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
20
major credits,
0
credits outside the major,
and
10
thesis credits.
The final exam is oral.
Plan B: Plan B requires
30
major credits and
0
credits outside the major.
The final exam is oral.
A capstone project is required.
Capstone Project:The Plan B project is a self-contained research problem performed in conjunction with the student's adviser. Students register for 4 credits of Physics 8500: Plan B Project, which count toward the program requirement of 30 credits. The project is described in a written paper. Examples of Plan B projects include carrying out a specific calculation, writing and documenting a computer program, analyzing a set of experimental data, designing and/or constructing experimental instrumentation, and designing and/or constructing an undergraduate laboratory experiment. The alternative to the Plan B project is writing 1-3 Plan B papers. The Plan B papers are related to three courses that the student has taken and do not require original research. It's expected that completion of either the project or the Plan B papers require a nominal three weeks of full-time effort.
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.
At least 2 semesters must be completed
before filing a Degree Program Form.
All courses must be at the 4xxx, 5xxx or 8xxx level. Physics 4001, 4002, 4101, 4201, and 4303 cannot be used to satisfy the requirements.
A minimum GPA of 2.80 is required for Plans A and B and a minimum GPA of 3.30 is required for Plan C for students to remain in good standing.
The M.S. requires a minimum of 30 credits and is offered under three plans. Plan A (thesis) requires 20 course credits and 10 thesis credits. Plan B (project) requires 30 course credits plus completion of a project or 1-3 Plan B papers. For both Plan A and Plan B, Physics 5001/2 or Physics 5011/12 must be included in the degree coursework.
Plan C requires 30 course credits including completion of Physics 5001/2, 5011/12, and 5201. Students in the Plan C program must also pass the Physics Graduate Written Exam and maintain a 3.30 GPA.
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