Physics

The physics graduate program emphasizes cutting edge research and education, resulting in orginal published work, and preparing our students for university, national lab, or industrial/corporate employment. A full range of courses are offered, including many research level advance courses. Physics faculty work closely with graduate students, mentoring them in a variety of areas, including condensed matter, high energy, and particle physics, astrophysics, physics education, etc. Students also benefit from weekly seminars, colloquia, group meetings and collaborations with other students and postdocs in large externally funded research groups.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

• CORE: The following courses are required for the PhD: 7001, 7002, 7005, 7006, 7010, 7011.
• SEMINAR: 8090 and 8091 are required every term.
• RESEARCH: 9071R; a total of 10 semester credits.
• SPECIALIZATION: A student must take 6 advanced (8000 or 9000 level) graduate level courses, of which two should be outside the student’s research field.

EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS:

• ORAL ENGLISH PROFIENCY TEST: Passing this exam is required of all non-native English speakers. We generally expect international students to pass the OEPT by the end of their first year at UC, and students who have not passed may not teach in the classroom.
• QUALIFYING EXAM: Students pursuing the PhD degree must pass this written exam at the PhD level by the spring semester of the second year.
• CANDIDACY (ORAL) EXAM: This exam tests whether a student has adequate preparation for doctoral research. Students are expected to pass this exam in their third year.
• DISSERTATION DEFENSE: A student must defend a dissertation before completing the doctoral degree.

COMPLETE APPLICATION: An applicant’s folder will not be evaluated until complete. A completed folder contains:

• Transcripts, which preferably arrive by mail;
• Three letters of recommendation, which the reviewers put into the university’s online system;
• A statement of purpose and a curriculum vitae, which the applicant uploads into the university’s online system;
• An application form, created from the applicant’s responses to the sections of the university’s online system.
• All foreign nationals must submit proof. The preference is to have TOEFL IBT scores sent directly by ETS to the Physics Department. The minimum acceptable score is 68. (The ETS institution code is 1833 for the University of Cincinnati. The department’s TOEFL code is 76.) Details for alternatives to the TOEFL IBT can be found here. If you did not request that TOEFL IBT scores be sent directly to the Department before submitting your application, you will be sent an email requesting proof of English proficiency, detailing alternatives and less costly reporting methods.
• GRE scores: The General GRE is required. The Physics GRE is recommended, especially for international applicants. The preference is to have ETS send the scores directly to the Department. (The ETS institution code is 1833 for the University of Cincinnati. The department’s GRE code is 0808.) Applicants without GRE subject scores must provide other evidence of outstanding achievement and promise.

Scholarships

The department may offer full tuition plus stipend support to our PhD program’s students. Generally, the stipend support is in the form of teaching assistantships for first-year students. Some fellowships are also available. By making the appropriate selections online, please indicate whether or not you are requesting financial assistance from the physics department.