Department of Physics

School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Graduates

Graduate study in physics at UT Dallas offers students the opportunity to be involved in forefront research in physics.  Our graduates go on to work in industry, academia, and government positions.

Our graduate program develops individual creativity and expertise in physics and is strongly focused on research. Students are encouraged to participate in ongoing research activities from the beginning of their graduate studies. The research experience culminates with the doctoral dissertation, the essential element of the Ph.D. program that prepares the student for careers in academia, government laboratories, or industry.

A Master of Science degree is offered to those seeking to acquire or maintain technical mastery of both fundamentals and current applications.

A Master of Science degree in Applied Physics is offered for students wishing to emphasize applications encountered in most industrial and high technology environments.

We seek students who have a B.S. degree in physics or closely related subjects and have superior skills in quantitative and deductive analysis. Decisions on admission are made on an individual basis. However, a combined score on the verbal and quantitative parts of the GRE of 1100, or 700 on the quantitative part, is advisable based on our experience with student success in the program.

For graduate work it is assumed that the student has an undergraduate background that includes the following courses at the level indicated by texts referenced to:

  • mechanics at the level of Symon, Mechanics
  • electromagnetism at the level of Reitz and Milford, Foundations of Electromagnetic Theory
  • thermodynamics at the level of Kittel, Thermal Physics
  • quantum mechanics at the level of Griffiths, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (chapters 1-4)
  • and some upper-division course(s) in modern physics and atomic physics.

Students who lack this foundation may be required to take one or more undergraduate courses to prepare for their graduate work.

We recommend that you contact Margie Renfrow when you apply.

  • Updated: March 11, 2009