General information for physics graduate students

Revised 8/11/08

A. Degree requirements (informal summary)

The definitive set of rules for graduate degrees is given in the Graduate School’s Brochure.

1. Master’s degree

1. Plan A: Course work plus research thesis: 15 credits plus thesis (often preferred by students interested in an M.S. degree for work in industrial settings.) Nine credits of GRAD 5950 (Master’s Thesis Research.)
2. Plan B: Course work: 24 credits (generally preferred for future Ph.D. candidates)
3. Plan of Study after no more than 12 credits
4. Final Exam

2. Ph.D. degree

1. Students originally admitted to the master’s program must reapply for admission to the Ph.D. program. Students initially admitted to Ph.D. program can obtain M.S. degree when they satisfy necessary requirements.
2. Flexible credits beyond master’s or equivalent; typically, 20+. Fifteen credits of GRAD 6950 (Dissertation Research) must be included. Students are urged to consult the catalog of the Graduate School for exact statement of credit requirements for the Ph.D. and M.S. degrees.
3. Satisfactory completion of Physics 5302 (Electrodynamics II) and Physics 5403 (Quantum Mechanics III) is required for the Ph.D. in Physics.
4. Six credits per semester are required for full-time status if student has a graduate assistantship (full or half, teaching or research). Nine credits per semester are required for full-time status if student does not have an assistantship.
5. Plan of Study
6. General examination (details under C)
7. Residency (2 consecutive semesters full-time)
8. Dissertation Prospectus
9. Dissertation
10. Final Examination (defense of dissertation)

B. Advisory Committee

1. Major Advisor

1. A temporary advisor is assigned initially.
2. The advisor can be changed with mutual agreement of the student and his/her new advisor.
3. Students are strongly encouraged to approach a variety of potential advisors and to inquire about research programs and opportunities for participation.

2. Advisory Committee

1. Consists of major advisor and at least two associate advisors.
2. Approves plan of study and conducts general (oral part) and final examinations.
3. Advisory committee can also be changed.

C. General Examination

1. The General Examination consists of two written exams and an oral exam. Students are required to receive a passing grade in both written exams prior to the beginning of their sixth semester in the Ph.D. program. Students are strongly encouraged to take the written exams as soon as is consistent with their background in the material covered; there will be no penalty if a student fails an exam in an early attempt. Written exams consist of:
   1. One six-hour exam on Classical Mechanics and Classical Electromagnetism.
   2. One six-hour exam on Quantum Mechanics and Statistical Mechanics.
2. Grades: P (pass), F (fail).
3. Schedule of written exams: The two written examinations are to be given twice each academic year - immediately prior to the start of the Fall and Spring semesters.
4. The oral exam
   1. Students are required to receive a passing grade in both written exams to qualify for the oral exam.
   2. A permit to take the oral exam must be obtained from the Graduate School. An approved Ph.D. plan of study must be on file in order to obtain the permit
   3. The intent of the oral examination is that the student demonstrate a comprehensive mastery of the subject matter of Modern Physics (generally speaking, the subject matter of Physics 5600; also includes general knowledge about the research programs carried out in the Physics Department). The oral examination will be conducted by an Oral Examination Committee consisting of the student's Advisory Committee and two other faculty members to be selected in consultation with the Preliminary Examination Committee. The recommended format for the oral exam will be for the student to make a brief (15-20 minutes) presentation on some aspect of modern physics (the topic to be chosen in consultation with the student's Oral Examination Committee), followed by an oral examination of basic physics concepts and broader contextual questions related to the student's presentation.
   4. Preparation: The written exams are based on material covered in the core Physics Graduate courses 5201 and 5301 (Classical Exam), and 5401, 5402 and 5500 (Quantum Exam). Students are encouraged to study copies of old Prelim (General) exams on file in the Physics Department main office. Graduate course in Modern Physics, Physics 5600, is strongly recommended as preparation for the oral exam.

   D. Curriculum

   1. Core curriculum (preparation for general exams)

      Normal sequence for students entering with Bachelor’s Degree

      Semester:	1	2	3	4
      	Fall	Spring	Fall	Spring
      Course:	5101	5401	5402	5302/5102
      	5201	5301	5500	5600/5403

      • 5101 - 5102: Methods of Theoretical Physics I & II
      • 5201: Theoretical Mechanics I
      • 5301: Electrodynamics I
      • 5401 - 5402: Quantum Mechanics I & II
      • 5500: Statistical Mechanics
      • 5600: Modern Physics
   2. Additional courses required for Ph.D.:
      • 5302: Electrodynamics II
      • 5403: Quantum Mechanics III
   3. Optional entry-level courses; e.g.
      • 6310: Relativity
      • 6320: Nuclei and Particles
      • 6140: Principles of Lasers
      • 6201: Fundamentals of Solid State Physics
   4. Advanced courses offered as listed in Graduate Catalog.

   E. Financial support

   1. Teaching assistantships (duties: 20 hours per week) (criteria: academic merit, progress towards degree, competence as teacher; English language qualification for international students). In order to be considered for TA support after the first year in the graduate program, international graduate students must obtain certification of English proficiency according to the UConn International Teaching Assistant Program). Only in exceptional circumstances will TA support be given beyond the first year if these tests have not been passed.
   2. Teaching Assistantships: 5 year limit. In applying for TA financial aid from the Physics Department beyond the first 5 years, students must document progress towards their degree and present a concrete proposal for a timely completion of their degree.
   3. Fellowships (criteria for awards)
      1. Pre-doctoral (merit, progress)
      2. Special Fellowships for incoming students: Charles A. Reynolds Fellowship, Graduate School Outstanding Scholar Award, Graduate School Multicultural Scholar Award
      3. Summer (progress, studying for general exams)
      4. Dissertation (approved prospectus; once only; students should apply as early as possible).
      5. Time limit: No predoctoral fellowship support after 6 years; summer fellowships generally for beginning students preparing for written part of General Examination.
      6. Travel: After passing general examinations, students receive a $1000 travel grant account from the Graduate School.
   4. Research assistantships on funded projects (obtained from Principal Investigators)
   5. Levels of compensation - these pay levels take effect in the semester immediately following the student’s new academic level.
      1. Beginning student with B.S.
      2. M.S. or equivalent (24 credits)
      3. Passed general exams

   F. Colloquia, Special Lecture Series and Seminars

   1. Colloquium
   2. Distinguished Lecture Series
      1. Henry Katzenstein Distinguished Lecture
      2. Charles A. Reynolds Distinguished Lecture
      3. Norman Hascoe Distinguished Lectures
      4. Edward Pollack Memorial Lecture

      Attendance at the Colloquium and at the Distinguished Lecture Series is expected of all graduate students.

   3. Seminars
      1. Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) Physics
      2. Condensed Matter (CM) Physics
      3. Optical Sciences
      4. Particle, Astroparticle and Nuclei (PAN) Seminar (Theory and Experiment)
      5. Others as they are organized

      Attendance at seminars in students’ research specialty expected.

   G. Safety

   1. Safety course (Fall semester)
   2. Safety exam (required of all grad students)
   3. Shop course (once a year)
      1. Required for use of shop
      2. Recommended for all aspiring experimentalists

   H. Computers

   All new graduate students (MS and PhD) are required to attend the computer information workshop and orientation on computer use and security at the beginning of their first semester.