The average duration of our program up to graduation with the MS degree is 1.5 to 2 years and for the PhD degree 5 to 6 years. The following is a typical timeline for the MS-level courses that are part of both programs, and the subsequent graduate research activities that are only part of the PhD program.

Year 1

• Fall Semester: Mechanics (PHY 420), Mathematical Methods of Physics (PHY 428) and one elective course.
• Spring Semester: Quantum Mechanics I (PHY 423), Electricity and Magnetism (PHY 421) and Statistical Mechanics (PHY 442).

Summer 1

• Research project (PHY 491) during June-August.

Year 2

• Fall Semester: Quantum Mechanics II (PHY 424), and two elective course. Many PhD students go to group meetings in the research area they are considering for their dissertation work.
• MS students can graduate after having taken 30 credit hours in December of Year 2.
• During winter break (mid-January): PhD students take the Qualifier Exam.
• Spring Semester: Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics (PHY 364), breadth and elective courses. By this time students are expected to have formally chosen a research advisor, attend group meetings and start research if there is time.

Summer 2

• Research project (PHY 492) during June-August

Year 3

• Take specialized courses, as appropriate, do preliminary research, form a dissertation committee, and put together a research proposal. After a presentation of the proposal to the committee, take the general exam and get admitted to Candidacy.

Year 4

• Take specialized courses as appropriate and concentrate on research. An annual meeting with your dissertation committee is required.

Year 5

• Complete the research, publish papers, complete and defend the dissertation.

Note: Students who enter the graduate program with a Master’s Degree, or equivalent course work, may be placed in an accelerated track. They may take the Qualifying Exam after the first semester, choose a research advisor the next semester, and start on research the next summer.