General Requirements for MS degree in physics for students admitted to the Physics Department
The Physics Department does not have a terminal MS program, however, students admitted to the Physics Department as PhD seeking students can also get an MS on the way to completing the PhD requirements. The Graduate College requires 32 hours (formerly 8 units) of satisfactory course work (GPA 2.75/4.00) for the Master of Science degree. All hours must be at the 400-level or greater, and twelve hours must be at the 500-level. Sixteen of the 32 hours must be in Physics courses, with at least 8 of them at the 500-level. At most, eight hours of "Individual Study" (e.g., Physics 597) may be counted toward the master's degree. A thesis is not required for a master's degree. There is no special oral or written examination required for a master's degree as the MS program is designed only for Physics PhD seeking students using coursework to fulfill the requirements for the MS degree.
Most physics students take 8-12 hours per semester plus 4 to 8 hours in the summer, so the credit requirement may be fulfilled in approximately 1.5 - 2 years.
The department has no formal language requirement. However, no student on limited status for any reason, including English proficiency, can receive a degree.
Financial support is typically not available for students pursuing a terminal MS without the intent of completing a PhD in Physics.
For more information about the master's program, contact the Associate Head for Graduate Programs (227 Loomis, 217-333-3645).