Campuses:
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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. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (612-626-5982; fax: 612-624-4578)
Email:
physics@umn.edu
Website: https://cse.umn.edu/physics
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.
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 3.30.
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 encouraged. It is advisable to have taken an upper division course in experimental methods in physics.
Financial support is generally not offered to students admitted to the terminal MS degree.
GRE scores are not required.
Special Application Requirements:
Applications are accepted for fall semester only. The application deadline is December 15.
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 (Physics 8500, 4 credits)) can comprise either a self-contained research problem, or 1 to 3 papers related to completed courses.
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.
Physics 4001, 4002, 4101, 4201, and 4303 cannot be used to satisfy degree requirements.
Courses must be taken on the A-F grade basis, unless only offered S/N, with a minimum grade of B- earned for each course.
Plan A & B must graduate with a minimum GPA of 2.80. Plan C students must complete with a 3.00 GPA.
Plan C students must pass the Physics Graduate Written Exam.
Required Courses (8 to 16 credits)
Plan A and Plan B students complete either the quantum mechanics sequence or the classical physics sequence. Plan C students must complete both sequences. The minimum GPA for the required core courses is 3.30 for Plan C students.
Seminar (2 credits)
Take 1 credit in the fall and 1 credit in the Spring.
PHYS 5980 - Introduction to Research Seminar
(1.0 cr)
Elective Courses (9 to 16 credits)
Plan A students select 10 credits, Plan B students 16 credits, and Plan C students select 9 credits from the following, in consultation with the advisor. Additional courses may be approved by the director of graduate studies.
Atomic Physics and Optics
PHYS 8161 - Atomic and Molecular Structure
(3.0 cr)
Biophysics and Medical Physics
PHYS 5081 - Introduction to Biopolymer Physics
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8300 - Seminar: Biological and Medical Physics.
(1.0 cr)
PHYS 8311 - Biological Physics of Single Molecules
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8312 - Biological Physics of Macroscopic Systems
(3.0 cr)
Condensed Matter Physics
PHYS 4211 - Introduction to Solid-State Physics
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 5701 - Solid-State Physics for Engineers and Scientists
(4.0 cr)
PHYS 5750 - Advanced Topics in Quantum Mechanics and Quantum Information
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8014 - Quantum many Body Systems
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8700 - Seminar: Condensed Matter Physics
(1.0 cr)
PHYS 8702 - Statistical Mechanics and Transport Theory
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8711 - Solid-State Physics I
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8712 - Solid-State Physics II
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8750 - Advanced Topics in Condensed Matter Physics
(3.0 cr)
Elementary Particle Physics
PHYS 4511 - Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8011 - Quantum Field Theory I
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8012 - Quantum Field Theory II
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8013 - Special Topics in Quantum Field Theory
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8900 - Seminar: Elementary Particle Physics
(1.0 cr)
PHYS 8901 - Elementary Particle Physics I
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8902 - Elementary Particle Physics II
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8911 - Introduction to Supersymmetry
(3.0 cr)
Mathematical, Advanced Quantum, and Computational Physics
PHYS 5041 - Mathematical Methods for Physics
(4.0 cr)
PHYS 8001 - Advanced Quantum Mechanics
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8301 - Symmetry and Its Application to Physical Problems
(3.0 cr)
Nuclear Physics
PHYS 8800 - Seminar: Nuclear Physics
(1.0 cr)
PHYS 8801 - Nuclear Physics I
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8802 - Nuclear Physics II
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8850 - Advanced Topics in Nuclear Physics
(3.0 cr)
Plasma and Space Physics
PHYS 4611 - Introduction to Space Physics
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 4621 - Introduction to Plasma Physics
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 5621 - Introduction to Plasma Physics
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8600 - Seminar: Space Physics
(1.0 cr)
PHYS 8601 - Plasma Physics I
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8602 - Plasma Physics II
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8611 - Cosmic Rays and Plasma Astrophysics
(3.0 cr)
PHYS 8650 - Advanced Topics in Space and Plasma Physics
(3.0 cr)
Plan Options
Plan A (10 credits)
Take 10 master's thesis credits.
PHYS 8777 - Thesis Credits: Master's
(1.0-18.0 cr)
-OR-
-OR-
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Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Phys 4911/5081 |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Spring Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 6.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F only |
Typically offered: | Spring Even Year |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Fall Odd Year |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Phys 4621/Phys 5621 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 9.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Course Equivalencies: | Ast 5022/Phys 5022 |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 6.0] |
Grading Basis: | S-N or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Periodic Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -3.0 [max 5.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 [max 3.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Spring |
Credits: | 1.0 -18.0 [max 50.0] |
Grading Basis: | No Grade |
Typically offered: | Every Fall & Spring |
Credits: | 4.0 [max 4.0] |
Typically offered: | Every Fall, Spring & Summer |
Credits: | 3.0 [max 3.0] |
Grading Basis: | A-F or Aud |
Typically offered: | Every Fall |