M.S. in Physics

Research at an internationally-renowned institution

We offer both academic and industrial research allowing our students a firm grounding in theoretical and practical skills.

Forge a path that best suits Your needs

The Industrial Leadership in Physics (ILP) student supplements traditional coursework and thesis research with classes in business and entrepreneurship and year-long apprenticeships with our industrial partners.

Small size, a big strength

Our faculty provides close guidance at every stage of the doctoral process. We foster a close-knit and collegiate environment; a setting primed for excellence and advancement.

Modern infrastructure and facilities, a superior funding record

Our state-of-the-art research and teaching facility is specifically designed to promote interdisciplinary research and innovation.

Degree Requirements

Students pursuing the M.S. degree may elect to follow one of two tracks:

• Academic Track:
  • Complete at least 30 credits with at least 7 graduate physics courses of 3 credits or more.
  • Complete at least 2 additional department-approved courses.
• Thesis Track:
  • Complete at least 27 credits with at least 7 graduate physics courses of 3 credits or more and at least 1 additional department-approved course.
  • Complete and defend a thesis.

Fall of Year 1

• Colloquium (PHYS-501)
• Quantum Mechanics I (PHYS-505)
• Statistical Mechanics (PHYS-507)
• Electricity and Magnetism (PHYS-509)
• Integrated Experience (conducted during exam period)
• Colloquium (PHYS-501)
• Quantum Mechanics I (PHYS-505)
• Statistical Mechanics (PHYS-507)
• Electricity and Magnetism (PHYS-509)
• Integrated Experience (conducted during exam period)

Spring of Year 1

• Colloquium (PHYS-502)
• Quantum Mechanics II (PHYS-506)
• Computational Physics (PHYS-508)
• Solid State Physics (PHYS-510)
• Integrated Experience (conducted during exam period)
• Colloquium (PHYS-502)
• Quantum Mechanics II (PHYS-506)
• Computational Physics (PHYS-508)
• Solid State Physics (PHYS-510)
• Integrated Experience (conducted during exam period)

Summer

• Comprehensive Exam (Mid-summer)
• 1 Physics Lab Rotation (Non-Credit)
• Comprehensive Exam (Mid-summer)
• 1 Physics Lab Rotation (Non-Credit)

Fall of Year 2

• 2 Electives:
  • Dynamic Processes in Biological Physics (PHYS-511)
  • Solid State Physics II (PHYS-515)
  • Sensors & Digital Electronics (PHYS-517)
  • Soft Condensed Matter (PHYS-519)
• Plus 2 Physics Lab Rotations (PHYS-535 & -537)
• 2 Electives:
  • Dynamic Processes in Biological Physics (PHYS-511)
  • Solid State Physics II (PHYS-515)
  • Sensors & Digital Electronics (PHYS-517)
  • Soft Condensed Matter (PHYS-519)
• Plus 2 Physics Lab Rotations (PHYS-535 & -537)

Spring of Year 1

• 2 Electives:
  • Dynamic Processes in Biological Physics (PHYS-511)
  • Solid State Physics II (PHYS-515)
  • Sensors & Digital Electronics (PHYS 517)
  • Soft Condensed Matter (PHYS-519)
• Thesis Research* (PHYS 999-01)

Thesis

For an M.S. thesis, students are required to form a thesis committee consisting of their research advisor, the director of graduate studies (or an alternate appointed by the DGS), and one other member of the ordinary faculty. The M.S. thesis should be based on research performed at Georgetown or during an industrial apprenticeship.

Students must file a Thesis Proposal Form with the Graduate School. At the latest, this should be done at the beginning of the semester during which the student plans to apply for the degree. Each member of the thesis committee must approve the form before it is submitted to the Graduate School.

Students should consult the Graduate School’s Guidelines for Dissertation and Thesis Writers before beginning the thesis and should adhere to these formatting and procedural requirements during its preparation.

Committee members should be given a draft of the thesis at least four weeks prior to the target date for the thesis defense. The committee members should notify the student of requests for major revisions at least one week prior to the scheduled defense.

The thesis defense begins with a public presentation by the candidate. The candidate delivers a 45-minute oral presentation at a level appropriate for a general physics audience. Any member of the academic community may attend and ask questions during this phase of the exam. Following the public phase, which lasts about an hour, the committee meets alone with the candidate to ask additional questions. The defense is chaired by a member of the committee other than the thesis advisor.

Immediately following the defense, the committee holds a closed meeting to decide whether the defense was successful. Passing the thesis defense requires a unanimous vote by the committee. A student who does not pass the defense on the first try is allowed a second attempt, which must be made within three months of the first attempt.

Students failing the thesis defense for the second time will be dismissed from the M.S. program. Attempting the thesis defense commits a student to the M.S. with the thesis option. After that point, the student may not switch to the coursework-only M.S. option.

Elective Credit and Plan Modifications

Requests for elective credit or for modifications to any part of the program must be made to the graduate committee of the Department of Physics in the form of a written plan of study that lists all of the proposed coursework and provides a rationale for the proposed modifications. In order to be approved, the plan must provide the necessary preparation for the student’s academic and professional goals, and all the prerequisites for the proposed courses must be satisfied.