Return to: School of Graduate Engineering and Applied Science
The graduate program in Engineering Physics (EP) was 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.
Faculty research advisors who direct EP student research can reside within the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) and/or the College of Arts and Sciences (Physics, Chemistry) and in exceptional cases within the School of Medicine, depending upon research areas.
PhD Degree
The Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD) in Engineering Physics requires a minimum of ten (10) graduate courses, including a minimum of four (4) courses in Physics, 4 in Engineering, and 2 in Math, Applied Math, or Computational Physics/Engineering. Two of the Physics courses will be one pair chosen from among the required Physics Core Course options (see below). In addition, the PhD student must successfully pass the EP PhD qualifying exam and publicly and defend their PhD dissertation. The Engineering Physics program is designed to be flexible, offering students the opportunity to formulate a program of study that closely supports their research activity. The PhD plan of study must be approved by both the faculty advisor and the EP Graduate Director.
MS Degree
The Master of Science Degree in Engineering Physics requires a total of eight (8) graduate courses including a minimum of two graduate courses in physics, two graduate courses in engineering, and one graduate course in Math, Applied Math, or Computational Physics/Engineering. In addition, six credits of MS research and public defense of the Master’s Thesis are required. The Master 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 Math, Applied Math or Computational Physics/Engineering.
Research Areas
Possible research areas of EP students reflect the wide range of research interests pursued in SEAS and the Departments of Physics and Chemistry. Current EP students study nano-technology, photonics, materials properties, planetary sciences, atomic collisions, magnetic materials, amorphous alloys, surface science, electronic devices, medical physics, computational fluid mechanics, space plasma physics and non-linear dynamic systems and chaos.
Visit the online site at www.virginia.edu/ep for more information.
