Physics, M.S.
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Learn more about the Master of Science in Physics.
About the Program
The objective of the M.S. degree program in Physics is to provide advanced training in Physics sufficiently broad to permit the graduate to pursue a range of technical careers. Students choose to pursue the Coursework Track or Thesis Track to complete the M.S. degree.
Time Limit for Degree Completion: 3 years
Campus Location: Main
Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The degree program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis.
Job Prospects: The program is dedicated to producing well-trained scientists prepared for careers as high school science teachers, technical writers, or members of a technical support staff.
Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Non-matriculated students are restricted to taking the following courses:
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Analytical Mechanics | ||
Electromagnetic Theory | ||
Mathematical Physics |
If the student applies to and is accepted into the program, the courses taken, up to 9 credits, may be applied toward the degree requirements.
Financing Opportunities: Financial aid in the form of Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, and Temple University Fellowships is reserved largely for Ph.D. students. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree who wish to earn a doctorate should apply to the Ph.D. program, not the M.S. program. Students in the Ph.D. program normally complete all of the requirements for the M.S. in their first two years and may request the M.S. degree at that time while continuing in the Ph.D. program.
Admission Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadline:
Fall: March 1; December 15 international
Spring: November 1; August 1 international
Applications are reviewed as they are received throughout the year. Late applications may be considered for admission.
APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.
Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 2
From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from college/university faculty members or scientists familiar with the applicant's academic and scientific capabilities.
Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: Applicants should have successfully completed coursework typically required for a bachelor’s degree in Physics.
Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A baccalaureate degree in Physics is typically required. A certified transcript is required from each institution previously attended by the applicant.
Statement of Goals: One to two pages address the applicant’s specific interest in Temple's program, research and career goals, and academic and research achievements.
Standardized Test Scores:
GRE: General Test required. Subject Test in Physics strongly recommended, but not required.
Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:
- TOEFL iBT: 79
- IELTS Academic: 6.5
- PTE Academic: 53
Transfer Credit: Graduate credits from an accredited institution may be transferred into the program. The credits must be equivalent to coursework offered at Temple, and the grade must be a "B" or better in order to transfer. The Graduate Program Committee must approve all requests for transfer credit. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.
Program Requirements
General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30
Required Courses:
Thesis Track
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Core Courses | ||
PHYS 5101 | Analytical Mechanics | 3 |
PHYS 5301 | Electromagnetic Theory | 3 |
PHYS 5501 | Mathematical Physics | 3 |
PHYS 5701 | Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
PHYS 5702 | Quantum Mechanics II | 3 |
PHYS 8102 | Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
PHYS 8702 | Solid State Physics | 3 |
PHYS 8703 | Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics | 3 |
Research Courses | ||
PHYS 9996 | Master's Thesis Research | 3 |
Select 3 credits of additional coursework from the following: | 3 | |
Problems in Experimental Physics | ||
Problems in Theoretical Physics | ||
Master's Thesis Research | ||
Total Credit Hours | 30 |
Coursework Track
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
Core Courses | ||
PHYS 5101 | Analytical Mechanics | 3 |
PHYS 5301 | Electromagnetic Theory | 3 |
PHYS 5501 | Mathematical Physics | 3 |
PHYS 5701 | Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
PHYS 5702 | Quantum Mechanics II | 3 |
PHYS 8102 | Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
PHYS 8702 | Solid State Physics | 3 |
PHYS 8703 | Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics | 3 |
Additional Coursework 1 | 6 | |
Total Credit Hours | 30 |
1 | The balance of coursework is identified in consultation with the graduate advisor and subject to the approval of the Graduate Program Committee. No more than 3 credits may be taken in these independent study courses: PHYS 8004 Problems in Experimental Physics; PHYS 8005 Problems in Theoretical Physics; or PHYS 9998 Pre-Dissertation Research / Elevation to Candidacy. |
Culminating Events:
Thesis:
A master’s thesis is required for students in the Thesis Track, but not for students in the Coursework Track. The thesis is based on the student’s research and approved in accordance with the policies of the Department of Physics and the Graduate School.
Comprehensive Examination:
The M.S. comprehensive examination is required for students in the Coursework Track, but not for students in the Thesis Track. The exam, which tests the student's mastery of undergraduate and beginning graduate physics, consists of a three-part written exam and an oral exam. General subject areas covered by the examination include classical electromagnetic theory, classical mechanics, mathematical physics, modern physics, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and thermodynamics.
M.S. students in the Coursework Track are required to take the comprehensive examination in the summer at the end of their first year of full-time graduate study. They are tested on the subject matter in six core courses: PHYS 5101, PHYS 5301, PHYS 5501, PHYS 5701, PHYS 5702, and PHYS 8102. In the event of failure, the exam may be retaken once. If the student fails a second time, s/he is dropped from the graduate program.
Courses
PHYS 5000. Topical Seminar. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
PHYS 5001. Introduction to Quantum Computing. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
PHYS 5002. Physics Research and Ethics. 1 Credit Hour.
Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Physics.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
PHYS 5101. Analytical Mechanics. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
PHYS 5301. Electromagnetic Theory. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
PHYS 5302. Advanced Electromagnetic Theory. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
PHYS 5301|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.
PHYS 5501. Mathematical Physics. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
PHYS 5502. Computational and Mathematical Physics. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
PHYS 5501|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.
PHYS 5701. Quantum Mechanics I. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
(PHYS 5101|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
AND PHYS 5501|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
PHYS 5702. Quantum Mechanics II. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
PHYS 5701|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.
PHYS 8001. Practicum Teaching of Physics. 1 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
PHYS 8004. Problems in Experimental Physics. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
PHYS 8005. Problems in Theoretical Physics. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
PHYS 8020. Topical Seminar I. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
PHYS 8030. Topical Seminar II. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
PHYS 8050. Physics Seminar. 0 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
PHYS 8102. Statistical Mechanics. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
(PHYS 5501|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently
AND PHYS 5701|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
PHYS 8701. Quantum Field Theory. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
PHYS 5702|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.
PHYS 8702. Solid State Physics. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
(PHYS 5701|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
AND (PHYS 5702|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
PHYS 8703. Nuclear and Elementary Particle Physics. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
(PHYS 5701|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
AND (PHYS 5702|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently)
PHYS 8704. Many Electron Theory. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Science & Technology.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
PHYS 8702|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.
PHYS 8705. Advanced Topics in Nuclear and Particle Physics. 3 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Science & Technology.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites:
PHYS 8703|Minimum Grade of B-|May not be taken concurrently.
PHYS 8985. Teach in Higher Ed: Phys. 2 Credit Hours.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
PHYS 9991. Master's Research Projects. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Degree Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Degrees: Master of Arts, Master of Science, Prof Science Masters.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
PHYS 9994. Preliminary Examination Preparation. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
PHYS 9995. Capstone Project. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Degree Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Degrees: Master of Arts, Master of Science, Prof Science Masters.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
PHYS 9996. Master's Thesis Research. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
PHYS 9998. Pre-Dissertation Research / Elevation to Candidacy. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
PHYS 9999. Dissertation Research. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
Student Attribute Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Student Attributes: Dissertation Writing Student.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
Contacts
Department Web Address:
Department Information:
Dept. of Physics
406 Science and Education Research Center
1925 N. 12th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122-1801
215-204-7634