Physics PhD Requirements

Coursework

Completion of the following courses with a GPA of 2.75 or better:

PHYS 60303, 60313

Quantum Mechanics

Plus four from the following:

PHYS 60203

Classical Mechanics

PHYS 60403, 60413

Electrodynamics

PHYS 60503

Solid State Physics

PHYS 60603

Statistical Physics

A minimum of nine hours of PHYS 60970 Research Problems must be completed with an average grade of 2.75 or better.

Additional coursework may be required to ensure adequate preparation for the specified courses. Each full-time student is required to participate in graduate seminars.

The course requirements for any course other than PHYS 60970 Research Problems may also be met by satisfactory performance on a written examination administered by the faculty over the subject matter of that course or by transfer of credit in an equivalent course from another institution.

There is no language requirement for the PhD in Physics.

Pre-Dissertation Qualifying Exam

This exam, which is normally taken during the fourth semester of graduate study, consists of three parts:

  1. An acceptable written report concerning either research completed at TCU or a proposal for the dissertation research, including a description of any research already completed. The written report must be submitted to the graduate faculty of the department at least two weeks prior to the oral exam. Details on the required format for the report are available from the department.
  2. An oral presentation at a physics department colloquium, usually on the subject of the written report.
  3. A comprehensive oral exam administered by the graduate faculty of the department to assess a student's preparation in basic physics and readiness to carry out the dissertation research. If the graduate faculty of the department attach a condition to passing the predissertation exam, (e.g. revision of the predissertation report or submission of additional material), the additional work must be completed by a specified deadline. The removal of the condition is subject to the approval of the graduate faculty.

The predissertation qualifying exam, in whole or in part, may be repeated once. Students who do not pass the exam are encouraged to complete the requirements for a master's degree if they have not already done so.

Completion of the above course requirements and the predissertation qualifying exam constitute admission to candidacy for the PhD degree.

Dissertation

Completion of a dissertation consisting of an original research project directed by a faculty member at TCU. Six hours of PHYS 90980 Dissertation and six hours of PHYS 90990 Dissertation are required. A final oral exam in defense of the dissertation is required and a paper based on the dissertation research must be submitted for publication in an appropriate scientific journal.





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