Ph.D. in Physics Requirements

Admission Requirements

The applicant must meet the School of Graduate Studies’ current minimum general admission rquirements as published in the graduate catalog.

Applicants who are seeking admission to School of Graduate Studies must meet all of the minimum general School of Graduate Studies admission requirements identified in the graduate catalog. In addition, prospective students must fulfill the requirements for admission to the graduate program in Physics and Astrophysics.

1. Successful completion of a master’s degree (Some programs permit bypassing the master’s degree and allow for direct admission to the Ph.D. degree. Check specific department requirements for admission.)
2. An overall GPA of 3.0 for all graduate work.
3. Completed all undergraduate preparation.
4. Presentation of scores on the GRE General Test and advanced physics test is recommended.
5. Be recommended for doctoral work by the department.

Degree Requirements

Students seeking the Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of North Dakota must satisfy all general requirements set forth by the School of Graduate Studies as well as particular requirements set forth by the Physics and Astrophysics Department.

The degree is a research degree and is conferred only in recognition of high achievement in independent scientific research and scholarship.

1. Completion of 90 semester credits beyond the baccalaureate degree.
2. Maintenance of at least a 3.0 GPA for all classes completed as a graduate.
3. With approval of a student’s Faculty Advisory Committee, up to one-half of the work beyond a master’s degree (maximum of 30 semester credit hours) may be transferred from another institution that offers post-master’s degrees in the discipline
4. In addition to PHYS 590 Research, the coursework will amount to approximately 36 hours.
5. Completion of a regular core of courses which includes:

   Course List

   Code	Title	Credits
   PHYS 509	Methods of Theoretical Physics	3
   PHYS 510	Methods of Theoretical Physics	3
   PHYS 539	Quantum Mechanics	3
   PHYS 540	Quantum Mechanics	3
   PHYS 541	Theory Electricity Magnetism	3
   PHYS 542	Theory of Electricity and Magnetism	3
   PHYS 543	Statistical Physics	3
   PHYS 545	Analytical Mechanics	3
   PHYS 549	Seminar	1

6. Completion of several specialized graduate level courses in physics in order to obtain the in-depth training essential for the development of their research interest.
7. Completion of at least nine semester hours of graduate work, (400 level or above) in a single related field.
8. After successful completion of the first two semesters of coursework, students who entered the program with a bachelor’s degree will take a written qualifying examination, which covers undergraduate and first-year graduate level courses. Students with a master’s degree will take this examination in the second semester of enrollment.
9. A student who fails to perform satisfactorily in this examination may be re-examined after waiting one semester. In general, no student will be allowed to take the qualifying examination more than twice.
10. No student may proceed formally toward the Ph.D. degree until this examination has been passed.
11. Written doctoral comprehensive examination in physics will normally be taken in the fifth semester of graduate enrollment. This must be completed before advancement to candidacy is granted.
12. Candidates for the Ph.D. must complete a research investigation. Upon satisfactory completion of the research investigation, the student is required to prepare a dissertation covering the research.

At the final oral examination, the candidate presents and defends the dissertation.