MS and MA in Physics

Typically this degree is based on course work and the master s final examination. Detailed requirements can be found in the Graduate Student Handbook on the department s website.Candidates must either pass the combined graduate exam at the master s level or submit a written thesis or take a program of specialized courses.A combined graduate exam covering the four core subject areas mechanics; electricity, magnetism, and optics; modern physics and quantum mechanics; and thermal and statistical physics is used for both the master s and doctoral qualifying examinations. For the master s exam, a separate total score is obtained by removing, in each core area, the student s problem with the lowest score. Material covered by the combined exam is primarily at the level of advanced undergraduate physics, but as much as one-third of the exam tests core graduate-level material. The examination is given each fall and spring, and master s candidates must pass the examination by spring of their second year of study.