Physics, Ph.D.

Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES/STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: Physics, Ph.D.

OUTCOME 1: THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE

Students will possess:

• a broad knowledge/awareness of physics at an undergraduate level
• more specialized knowledge of physics relevant to their topical area at an advanced level
• a deep and theoretical understanding of their area of specialization, including an awareness of modern research methods and problems of intense current interest.

OUTCOME 2: RESEARCH METHODS

Students will:

• independently design experimental/theoretical/computational techniques to investigate scientific hypotheses.
• independently conduct analysis, along with evaluation of experimental or computational uncertainties and noise. Including interpretation of any results in the context of uncertainties.
• carry out experiments safely, using proper equipment and techniques (if applicable).

OUTCOME 3: LITERATURE RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Students will be able to:

• present their work by effective written communication in the form of scientific papers and reports and by oral communication in the form of scientific seminars.
• train others in basic scientific knowledge and techniques,
• train others in advanced knowledge and techniques in their field of expertise.
• use scientific databases and scientific literature to research a new topic.
• critically analyze and extract information from papers in scientific literature.

OUTCOME 4: SCIENTIFIC CREATIVITY AND INDEPENDENCE

Students will:

• understand the societal and general scientific significance of their work.
• possess the ability to identify key issues within their research area and independently propose new research directions and meaningful, testable hypotheses.
• be able to draw from their general scientific training to synthesize new problem-solving approaches.

OUTCOME 5: PROFESSIONAL AND CAREER SUCCESS

Graduates will:

• be successful in their professional careers, as demonstrated by their abilities to solve important physics problems and to develop new and valuable ideas.
• be able to work in a variety of professional environments as demonstrated by the abilities to work both in teams and independently, to provide project leadership, to mentor junior co-workers, and to communicate scientific results effectively to the physics community and the public.
• possess professional character as demonstrated by their ethical behavior, their pursuit of continuing education and involvement in professional associations, and their commitment to the safety and protection of the environment.

Contact Information

Thomas White, Graduate Program Director
Leifson Physics 101
(775) 682-6614
tgwhite@unr.edu

Admission Requirements

Admissions are made through the graduate school.   Please consult the regulations of the Graduate School for general admission requirements. The deadline for completed applications is March 1st.  The deadline for Spring applications is November 1st; however, the department discourages applications for Spring under ordinary circumstances.

I. Program Requirements

Candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy degree must satisfy all general requirements of the Graduate School.

Before being accepted as a candidate, the student must have completed at least 75 percent of the non-elective, non-dissertation coursework, and have passed a comprehensive examination on graduate level material in physics. The following courses or their equivalents must be satisfactorily completed for the doctoral degree in physics:

• PHYS 701 - Mathematical Physics (3 units)
• PHYS 702 - Classical Mechanics (3 units)
• PHYS 711 - Electromagnetic Theory I (3 units)
• PHYS 712 - Electromag Theory II (3 units)
• PHYS 721 - Quantum Theory I (3 units)
• PHYS 722 - Quantum Theory II (3 units)
• PHYS 732 - Statistical Mechanics (3 units)
• PHYS 790 - Seminar (1 unit) (3 units required)
• Units selected from other 700-level physics and/or mathematics courses (maximum of six units in
  PHYS 792
   ) (14 units)
• Approved electives (9 units)
• PHYS 795 - Comprehensive Examination (1 unit)
• PHYS 799 - Dissertation (1 to 24 units) (24 units required)

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  The completion of a dissertation and a final oral examination are required. These are directed by the student’s graduate advisory committee.

II. Total Credits (72 units)

Notes

Graduate students who hold a 20-hour per week assistantship are not permitted to enroll in more than 10 units per semester.

Undergraduate Prerequisites

1. A bachelor’s degree in physics or related discipline.
2. Completion of undergraduate courses in classical mechanics; electricity and magnetism; thermal and statistical physics; and quantum mechanics.
3.  An average grade of 3.0 or better in all physics courses, and an overall average of 3.0 or better in all undergraduate courses.

Applicants whose records indicate a deficiency in any of the requirements listed above may be required to take undergraduate courses (which do not carry graduate credit) to address their deficiencies.