Physics
			Description Degrees Offered Admission Master of Science in Physics Doctor of Philosophy in Physics Contact Info

Description

The University of Central Florida offers master's and doctoral programs in Physics, with tracks in General Physics and Optical Physics. Research opportunities are available in condensed matter physics, nanostructure devices, surface science, optical physics, complex systems, biophysics, atomic and molecular physics, and planetary/space science.

Degrees Offered

Master of Science in Physics

Doctor of Philosophy in Physics

Admission

For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Graduate Catalog. Applicants are encouraged to apply online. Please be sure to submit all requested material by the established deadline(s).

Master of Science in Physics

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all applicants, and the Physics Subject Test of the GRE is recommended. Minimum requirements for admission to the Physics graduate program are the standard university criteria of a 3.0 (A = 4.0) grade point average (GPA) for the last 60 attempted credit hours of credit earned toward the baccalaureate, or a GRE score of at least 1000 on the combined verbal-quantitative sections of the General (Aptitude) Test. Applicants must complete an application for graduate admission (available at www.graduate.ucf.edu). Applicants to the doctoral program must also include a resume, goal statement, and three letters of recommendation. International students and students whose native language is not English must score at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Students entering the graduate program with regular status are normally expected to have completed course work generally required for a bachelor’s degree in physics, including mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, and quantum mechanics.

Application Due Dates

All students applying for fellowships or assistantships must apply by the Fall Priority deadline date.

U.S. Applicants

	Program(s)		Fall Priority		Fall		Spring		Summer
	Doctor of Philosophy in Physics   Feb 1  Jul 15
	Master of Science in Physics  Feb 1  Jul 15

International Applicants

	Program(s)		Fall Priority		Fall		Spring		Summer
	Doctor of Philosophy in Physics   Feb 1  Feb 1
	Master of Science in Physics  Feb 1  Feb 1

Master of Science in Physics

The Master of Science in Physics degree in Physics is flexibly designed to prepare students for the widest possible range of industrial careers or further study at the doctoral level, according to student interests and goals. With a 12 credit common core, the students 18 remaining required credit hours are planned in consultation with an academic advisor. These may include courses from other departments.

Requirements for M.S.—30 Credit Hours Minimum

Core Courses—12 Credit Hours

All students are required to take:

• PHY 5606 Quantum Mechanics I (3 credit hours)
• PHY 5346 Electrodynamics I (3 credit hours)
• PHZ6156 Advanced Computational Physics (3 credit hours)
• PHY 5846C Methods of Experimental Physics (3 credit hours)

Elective Courses—18 Credit Hours

Elective selection is intended to be very flexible in order to meet student needs and interests. Electives may be chosen following one of the suggested specializations below, or a different program of study may be followed with academic advisor approval.

Materials Physics Specialization

Preapproved Electives: 6 credit hours

• PHY 6624 Quantum Mechanics II
• PHY 6347 Electrodynamics II
• PHY 5524 Statistical Physics

Additional Electives: 12 credit hours (may require prerequisites or consent of instructor)

• PHZ 5405 Condensed Matter Physics
• PHY 6427 Condensed Matter Physics II
• PHZ 5505 Plasma Physics
• PHY 5933 Special Topics in Biophysics of Macromolecules
• PHY 5140C Ion Solid Interactions
• PHY 5455 Modern X-ray Science
• EEL 5355C Fabrications of Solid-State Devices

Other graduate courses from Optics, Materials Science, Physics, Optical Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Industrial Chemistry.

Optical Physics Specialization

Preapproved electives: 6 hours

• PHY 6624 Quantum Mechanics II
• PHY 6347 Electrodynamics II
• OSE 5111 Optical Wave Propagation
• OSE 5115 Interference and Diffraction
• OSE 6526L Laser Engineering laboratory
• OSE 6455L Photonics Laboratory

Additional electives: 12 hours (require approval)

• PHY 5524 Statistical Physics
• OSE 6347 Quantum Optics
• OSE 5312 Fundamentals of Optical Science

Other graduate courses from Optics, Materials Science, Physics, Optical Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Industrial Chemistry.

Space Physics Specialization

Preapproved electives: 6 credits

• PHY 6624 Quantum Mechanics II
• PHY 6347 Electrodynamics II
• PHY 5524 Statistical Physics
• PHZ 5505 Plasma Physics
• AST 5165 Planetary Atmospheres

Additional electives: 12 credits (require approval)

• EAS 5315 Rocket Propulsion
• EAS 6405 Advanced Flight Dynamics
• EAS 6507 Topics of Astrodynamics
• OSE 5041 Introduction to Wave Optics
• EEL 5820 Image Processing
• EEL 6823 Image Processing II
• Other graduate courses from Optics, Materials Science, Physics, Optical Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Industrial Chemistry.

Theory/Computational Physics Specialization

Preapproved electives: 6 credit hours

• PHY 6246 Classical Mechanics
• PHY 6624 Quantum Mechanics II
• PHY 6347 Electrodynamics II
• PHY 5524 Statistical Physics

Additional electives: 12 credit hours (require approval)

• PHY 6667 Advanced Quantum Mechanics
• PHZ 5405 Condensed Matter Physics
• PHY 6427 Condensed Matter Physics II
• PHZ 5505 Plasma Physics
• OSE 6347 Quantum Optics
• OSE 5312 Fundamentals of Optical Science

Other courses from Physics, Math, Optics, Materials Science, Engineering, Computer Science.

Thesis Option—6 Credit Hours

The Master of Science in Physics candidate who has chosen the thesis option is required to conduct a program of original scientific research or some investigation involving a creative element and to submit a written thesis detailing these investigations. An oral defense and examination of the thesis is required. These six credit hours count toward the 18 hours of required electives for the degree.

Non-Thesis Option

This requirement is met by the student completing 18 credit hours of electives and a written comprehensive exit examination based on the common core.

Doctor of Philosophy in Physics

The Department of Physics at the University of Central Florida offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree with tracks in general, materials, and optical physics. The department is characterized by rapid growth and dynamic partnerships. This activity, which is fueled by the university’s focus on industrial partnerships and research, strengthens the department and provides research and employment opportunities for our students.

Degree Requirements

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Physics requires a total of 72 credit hours for completion. A specific set of eight required core courses (24 hours), five electives (15 hours), and a minimum of 15 hours of dissertation are part of those 72 hours. Electives are organized into track specializations with certain track specific requirements. The remaining 18 hours may consist of appropriately selected research, dissertation, and elective courses. In addition, each student is required to participate in the Physics Colloquium/Seminar program. No more than 6 credit hours of independent study may be credited toward the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Core Courses—24 Credit Hours

All students are required to take the core courses.

• PHY 5606 Quantum Mechanics I (3 credit hours)
• PHY 6624 Quantum Mechanics II (3 credit hours)
• PHY 5346 Electrodynamics I (3 credit hours)
• PHY 6347 Electrodynamics II (3 credit hours)
• PHZ 6156 Advanced Computational Physics (3 credit hours)
• PHY 5846C Methods of Experimental Physics (3 credit hours)
• PHY 5524 Statistical Physics (3 credit hours)
• PHY 6XXX Summer Research Seminar (3 credit hours)

Elective Courses—15 Credit Hours

The required 15 credit elective hours are track-specific.

General Physics Track

The General Physics Track emphasizes strong preparation in physics fundamentals. It is intended to prepare students for careers in theoretical physics, teaching at the college level, or other areas not covered by the Materials and Optics Tracks. A number of active research programs exist in the department to accommodate such students.

A total of 15 credit hours of electives in the General Physics Track must be taken in consultation with the student’s advisory committee. The following courses are recommendations.

• PHY6246 Classical Mechanics (3 credit hours)
• PHY6667 Advanced Quantum Mechanics (3 credit hours)
• PHZ 5405 Condensed Matter Physics (3 credit hours)
• PHY 6428 Condensed Matter Physics II (3 credit hours)
• PHZ 5505 Plasma Physics (3 credit hours)
• PHZ 5304Nuclear and Particle Physics (3 credit hours)
• PHZ 6234 Atomic Physics (3 credit hours)
• OSE 6347 Quantum Optics (3 credit hours)
• OSE 5312 Fundamentals of Optical Science (3 credit hours)

Other courses from Physics, Math, Optics, Materials Science, Engineering.

Materials Physics Track

The Materials Physics track is intended to prepare students for careers in materials physics, nanoscale science and technology, semiconductors, and soft condensed matter physics. The track emphasizes strong experimental preparation with hands-on courses in advanced materials characterization and processing instrumentation. Related research programs at UCF include magnetic nanostructures, soft condensed matter, electronic and optoelectronic devices, and nanoscale characterization.

Track Requirements

• PHZ 5405 Condensed Matter Physics: electronic bands, phonons, conductors, insulators, semiconductors
• PHY 6425 Condensed Matter Physics II: quantum magnetism, soft condensed matter, low-dimensional systems
• Two "studio lab" courses: PHY 5140C Ion-solid interactions and PHZ 5425C Electron-solid interactions
• One approved elective selected from Materials Science, Physics, Optical Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Industrial Chemistry

Optical Physics Track

The Optics Track coordinator is Dr. David Hagan, School of Optics. In the Optics Track, students must select five optics courses with the following restrictions.

At least one course from:

• OSE 5111 Optical wave propagation (3 credit hours)
• OSE 5115 Interference and Diffraction (3 credit hours)

At least one of the following laboratory courses:

• OSE 6526L Laser Engineering Laboratory (3 credit hours)
• OSE 6455L Photonics Laboratory (3 credit hours)

The remaining courses (up to three) may be elected from other graduate course in optics see (www.creol.ucf.edu).

Dissertation

All students require a minimum of 15 credit hours of dissertation.

Dissertation Proposal—Prepared in consultation with dissertation advisor. Presented within one year after the candidacy exam.

Dissertation Defense—The final oral defense of the dissertation is administered by the students dissertation committee following completion of a written dissertation describing the students research.

Examinations

Placement Exam—The Physics field test, to be taken during the beginning of the first semester, for advisement purposes only.

Candidacy Exam—Part 1, written exam covering the common core. Part 2, track specific exam. Taken at the end of the second year. After passing the candidacy examination, the student can register for dissertation hours (PHY 7980). Before passing the candidacy, research credit can be earned as PHY 6918.

Financial Support

Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see Financing Grad School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.

Key points about financial support:

• If you're interested in financial assistance, you're strongly encouraged to apply for admission early. A complete application for admission, including all supporting documents, must be received by the priority date listed for your program under "Admissions."
• You must be admitted to a graduate program before the university can consider awarding financial assistance to you.
• If you want to be considered for loans and other need-based financial assistance, review the UCF Student Financial Assistance website at http://finaid.ucf.edu and complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form, which is available online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Apply early and allow up to six weeks for the FAFSA form to be processed.
• UCF Graduate Studies awards university graduate fellowships, with most decisions based on nominations from the colleges and programs. All admitted graduate students are automatically considered in this nomination process. To be eligible for a fellowship, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and be enrolled full-time. To receive need-based fellowship awards, the student must have demonstrated need as determined by FAFSA. Merit fellowship awards are not affected by FAFSA determination of need.
• Please note that select fellowships do require students to fill out a fellowship application (either a university fellowship application, an external fellowship application, or a college or school fellowship application).
• For information on assistantships (including teaching, research, and general graduate assistantships) or tuition support, contact the graduate program coordinator of your major.

Contact Info

Doctor of Philosophy in Physics

Robert Peale, Ph.D. , Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-5208
graduate@physics.ucf.edu

Master of Science in Physics

Robert Peale, Ph.D. , Associate Professor
Phone Number: 407-823-5208
graduate@physics.ucf.edu