Physics

Return to: Graduate School of Arts & Sciences: Departments/Programs

101 Physics Building
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400714
Charlottesville, VA 22904-4714
(434) 924-3781
www.phys.virginia.edu

Degree Requirements

Master of Arts

Students are expected to complete a minimum of 30 credits of graded coursework, including four departmental electives and four out of the six core courses:

PHYS 7010 (Theoretical Mechanics)
PHYS 7410 (Electricity and Magnetism I)
PHYS 7420 (Electricity and Magnetism II)
PHYS 7610 (Quantum Mechanics I)
PHYS 7620 (Quantum Mechanics II) and
PHYS 7210 (Statistical Mechanics)

Master of Science

Of the 30 credits required for the degree, students are expected to complete a minimum of 24 credits of graded coursework, including

PHYS 7010 (Theoretical Mechanics)
PHYS 7410 (Electricity and Magnetism I)
PHYS 7420 (Electricity and Magnetism II)
PHYS 7610 (Quantum Mechanics I)
PHYS 7620 (Quantum Mechanics II)
PHYS 7210 (Statistical Mechanics)
and two departmental electives.

Students are expected to write and defend a master’s thesis based on original laboratory research.

Doctor of Philosophy

Of the 72 credits required for the doctoral degree, students are expected to complete a minimum of 43 credits of graded coursework, including

PHYS 7010 (Theoretical Mechanics)
PHYS 7410 (Electricity and Magnetism I)
PHYS 7420 (Electricity and Magnetism II)
PHYS 7610 (Quantum Mechanics I)
PHYS 7620 (Quantum Mechanics II)
PHYS 7210 (Statistical Mechanics),
five departmental electives,
and 10 credits of colloquia and research courses

Students are expected to:

pass a qualifying examination
complete all requirements stated above other than departmental electives by the conclusion of their fourth semester
meet annually with their research committee to review progress (beginning in the third year)
present a department seminar on their research topic during their fourth year
write and defend a dissertation

Courses

Please follow this link to a listing of graduate course offerings for this program: Graduate Courses Arts & Sciences . Some programs limit the number of credits offered outside the department or school that a student may allocate toward degree requirements. All course enrollment is subject to approval each term by the Director of Graduate Studies.