The graduate program in engineering physics is the first Ph.D. granting program in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. It is a research-oriented program in which students apply the principles of physics to the solution of engineering problems. The student prepares for research in a chosen field by selecting appropriate courses in mathematics, engineering, physics, and other sciences.
The Master’s of Science Degree in Engineering Physics requires a total of eight graduate courses including a minimum of two graduate courses in physics, two graduate courses in engineering, and one graduate course in mathematics. In addition, six credits of MS research and a Master’s Thesis is required. The Master’s of Engineering (ME) Degree requires 10 graduate courses including a minimum of two graduate courses in physics, two graduate courses in engineering, one graduate course in mathematics, and one course in engineering design.
The Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Engineering Physics requires a minimum of ten graduate courses including a minimum of four graduate courses in physics, four graduate courses in engineering, and two graduate courses in mathematics. In addition, the Ph.D. student must successfully pass the Ph.D. qualifying examination and publicly defend the Ph.D. thesis. The Engineering Physics Program is intended to be flexible, offering students the opportunity to formulate a program of study that closely supports their research activity.
Faculty research advisors for engineering physics students reside in a variety of departments within the University, depending on the student’s research area. Engineering physics research has been directed by faculty members from the Departments of Materials Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, and the School of Medicine.
Current research areas include nano-technology; photonics; materials properties; planetary science; atomic collisions; magnetic materials, amorphous alloys, surface science; electronic devices; medical physics; computational fluid mechanics; space plasma physics; and nonlinear dynamical systems and chaos. Students oriented towards experimental research may work in a number of facilities, such as the Laboratory for Nano-technology Institute; Institute for the Processing of Materials Laboratory; Center for Electrochemical Sciences and Engineering; Laser Interactions Institute; Atomic and Surface Physics Laboratory, the Semiconductor Device Laboratory, the Medical Imaging Laboratory, the Aerospace Research Laboratory, and the Jefferson National Laboratory.
Financial assistance to qualified engineering physics graduate students is available in several forms. Numerous graduate research assistantships are available in sponsored research programs. Furthermore, a number of graduate engineering fellowships and teaching assistantships are sponsored by the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Visit the online site at www.virginia.edu/ep for more information.
