Graduate Programs - Doctor of Philosophy in Physics

Advisory Committee | Residency | Grades | Course Work | Qualifying Exam | Research Advisor | Preliminary Exam | Dissertation and Oral Exam

The focus of the graduate program in physics at MTU is the PhD degree. At MTU, we stress student research involvement, presentation of results at national meetings, and publication in refereed journals (for which the department will pay some or all travel and publication expenses, subject to availability of funds); internships with industry, and hard work.

Our faculty research areas include astrophysics, atomic and molecular physics, atmospheric physics, computational biophysics, condensed matter, and material physics. State of the art research is well funded by governmental and industrial sponsors. With this support, and internal support from the University in the form of teaching assistantships, we are able to provide a competitive stipend, tuition, and fees to well qualified applicants. Reappointment is subject to good performance in classes, teaching and/or research duties.

The information below is intended to serve only as a guide. More details are available from the Graduate School Bulletin and from the Chair of the Physics Graduate Studies Committee.

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Advisory Committee

An Advisory Committee, including three members of the graduate faculty with one member designated as chair, is appointed by the chair of the physics department and approved by the dean of the Graduate School to direct the student's educational program. The chair of the Graduate Studies Committee will act as the student's initial advisor for coursework.

Residency

University policy requires that doctoral students spend at least 4 semesters (including Summer) on campus at MTU beyond attainment of a Bachelor's degree or 2 semesters on campus at MTU beyond attainment of a Master's degree in a formal program of study and research under direct supervision. In special preapproved instances, this residency requirement may be waived.

Grades

For credit, all grades must be B or higher in the major subject area. Every graduate student is required to maintain, at the end of each term, a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0. Failure to do so will result in the student being placed on academic probation and may result in the loss of funding.

Course Work

Certain courses in physics are considered foundational for all students seeking graduate degrees in Physics, irrespective of intended research specialty. Course work is not limited to preparation for specific research work, but has been selected to provide a general physics education to act as a foundation for future study and a career in physics.

In addition, a grade of B or better is required in at least one of the following disciplinary courses:

Exemptions from taking any of the core courses, on the basis of prior graduate work, are to be determined by the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) based on the student's performance on a written proficiency exam to be administered during the student's first quarter at MTU.

At least two-thirds of the course work must be completed at MTU.

Additional course work is determined by the student's advisory committee. The D3 form (see Keeping On Track booklet) must be appropriately filled out, signed by the Chair of the GSC, and returned to the Graduate School office during the 2nd term of residency.

Courses may be taken outside of Physics with written approval of the Department Chair, the Graduate Studies Committee Chair and the student's advisor.

A minimum of 30 course and/or research credits beyond the MS degree (or its equivalent), or a miniumum of 60 course and/or research credit hours beyond the Bachelor's degree is required for the PhD degree.

After all required courses are completed, and no later than the term prior to the final oral examination, the D5 form should be completed, reviewed by the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee, and filed with the Graduate School.

Once students select a thesis advisor they may enroll in Doctoral Research (PH6999).

Qualifying (Comprehensive) Exam

Students accepted into the PhD program in Physics pass a written Qualifying Examination. Students electing to take the Exam the first time it is offered after matriculating to the physics program may do so without penalty. A failure in this free attempt is not counted toward the two allowed regular attempts to pass the Qualifying Exam. After the first offering after matriculation, students who have not yet passed all parts of the exam must take the exam each time it is offered.

The Qualifying Exam will cover four areas: classical mechanics (including special relativity), electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics, and general physics. The exam is at the advanced undergraduate level. Typical texts are: Griffiths, "Introduction to Electrodynamics"; Eisberg and Resnick, "Quantum Physics"; and Marion and Thorton, "Classical Dynamics".

Form D4 should be filed with the Graduate School through the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee after passing the qualifying exam.

Selecting a Research Advisor

Normally, students admitted in the fall will select a research advisor by the end of the following spring quarter. Students are made aware of departmental research opportunities through Graduate Journal Club (PH5010), attending weekly departmental colloquium, viewing faculty web sites and posted publications, and most importantly, by one-on-one conversations with faculty doing research in areas of interest to them. Students are strongly encouraged to take the initiative in setting up appointments for these meetings.

Preliminary Examination

The Preliminary Exam is taken after the Qualifying Exam has been passed. It is administered by the student's advisory committee for the purpose of reviewing the student's proposed plan for research. Once a student has identified a research problem in consultation with his or her research advisor, has become familiar with the related literature and has devised a plan for research, the Preliminary Exam should be scheduled. A paper describing the proposed research, not exceeding fifteen pages in total length should be distributed to the advisory committee one week prior to the scheduled exam. The student should prepare a 30-minute talk outlining both the problem and the proposed research methods. The remainder of the exam will be devoted to questions and answers. No special form is needed for scheduling the Preliminary Exam, although the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee should be informed of the Committee members. Please see the department coordinator to schedule a room. Form D6 should be filed with the Graduate School through the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee upon successful completion of the Preliminary Examination.

Doctoral Dissertation and Final Oral Examination

The final examination may be scheduled any time after a period of two academic terms following the successful completion of the Qualifying Examination and upon completion of the dissertation in satisfactory form. Two weeks prior to the final examination a completed draft of the dissertation prepared in accordance with the manual "Instructions Concerning the Preparation of Theses and Dissertations" must be distributed to the examining committee. The examining committee consists of three members of the student's advisory committee and a fourth member chosen from a cognate department or program. Form D7 is used to schedule the final oral examination, and it is the responsibility of the student to obtain all necessary signatures and file it in the Graduate School Office. The student should see the department coordinator to schedule a room for the defense and to request necessary audio-visual equipment.

The student should bring a D8 form to the defense. Corrections and suggestions of the examining committee should be incorporated into the final dissertation. Also, an expanded abstract, not exceeding 350 words, is to be prepared. Once the dissertation and abstract assume their final forms, the student should pay the graduation fees at the cashier's window in the Administration Building. With evidence of this payment, at least two unbound copies of the dissertation and three copies of the expanded abstract must be submitted to the University Library.

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