DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
[Course Descriptions]
The graduate program in Physics is designed
to prepare a student for a career as a physicist in industry
or teaching, or for additional study towards the doctorate.
Admission Requirements
Students seeking admission to the graduate
program in Physics must meet the basic requirements of Graduate
Studies specified in the
ADMISSION section of this catalogue.
In addition the following are required:
- A combined (V + Q) GRE score of 1000,
- At least three letters of recommendation that discuss
your suitability for graduate study.
All graduate students are required to take
a comprehensive examination based on the course work in graduate
studies. The nature of this examination, which may be written
and/or oral will be determined by the Physics faculty in consultation
with the student's thesis director and must be successfully
completed at least one semester prior to the anticipated date
of graduation. In addition, an oral presentation of the thesis
to the Physics faculty in seminar format is required and the
thesis must be defended before the faculty committee assigned
the responsibility for each individual student's graduate
program.
Master of Science, Plans I and III
- Not available in Physics.
Master of Science, Plan II. This
degree plan requires a minimum of 37 semester hours, 31 of
which must be in courses numbered 500 or above. Physics 513,
563, 564, 568,
571, 698 and 699
are required. No more than two of these courses may be taken
as conference courses. The remaining courses are selected
from Physics 561, 562,
567, 569 and those
senior level courses open to graduate students. The choice
of physics electives will be made by the student with the
consent and approval of the graduate advisor and department
chair and will depend largely on the area of research which
the student elects.
Master of Education, Plan II. This
degree program is designed to provide additional study in
a teaching field for the professional secondary school teacher
and is initiated in the College of Education and Applied Science.
Students may elect from 12 to 24 semester hours in Physics
on this 36-semester-hour program. A thesis is not required.
Course requirements are adjusted to meet individual student
needs by the graduate advisor and department chair. Further
information is provided in this catalogue under Teacher Education
and Professional Certification Programs.
| SENIOR COURSES OPEN TO
GRADUATE STUDENTS |
| PHY
433 |
Light and Optics (Credit
3) |
| PHY
466 |
Introductory Quantum Mechanics
(Credit 3) |
| PHY
467 |
Introduction to Solid State
Physics (Credit 3) |
| PHY
468 |
Electricity and Magnetism
(Credit 3) |
| PHY
470 |
Introduction to Theoretical
Physics (Credit 3) |
| PHY
471 |
Thermodynamics and Statistical
Mechanics (Credit 3) |
| PHY
496 |
Selected Topics in Physics
(Credit 3) |
GRADUATE COURSES
PHYSICS COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
PHY 513 PHYSICS
GRADUATE SEMINAR. This course is required for graduate
students majoring in physics. The student will be required
to present a seminar on a topic of current interest in physics.
The topic must be approved by the instructor. The student
is also required to attend all physics seminars presented
during the semester of enrollment in PHY
513. Credit 1.
PHY 561 NUCLEAR
PHYSICS. Properties of nuclei, interaction of radiation
with matter, nuclear decay, theory of nuclear reactions, current
models of nuclei, nuclear forces, neutron physics, nuclear
fission, magnetic properties of nuclei, fundamental particles,
and application of wave mechanics to nuclear problems are
emphasized. Prerequisites: PHY
393 and 466. Credit
3.
PHY 563 ELECTROMAGNETIC
THEORY. A study is made of electromagnetic fields and
the applications of Maxwell's equations to boundary value
problems and electromagnetic wave propagation. Prerequisites:
PHY 468 and MTH
476. Credit 3.
PHY 564 QUANTUM
MECHANICS. The course includes a study of quantum phenomena
and their relation to classical physics, Schroedinger's equation
and its interpretation, the solution of Schroedinger's equation
for physical systems and their experimental verification,
approximation methods, Heisenberg's formulation, and selected
applications to atomic and nuclear physics. Prerequisites:
PHY 466 and 470.
Credit 3.
PHY 567 SOLID STATE
PHYSICS. Crystal structure, binding energy, lattice dynamics,
band theory, electrical properties of metals, semiconductors,
magnetic properties of solids, and low temperature properties
of solids are studied. Prerequisite: PHY
466 and 468, or
consent of the instructor. Credit 3.
PHY 568 CLASSICAL
MECHANICS. This course is a comprehensive vector formulation
of the principles of advanced mechanics, including the dynamics
of particles and of rigid bodies, variational principles,
Lagrange, Hamilton, and Hamilton-Jacobi theories, transformation
theory, and other selected applications. Prerequisite: PHY
470. Credit 3.
PHY 569 SELECTED
TOPICS IN ADVANCED PHYSICS. This course can be structured
to meet the needs and interest of individual graduate students
majoring in physics. Recent developments in specific fields
of physics are considered. Course may be repeated for credit,
provided the repetition is not in the same subject area. Credit
3.
PHY 571 THERMAL
AND STATISTICAL PHYSICS. An introduction to the classical
and quantum mechanical statistical theories of matter and
radiation is provided. Emphasis is placed upon the ensemble
versus the Boltzmann equation approach to statistical physics.
The modifications of the theory necessary for application
to plasmas and nonequilibrium phenomena are discussed. Prerequisites:
PHY 466, 470,
and 471. Credit 3.
PHY
698, 699 THESIS. Credit 3.
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