MASTER OF SCIENCE IN PHYSICS

The following is provided for general information purposes only. Consult the current Cal State Fullerton catalog for official degree requirements and the Graduate advisors webpage for the most current graduate admissions requirements.
Send all email enquiries and documents to: master@physics.fullerton.edu

The degree is designed to qualify students for more advanced work in physics, to provide preparation which will lead to responsible positions in industrial or government research and development laboratories, and to provide preparation for the effective teaching of physics in the secondary schools and community colleges.

Admission

Students must meet the university requirements for graduate admission. (See the section of the University catalog on Graduate Admissions for a complete statement and procedures.) In addition to university requirements, in order to achieve conditionally classified standing in the physics program, a student must meet the following requirements:

An undergraduate degree in physics from an accredited university (or a selection of undergraduate courses deemed appropriate preparation for further study in physics by the Department Graduate Committee); and
A 2.75 GPA in upper-division physics courses for physics BS students and a GPA of 3.0 for those with a degree outside of physics.
At least 9 units of upper division physics courses for those applying with a BS in a degree other than physics.
The GRE physics test must be completed within a year of application.

Classified Standing

In order to proceed from conditionally classified to classified standing, the student must meet the following requirements:

Preparation of a study plan in consultation with the department's Graduate Advisor.
Approval of this plan by the department's Graduate Committee and by the Department Chair.
Successful completion of the University graduate level writing requirement.
Approved selection of a research director for Plan B or C candidates.

Study Plans

Three alternatives are available for the study plan. Plan A emphasizes course work and a comprehensive final examination. Plan B emphasizes a research experience in a chosen specialty, preparation of a thesis, and an oral defense of the thesis. Plan C emphasizes research but you prepare a paper only. A minimum of 30 semester units of course work approved by the graduate committee and completed with a grade point average of 3.0 is required for the M.S. degree in physics.

1. Basic Requirements

   Courses required of all students: 
   Physics 510  Mathematical Physics                3 units
   Physics 520  Analytical Mechanics                3 units
   Physics 530A Electromagnetic Theory I            3 units
   Physics 555A Quantum Physics I                   3 units

2. Additional Requirements for Plan A (course work)

   Any two of the following;
   Physics 530B Electromagnetic Theory II           3 units,
   Physics 555B Quantum Physics II                  3 units, 
   Physics 516  Thermal and Statistical Physics     3 units,
   or
   Physics 554 Solid State  (*to be approved)       3 units.

3. Additional Requirements for Plan B (thesis) and Plan C (project)

   One of the following:
   Physics 530B Electromagnetic Theory II           3 units, 
   Physics 555B Quantum Physics II                  3 units, 
   Physics 516  Thermal and Statistical Physics     3 units,
   or
   Physics 554 Solid State  (*to be approved)       3 units.
   Plus:
   Physics 599  Independent Graduate Research       3 units,
   and either;
   Physics 598  Thesis                              1-6 units,
	or
   Physics 597 Project				    1-3 units.

The remaining 12 units (Plan A) or 8-11 units (Plan B or C) shall be chosen from any 400-level or 500-level physics elective course offering, with the exception of Physics 410, 455, 495, 496, 499, and courses (or their equivalents) which were used to satisfy baccalaureate degree requirements. In cases where the research objectives or career goals are interdisciplinary in nature, 400- level and 500-level courses outside of physics may be chosen (e.g. in mathematics, chemistry, engineering, geological sciences, biology, science education or teacher education).

Return to:
[Physics M.S. page]

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