Physics

Our faculty in neutrino physics are members of the MINOS collaboration, studying neutrino oscillations using a beam generated at Fermilab, outside Chicago, IL, and aimed at an underground detector detector in Soudan, MN, 90 miles north of Duluth. These faculty play key roles in the operation of the detector and are also engaged in developing the next generation of experiments including MINERvA and NOvA. Computational particle physics work makes use of the resources of the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute. With our faculty associated with the Large Lakes Observatory, opportunities in physical limnology (the study of lakes) and oceanography, including both observational and computational modeling work, are available. The LLO faculty are also associated with the university-wide Water Resources Science program, which offers Ph.D. opportunities for students wishing to continue work in this direction.

Our graduate students come from a variety of backgrounds and have varied goals. Some students are U.S. citizens with bachelor's degrees in physics or related areas, sometimes from smaller undergraduate programs. Others are international students with B.S. degrees in physics or applied physics making the transition to advanced study in the U.S. Their goals include preparation for admission to Ph.D. programs in physics or other areas such as engineering fields and medical physics, teaching positions in high schools or community colleges, and technical positions in industry with an emphasis on computing or instrumentation. Our program size helps to create an environment that eases the transition to graduate study.

The department offers two routes to the M.S. degree, referred to as Plan A and Plan B. Plan A
includes the completion of a Master's thesis based upon original research carried out under the
direction of a faculty member. Plan B involves the completion of a project that may consist of participation in ongoing faculty research and preparation of a report on that work, or the preparation of three papers in connection with course work under faculty supervision.

The prerequisite for admission is a four-year undergraduate degree in physics or its equivalent. Students with degrees in closely related fields with significant physics and mathematics background and a keen interest in further physics training are routinely considered. In making admissions decisions, several measures are taken into account. Among these measures are undergraduate grade point average (the Graduate School prefers an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4 point scale), undergraduate course selections, and performance on Graduate Record Exams when available. While the GRE general and subject results are not required, their submission is encouraged for students seeking financial support. The "Graduate Program Supplementary Information" section has five things one could upload:Graduate Program Additional ApplicationWriting SampleDescription of Research or Work ExperienceResumé or CVOther Information English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 550 TOEFL iBT® test: 79

Most graduate students in the program are supported by assistantships, which are awarded on a competitive basis. Support is usually in the form of a 50%-time (20 hours per week) appointment and may either involve teaching or research. Half-time appointments carry a tuition waiver up to the normal full-time Graduate School tuition, as well as health insurance at reduced premiums. Duties of teaching assistants are typically a mixture of directing and grading introductory physics laboratory sections, leading problem-solving help sessions for introductory physics courses, and homework and exam grading. Duties of research assistants are determined by the sponsoring faculty member.

Accreditation

The University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and a member of the North Central Association.