Campuses:
Twin Cities campus
This is archival data. This system was retired as of August 21, 2023 and the information on this page has not been updated since then. For current information, visit catalogs.umn.edu.
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Twin Cities Campus
Physics M.S.School of Physics & Astronomy
College of Science and Engineering
Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information
Director of Graduate Studies in Physics, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, 116 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-626-5982; fax: 612-624-4578)
Email:
grad@physics.umn.edu
Website: http://www.physics.umn.edu/grad
Along with the program-specific requirements listed below, please read the
General Information section of
this
website for requirements that apply to all major fields.
Note: Students applying for a terminal M.S. degree are not admitted unless they arrange for their own financial support. Students admitted to the Ph.D. program are automatically eligible for the M.S. program.
Physics is the study of the fundamental structure and interactions of matter. Research areas in the program include experimental and theoretical studies in astrophysics and cosmology, biological physics, condensed matter physics, elementary particle physics, nuclear physics, space and planetary physics, and physics education research. Interdisciplinary study is also available with the programs in astrophysics, biological sciences, chemistry, chemical engineering and materials science, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, and the history of science and technology.
Program Delivery
Prerequisites for Admission
The preferred undergraduate GPA for admittance to the program
is 3.50.
Other requirements to be completed before admission:
Upper-division courses in the core areas of classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics, and statistical and thermal physics are required. It is advisable to have taken an upper-division course in experimental methods in physics.
Special Application Requirements:
Students admitted to the Ph.D. program are automatically eligible for the M.S. program. Students applying for a terminal M.S. degree are not admitted unless they arrange for their own financial support.
International applicants must submit score(s) from one of the following tests:
Key to test
abbreviations
(TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB).
For an online application or for more information about graduate education admissions, see the
General Information section of this
website.
Program Requirements
Plan A: Plan A requires
14
major credits,
6
credits outside the major,
and
10
thesis credits.
The final exam is oral.
Plan B: Plan B requires
14
major credits and
6
credits outside the major.
The final exam is oral.
Plan C: Plan C requires
30
major credits and
0
credits outside the
major.
There is no final exam.
This program may be completed with a minor.
Use of 4xxx courses toward program requirements is permitted under certain conditions with adviser approval.
A minimum GPA of 2.80
is required for students to remain in good standing.
At least 2 semesters must be completed
before filing a Degree Program Form.
Use of certain 4xxx courses toward degree requirements is permitted under certain conditions with director of graduate studies approval. Physics 4001, 4002, 4101, 4201, and 4303 cannot be used to satisfy the requirements.
The M.S. requires a minimum of 20 course credits (Plan A) or 30 course credits (Plan B), including classical physics (PHYS 5011-5012) or quantum mechanics (PHYS 5001-5002) and a minimum of 6 credits in a minor or related field. Plan A also requires 10 thesis credits. The minor requirement may be satisfied by completion of courses in one or two areas outside the specialization with an approval of the director of graduate studies in the minor field. Any course may be used to satisfy the related field requirement.
The Plan B Project involves a small, self-contained research problem, which may or may not be publishable. The project should be described in a written paper. Students must register for 4 credits of Physics 8500, which do count toward the program requirement of 30 credits.
The Plan B Paper option does not require original research. It consists of the writing of one to three Plan B papers which are based on courses that the student has taken.
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