop at the M.S. degree, see the discussion of Terminal Masters Degree below.)

A typical plan of study for the student intending to earn a Ph.D. is as follows:

Fall #1
PHYS 611	Introduction to Mathematical Physics
PHYS 651	Quantum Mechanics 1
PHYS	Optional elective

Spring #1
PHYS 631	Classical Mechanics
PHYS 633	Electromagnetism 1
PHYS	Optional elective such as PHYS 652 Quantum Mechanics 2

Summer #1
May	Graduate Exam in Quantum Mechanics
August	Graduate Exam in Electromagnetism

Fall #2
PHYS 634	Electromagnetism 2
PHYS 761	Statistical Mechanics
PHYS	Optional elective

Winter recess
January	Graduate Exam in Classical Mechanics

Spring #2
PHYS	Elective
PHYS	Elective

In the third and fourth year students spend less time taking courses, usually choosing advanced courses in their subfield of specialization. They spend progressively more time on research under the supervision of a faculty advisor.

(1) Course Requirements for Ph.D.
The Ph.D. requires 36 hours of coursework at the 600 level or above. These twelve courses must include the seven basic courses

            PHYS 611     Introduction to Mathematical Physics
            PHYS 631     Classical Mechanics
            PHYS 633     Electromagnetism 1
            PHYS 634     Electromagnetism 2
            PHYS 651     Quantum Mechanics 1
            PHYS 652     Quantum Mechanics 2
            PHYS 761     Statistical Mechanics
plus any two of the following more advanced courses:
            PHYS 726     Advanced Atomic and Molecular Physics
            PHYS 763     Advanced Nuclear Physics
            PHYS 764     Advanced High Energy Physics
            PHYS 772     Semiconductor Physics
            PHYS 773     Collective Phenomena in Solids
            PHYS 774     Optical Properties of Solids
            PHYS 783     Kinetic Theory of Plasma
            PHYS 784     Magnetohydrodynamic Theory of Plasma
            PHYS 791     Advanced Research Topics
            ASTR 702     Stellar Structure & Evolution
            ASTR 703     Galactic Astronomy

(2) Admission to Candidacy for Ph.D.
To be accepted as a candidate for the Ph.D., a student must pass both a written and an oral examination.

(2a) The written examination consists of three parts: a quantum mechanics exam in May, an electromagnetism exam in August, and a classical mechanics exam in January. To be eligible to take any candidacy exam, the student must be in good standing as explained below. The limitations on how long a student has to complete the exams are also detailed below.

(2b) The oral examination is a presentation to the five faculty on the student's doctoral committee in which the student reviews some published research that has been chosen by his or her faculty advisor.

(3) Research Requirements for Ph.D.
Research is the central focus of the degree and is directed by the faculty advisor. The candidate must submit a written dissertation that presents the results of the candidate's individual investigation. After the faculty advisor has tentatively approved the dissertation, the student makes an oral presentation and defense of the dissertation before the five faculty on the doctoral committee.

Requirements for Remaining in the Graduate Program

To be a graduate student in good standing, a student must:

• Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better in physics courses taken at WVU, excluding PHYS797;

• Pass two graduate qualifying exams by the end of 3 years;

• Pass the remaining third graduate qualifying exam by the end of 4 years;

• Within 3 semesters after passing the third graduate exam, choose a Ph.D. committee and complete the oral candidacy exam.

When warranted, a student may petition the Department to waive a specific requirement. A student who is not in good standing because of a GPA < 3.0, or failure to pass the graduate qualifying exams, or failure to pass the oral candidacy exam according to the above schedule will have his/her academic record reviewed by a faculty committee and continuation in the physics graduate program will require the committee’s approval.

Students admitted as M.S. degree candidates are not expected to take the graduate qualifying exams but must complete their studies within 3 years.

Plan of Study for the M.S. Degree

Some students enter graduate school with the goal of obtaining a masters degree and others obtain a masters (M.S.) degree on the way to their PhD degree. Because the path to a M.S. with a thesis involves research with a faculty advisor, it is important that students wishing to complete a M.S. degree in two years understand the accelerated pace at which they will have to work.

Thesis option: Requires a GPA 3.0 in 24 hours of physics courses at the 600 level or above, including physics 611, 631, 633, 651, and 761. To complete an MS thesis in two years the student should identify a thesis supervisor at the end of Fall #1 and begin doing research in Spring #1.

Fall #1
PHYS 611	Introduction to Mathematical Physics
PHYS 651	Quantum Mechanics 1
PHYS	Elective (optional)

Spring #1
PHYS 633	Electromagnetism 1
PHYS 631	Classical Mechanics
PHYS	Elective (optional)

Fall #2
PHYS 761	Statistical Mechanics
PHYS	Elective
PHYS	Elective (optional)

Spring #2
PHYS	Elective
PHYS	Elective
PHYS	Elective (optional)

Non-thesis option: A student may instead earn an M.S. degree without doing thesis research by completing 30 hours of physics courses (with a GPA 3.0) at the 600 level or above, including physics 611, 631, 633, 651, and 761