Academic Programs Catalog

College of Natural Science

Graduate Study

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers graduate programs leading to the Masters of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in both physics and astrophysics. A Master of Science degree and a Graduate Certificate in Accelerator Science and Engineering and a Graduate Certificate in Instrumentation in High Energy Physics are also available.

Current experimental and theoretical research programs include work in the general fields of accelerator physics, acoustics, atomic, molecular and optical physics, biological physics, computational physics, condensed matter physics, elementary particles, low-temperature physics, nanoscience, nuclear physics, physics education, and quantum computing.

Students who are enrolled in doctoral degree programs in the Department of Physics and Astronomy may elect joint programs with many partnering departments including Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Computational Mathematics Science and Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Materials Science, and Mathematics.

Students who are enrolled in master’s or doctoral degree programs in the Department of Physics and Astronomy may elect an Interdepartmental Specialization in Cognitive Science. For additional information, refer to the statement on Interdepartmental Graduate Specializations in Cognitive Science in the College of Social Science section of this catalog.

For additional information, visit http://www.pa.msu.edu or contact the Department of Physics and Astronomy.


Accelerator Science and Engineering - Master of Science

The Master of Science degree in Accelerator Science and Engineering provides graduate students the opportunity to further their understanding of accelerator science and technology. Graduates will be certified, well trained, and ready for productive careers in Accelerator Science and Engineering. Research is supported by the Accelerator Science and Engineering Traineeship (ASET) Program. Students will gain a broad understanding of physics and engineering of large accelerators; superconducting radio frequency accelerator physics and engineering; radio frequency power engineering; and large-scale cryogenic systems, and their role in accelerator science and engineering. Upon completion of the program, students are able to contribute to the research and development of accelerator systems and associated technologies and support operations of accelerator systems, primarily, but not limited to accelerator systems at National Laboratories and industries.

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Natural Science, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

For admission to the master's degree program in accelerator science and engineering on regular status, the student must have:

  1. Completed mathematics and physics courses equivalent to those that are required for an undergraduate major in physics.
  2. A satisfactory grade–point average, normally at least 3.00, in the courses referenced in item 1. above.
  3. General GRE and Physics GRE examinations are required for admission to the program. Scores should be sent electronically, directly to Michigan State University.
  4. For international students, except those with a 4-year degree from a U.S. institution, TOEFL examination scores must be submitted with a total average score of 100 or higher on the iBT.
Students who do not meet the requirements for admission to the program on regular status may be admitted on a provisional basis to remove deficiencies. Collateral course work will not count towards the requirements for the degree.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Accelerator Science and Engineering
The student must complete a total of 30 credits for the degree with a grade-point average of 3.00 under Plan A (with thesis). A minimum of 16 credits must be at the 800-level or above.
Requirements for Plan A:
1.      The following course (3 credits):
PHY 862 Accelerator Systems 3
2.     At least two courses from the following or any other 800 or 900-level accelerator science-focused courses as
 approved by the Physics and Astronomy Graduate Program Director (6 credits): 
ECE 837 Computational Methods in Electromagnetics 3
ECE 850 Electrodynamics of Plasmas 3
ECE 989 Advanced Topics in Plasmas 3
PHY 861 Beam Physics 3
PHY 864 Accelerator Technology 3
PHY 905 Special Problems 3
PHY 961 Nonlinear Beam Dynamics 3
PHY 962 Particle Accelerators 3
PHY 963 U.S. Particle Accelerator School 3
PHY 964 Seminar in Beam Physics Research 3
Additional courses may be used to fulfill this requirement if approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. Up to 14 credits of undergraduate senior-level courses that have not been used towards any other degree may be used to fulfill this requirement with the exception of PHY 405 and PHY 490.
Additional Requirements for Plan A
1. Complete 5 to 10 credits of PHY 899 Master’s Thesis Research.
2. Pass a final oral examination in defense of the thesis.

Astrophysics and Astronomy - Master of Science

The aim of the Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree programs in astrophysics and astronomy is to help students to develop the ability to perform independent research and to teach in this field.

Master of Science

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Natural Science, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

For admission to the master's degree program in astrophysics and astronomy on regular status, the student must have:

  1. Completed mathematics and astronomy or physics courses equivalent to those that are required for an undergraduate major in physics or astronomy.
  2. A satisfactory grade–point average, normally at least 3.00, in the courses referenced in item 1. above.

Students who do not meet the requirements for admission to the program on regular status may be admitted on a provisional basis to remove deficiencies.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Astrophysics and Astronomy

The student must:

  1. Complete a total of 30 credits for the degree under either Plan A (with thesis) or Plan B (without thesis).
  2. Pass a qualifying master’s exam that tests basic knowledge of undergraduate physics with a grade of B or above before the end of the student's first semester of the second year. A maximum of three attempts is allowed on this exam.
  3. Complete the following core physics courses or their subject examinations, and the following core of astronomy courses, with a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.
    Physics
    Two of the following:
    PHY    820    Classical Mechanics (3)
    PHY    831    Statistical Mechanics (3)
    PHY    841    Classical Electrodynamics I (3)
    Astronomy
    All of the following:
    AST    810    Radiation Astrophysics (3)
    AST    825    Galactic Astronomy  (3)
    AST    835    Extragalactic Astronomy (3)
    AST    840    Stellar Astrophysics  (3)
  4. Complete a minimum of 6 credits of additional course work in physics, astrophysics or computation, with a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher at the 800-level or above as chosen in consultation with the student's guidance committee.
  5. Complete training in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR).

Additional Requirements for Plan A

  1. Complete 4 to 10 credits of Astronomy 899 Master’s Thesis Research.
  2. The student must form a guidance committee of three regular faculty members: the student's master's thesis advisor, one additional member of the astronomy group and one faculty member from outside the astronomy group.
  3. Pass a final oral examination in defense of the thesis.

Additional Requirements for Plan B

  1. Complete 6 credits in Astronomy 805 Research Project. This research project is taken over two semesters and will be graded on the basis of a written paper and oral examination.
  2. Pass a final examination or evaluation.


Astrophysics and Astronomy - Doctor of Philosophy

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Natural Science, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

For admission to the doctoral degree program in astrophysics and astronomy on regular status, the student must have:

  1. Completed mathematics and astronomy or physics courses equivalent to those that are required for an undergraduate major in physics or astronomy.
  2. A satisfactory grade–point average, normally at least 3.00, in the courses referenced in item 1. above.

Students who do not meet the requirements for admission to the program on regular status may be admitted on a provisional basis to remove deficiencies.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Astrophysics and Astronomy

The student must:

  1. Pass the doctoral qualifying exam that tests basic knowledge of undergraduate physics with a grade of A before the end of the student's first semester of the second year. A maximum of three attempts is allowed on this exam.
  2. Complete the following core graduate physics courses or their subject examinations, and the following core of  astronomy courses, with a grade-point average of 3.375 or higher.
    Physics
    Two of the following:
    PHY    820    Classical Mechanics  (3)
    PHY    831    Statistical Mechanics  (3)
    PHY    841    Classical Electrodynamics I  (3)
    PHY    851    Quantum Mechanics (3)
    Astronomy
    All of the following:
    AST    810    Radiation Astrophysics  (3)
    AST    825    Galactic Astronomy  (3)
    AST    835    Extragalactic Astronomy  (3)
    AST    840    Stellar Astrophysics  (3)
  3. Satisfactorily complete 6 credits in Astronomy 805 Research Project. This research project is taken over two semesters and will be graded on the basis of a written paper and oral examination that also serves as the student’s comprehensive examination.
  4. Complete a minimum of 6 credits of additional course work in physics, astrophysics or computation, with a grade-point average of 3.375 or higher at the 800-level or above as chosen in consultation with the student’s guidance committee.
  5. Complete training in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR).
  6. Complete one semester as a Teaching Assistant (TA). International students who are not native English speakers must pass the SPEAK test in order to be a TA.
  7. Complete 24 credits of doctoral dissertation research in AST 999.
  8. Complete a doctoral dissertation on original research, followed by an oral examination in defense of the dissertation.


Chemical Physics - Doctor of Philosophy

For information about the Doctor of Philosophy degree program with a major in chemical physics, refer to the statement on the Department of Chemistry.


Physics - Master of Science

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and of the College of Natural Science, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

For admission to the master's degree program in physics on regular status, the student must have:

  1. Completed physics and mathematics courses equivalent to those that are required for an undergraduate major in physics.

Students who do not meet the requirements for admission to the program on regular status may be admitted on a provisional basis to remove deficiencies.

Requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Physics

The student must complete a total of 30 credits for the degree under either Plan A (with thesis) or Plan B (without thesis) including:

  1. A minimum of 16 credits of approved course work at the 800-900 level.
  2. A maximum of 14 credits of 400-level Physics and Astronomy courses approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. These courses may not have been used previously towards another degree. Courses outside of the department may be used with approval by the Director of Graduate Studies.

Concentration in Beam Physics. Students pursuing a concentration in beam physics must satisfy the regular requirements for the master's degree. Credits for the concentration may be earned through courses including PHY 861, PHY 961, PHY 962, PHY 963, and PHY 964.

Additional Requirements for Plan A

  1. Complete 5 to 10 credits of course work from PHY 800 Research Methods and PHY 899 Master's Thesis Research combined. At least 4 credits must be in PHY 899.
  2. Successfully complete the oral examination in defense of the thesis.

Additional Requirements for Plan B

  1. Complete at least 5 credits of research course work normally met by completing PHY 800 Research Methods.
  2. Completion of a final evaluation.


Physics - Doctor of Philosophy

In addition to meeting the requirements of the university and the College of Natural Science, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Admission

For admission to the doctoral degree program in physics on regular status, the student must have:

  1. Completed physics and mathematics courses equivalent to those that are required for an undergraduate major in physics.

Evidence of some undergraduate or post graduate research experience is desirable.

Students who do not meet the requirements for admission to the program on regular status may be admitted on a provisional basis to remove deficiencies.

Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Physics

Students must:

1. pass the comprehensive examination requirement, which is fulfilled by passing a series of subject examinations (see item 2.) and an oral subject examination (see item 3.).
2. select three of the following courses, in coordination with an initial mentoring committee consisting of the graduate program director, an initial faculty advisor, and another faculty member with expertise in the research area of interest. These three courses will serve as the subject examination courses that count toward the comprehensive examination requirements.  The subject examination grade is determined by the higher of the course grade and the final examination grade. A student may demonstrate their ability in the material by scoring a 3.0 on the final examination in lieu of taking the course.
PHY 820 Classical Mechanics 3
PHY 831 Statistical Mechanics 3
PHY 841 Classical Electrodynamics I 3
PHY 851 Quantum Mechanics I 3
3. pass the oral subject examination which consists of a research presentation that is evaluated by the students' guidance committee based on a published rubric. A 3.5 or 4.0 grade constitutes a passing grade. The oral subject exam shall be held by the beginning of the third year after entering the program if the Subject Exam requirement is fulfilled by the end of the fall semester of the second year. If the Subject Exam requirement is fulfilled later than fall of the second year, the Guidance Committee should be formed no later than six months after that happens.
4. complete the following course with a grade of 3.0 if they have not taken an equivalent course previously or demonstrated that they acquired the necessary skills:
PHY 810 Methods of Theoretical Physics 3
Course equivalency is determined by the Graduate Program Director.
5. complete one of the courses listed under item 2. that was not selected as one of the three subject exam courses if the student's initial mentoring committee or guidance committee determines the background is required for the research.
PHY 842 Classical Electrodynamics II   3
PHY 852 Quantum Mechanics II   3
6. complete a minimum of 24 credits of PHY 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research.
7. submit a dissertation proposal or evaluation to the guidance committee based on the PHY 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research.
8. successfully defend the doctoral dissertation in a meeting with the guidance committee following a public presentation about the PHY 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research.
Concentration in Beam Physics. Students are exempt from enrolling in the core courses mentioned in item 2., 4., and 5. above, and acquire the corresponding knowledge through equivalent studies and courses at local universities. All other requirements must be met. Written examinations can be administered by mutually agreeable local proctors upon prior arrangements with the Director of Graduate Studies. The final student thesis defense must be at MSU. 
Changes to, or a waiver for certain program elements of the above requirements are, within the requirements set by the University and the College of Natural Science, subject to the approval by the Graduate Program Director. 


Accelerator Science and Engineering - Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Accelerator Science and Engineering provides graduate students the opportunity to further their understanding of accelerator science and technology. Graduates will be certified, well trained, and ready for productive careers in Accelerator Science and Engineering. Research is supported by the Accelerator Science and Engineering Traineeship (ASET) Program. The certificate is available to masters or doctoral students at Michigan State University. Students can apply for the certificate at any time prior to receiving their graduate degree. Students who wish to complete the certificate must consult with the Graduate Program Director in Accelerator Science and Engineering prior to beginning course work in the program.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Accelerator Science and Engineering

Complete a minimum of 9 credits from the following with a grade-point average of 3.0:
1. The following course (3 credits):
PHY 862 Accelerator Systems 3
2. At least two courses from the following or any other 800 or 900-level accelerator science-focused courses as approved by the Physics and Astronomy Graduate Program Director (6 credits):
ECE 835 Advanced Electromagnetic Fields and Waves I 3
ECE 837 Computational Methods in Electromagnetics 3
ECE 850 Electrodynamics of Plasmas 3
ECE 989 Advanced Topics in Plasmas 3
ME 814 Convective Heat Transfer 3
ME 840 Computational Fluid Dynamics and Heat Transfer 3
ME 842 Advanced Turbomachinery 3
ME 940 Selected Topics in Thermal Science 3
PHY 861 Beam Physics 3
PHY 905 Special Problems 3
PHY 961 Nonlinear Beam Dynamics 3
PHY 962 Particle Accelerators 3
PHY 963 U.S. Particle Accelerator School 3
PHY 964 Seminar in Beam Physics Research 3
Students who enroll in ME 940 and PHY 905 must obtain approval of the  Physics and Astronomy Graduate Program Director to ensure appropriate content. PHY 905 may be taken more than once  as long as the topic taken is different.

Instrumentation in High Energy Physics - Graduate Certificate

The Graduate Certificate in Instrumentation in High Energy Physics complements  a graduate students’ degree in the field of instrumentation applicable to high energy physics.
The TRAIN-MI program will bring together MSU’s strengths to formulate a curriculum addressing three major areas: (1) advanced sensors for particle and radiation detection, including quantum devices; (2) application-specific front-end electronics and data acquisition’ and (3) systems design and engineering for complex instrumentation, including in extreme radiation, temperature, and low-background environments.

Requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Instrumentation in High Energy Physics
Students must complete 9 credits from the following:

1. One of the following courses that includes instruction on particle interactions with matter. The topic must be approved by the Physics and Astronomy Graduate Program Director.
CEM 985 Selected Topics in Nuclear Chemistry 3
PHY 959 Special Topics in High Energy Physics 3
2. Complete 6 credits from the following list of approved courses, or any other 800 or 900- level accelerator science-focused courses as approved by the Physics and Astronomy Graduate Program Director.
CEM 985 Selected Topics in Nuclear Chemistry 3
HRT 860 Scientific Writing Workshop 3
PHY 905 Special Problems 3
PHY 959 Special Topics in High Energy Physics 3
Topics in CEM 985 and PHY 959 must be different than the topic used to fulfill requirement 1. above and must be approved by the Physics and Astronomy Graduate Program Director.
Students are expected to maintain a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 in all courses in the certificate.