Ph.D. in Physics

Unless satisfactorily completed elsewhere, all PhD students are required to complete:

• Physics 711 (Math Methods and Classical Mechanics); Physics 712 (Electromagnetism); Physics 741 & 742 (Quantum Mechanics I & II); Physics 770 (Statistical Physics and Thermodynamics); and participation in the Department seminar Physics 601 (Physics Seminar) for seven semesters.
• Three more elective courses (3 credit classes) at the graduate level (600 and 700 level), at least one of which must be in Physics. These courses are intended to strengthen a student’s background in a specific area of concentration and assist in dissertation research. Coursework is discussed and approved by the student’s advisor with the assistance of the Research Advisory Committee (RAC).
• Physics 891/892 (Dissertation research).

The preliminary exam consists of two parts, a written exam, and an oral exam.

Link to old exams (access restricted to WFU) 

Written exam.

This exam is offered once a year, typically five weeks after spring semester finals week; thus, typically it is offered the second week of June.  The written preliminary exam is usually taken at the end of the first year of graduate study.  Each of the four parts of the written exam may be retaken once, and each part must be passed before the third year of graduate study.  Extensions, for example for part-time students, may be approved by the Department.  This four-day exam (3 hours each day) tests four subject areas, Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Quantum Mechanics, and Statistical Physics/Thermodynamics at the senior undergraduate/first-year graduate level.  Each subject is evaluated separately and a score of at least 60% is required to pass that subject exam. In case a student does not pass one or more subject exams the first time, he/she is allowed to once retake the exams that were not passed (during the next round of exams a year later). If a student fails one or more particular subject exams twice, he/she will be dismissed from the PhD program but may continue in the Master’s program.

Oral exam. 

A research advisory committee (RAC) is appointed for each student by the program director after the student passed the written qualifying exam.  Within eighteen months of completing the preliminary examination, the student submits to his or her individual advisory committee and defends orally a dissertation research plan.  The advisory committee is appointed by the program director and consists of the student’s advisor and two members of the department or program.  Members from other departments are allowed with the approval of the program director.  Committee members must be members of the graduate faculty.  The examining committee passes or fails the student. In case of failure, the committee can recommend that the candidate be dropped or reexamination be allowed no earlier than six months from the date of the first examination.  The student may be reexamined only once.

The research advisory committee meets annually Fall with the student to ensure timely progress toward the degree. The annual report is due by December 5.

A student is admitted to degree candidacy by the dean of the Graduate School after a recommendation by the Physics graduate program director. The student must have passed the preliminary exam (both written and oral parts).

Under the supervision of the research advisory committee, the candidate prepares a dissertation embodying the results of investigative efforts in the field of concentration. This dissertation is presented orally in a public talk and is then defended orally in a private defense.

The examining committee for the dissertation, which is appointed by the dean of the Graduate School upon recommendation of the program director, consists of at least the following five members of the graduate faculty:  1) The program director or a faculty member chosen by the program director; 2) the student’s advisor; 3) another member of the physics graduate program; 4) a representative from a different area of concentration from within the program or from outside the program; and 5) a member from outside the physics graduate program, who represents the Graduate Council and who serves as chair of the committee. 

Typically, a PhD student would have about a total of five peer-reviewed publications of which three are first-author publications. However, this amount can vary considerably depending on the research field and should be discussed with the advisor and the research advisory committee.

A more detailed timeline with suggested courses and milestones is available.