StudyQA — Master: Physics — Colorado State University

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Description Contents Requirements Funding

The Department of Physics offers programs in physics and applied physics which lead to the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Our graduate students take part in active research, which gives them study opportunities at the forefront of physics.

AREAS OF STUDY

Atomic and optical physics
Condensed matter physics
High energy physics and particle astrophysics
Theoretical physics

Master of Science – Thesis Option (Plan A)

A student must complete a minimum of 30 semester credits. These must include 18 credits in physics classroom courses at the 500 level or higher and two credits of PH692 (Seminar). The student must also perform research and prepare a thesis. The final examination for the Plan A M.S. Degree is the thesis defense.

Master of Science – Non-Thesis Option (Plan B)

A student must complete a minimum of 32 semester credits. These must include 21 credits in physics classroom courses at the 500 level or higher, three additional credits in the physics classroom courses at the 500 level or higher or in PH693 (Current Topics in Physics Research), and two credits of PH692 (Seminar). The final examination for the Plan B M.S. degree is the seminar/examination.

M.S. Final Examination Limit

A maximum of two attempts at final examinations for the M.S. degree is allowed.

Courses

PH 521 Introduction to Lasers. Stimulated emission; laser resonators; theory of laser oscillation; specific laser systems; applications.
PH 522 Introductory Laser Laboratory. Experiments providing hands-on experiences with lasers.
PH 531 Introductory Solid State Physics. Crystal structures and bonding, electronic levels and vibrations, dielectric, optical and magnetic properties, quasiparticles, superconductivity.
PH 541 Classical Physics. Linear and orbital motions, rotation, moment-of-inertia matrix, electrostatics, images, magnetostatics, induction, Maxwell’s equations
PH 561 Elementary Particle Physics. Particle interactions and detection techniques. Quark model, scattering models and standard model of electroweak interactions, physics of colliders.
PH 571 Mathematical Methods for Physics I. Vector analysis, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, infinite series, method of Frobenius, complex variables, contour integration.
PH 572 Mathematical Methods for Physics II. Partial differential equations, Sturm-Liouville theory, special functions, Green’s functions, Fourier series, Fourier and Laplace transforms.
PH 621 Classical Mechanics. Central forces, scattering, noninertial reference frames, Coriolis force, Lagrange’s and Hamilton’s equations, small oscillations, continuum mechanics.
PH 631 Solid State Physics. Electronic band structure and conduction phenomena; cohesive energy; lattice dynamics and thermal properties; metals; insulators; semiconductors.
PH 641 Electromagnetism I. Electrostatics in a vacuum and a medium, general solution of Laplace’s equation, Green’s functions, magnetostatics in a vacuum and a medium.
PH 642 Electromagnetism II. Maxwell’s equations, electromagnetic waves, radiation by accelerated charges, special relativity, Lagrangian formulation of electromagnetism.
PH 651 Quantum Mechanics I . WKB theory, Heisenberg picture, 3D wells, hydrogen atom, time-independent perturbation theory, angular momentum and spin, Clebsch-Gordan coefficients.
PH 652 Quantum Mechanics II. Wigner-Eckhart theorem, symmetries, density matrix, identical particles, interaction picture, time-dependent perturbation theory, scattering.
PH 671 Statistical Mechanics II. Canonical and grand-canonical ensembles; Maxwell-Boltzmann, Bose-Einstein, and Fermi-Dirac statistics; density operator; Bose-Einstein condensation.

Prospective graduate students are expected to complete the Physics Department Pre-Application Form and provide additional items (see below), and then wait for a status advisement before moving to Step 2, the Graduate School application process.

Once the Pre-Application Form is submitted the applicant will receive an e-mail allowing them access to the Physics Supplemental Website. This website will allow the applicant to upload the following:

Copies of transcripts (in English).
Copies of general GRE (verbal, quantitative, and analytical) and subject GRE (physics) exam scores. BOTH are required. These exams are required before pre-applications will be reviewed. The physics GRE is given infrequently, so applicants should make sure to take that exam early enough that their score is available for the pre-application.
TOEFL scores or IELTS score. (For international applications only.)
Note that the minimum TOEFL score acceptable to the University for admission is 80 (internet based)/215 (computer exam)/550 (paper exam). The Department of Physics gives a strong preference to applicants with TOEFL scores of at least 100 (internet based)/250 (computer)/600 (paper). The minimum IELTS score acceptable to the University for admission is 6.5. The Department of Physics will give strong preference to applicants with an IELTS score of at least 8.0.
CV or resume.
Personal statement.
Three reference letters. The reference letters must be either (1) uploaded to the website by the recommender, (2) mailed to the address below, or (3) e-mailed to the graduate admissions coordinator.