Program Objectives

• Goal 1: All physics graduates must have broad factual knowledge and thorough competency in the fundamentals of physics and the skills necessary to construct basic scientific knowledge of material phenomena. They must:
  • Objective 1(a): Demonstrate a depth of understanding in the fundamentals kinematics, dynamics, energy and momentum conservation, waves, heat and thermodynamics. Focus: PHYS 100, 104, 130, 510, 699.
  • Objective 1(b): Demonstrate a depth of understanding in the fundamentals of electricity, magnetism, optics, special relativity, atomic structure, and properties of radiation. Focus: PHYS 101, 105, 131, 512, 516, 612, 699.
  • Objective 1(c): Demonstrate the ability to collect, analyze and interpret scientific data. Focus: PHYS 130, 131, & 530.

• Goal 2: All physics graduates must have the ability to communicate effectively. They must:
  • Objective 2(a): Be able to write a well-organized, logical, scientifically-sound research paper or laboratory report. Focus: PHYS 130, 131, 530, 691.
  • Objective 2(b): Be able to present a well-organized, logical, scientifically-sound, and audience- appropriate oral report on a scientific topic. Focus: PHYS 691.
    
    
• Goal 3: All pre-service physics teachers must demonstrate their ability to set-up and introduce a physics laboratory exercise and be able to effectively tutor students to complete the exercise in a formal setting.

Program Guide (PDF)

• Goal 1: To produce graduates with factual knowledge and mathematical skills necessary to solve complex physics problems.
  • Objective 1(a): Demonstrate deep understanding and solve fundamental problems in Electricity and Magnetism using Maxwell’s Equations including (Focus: PHYS 812):
    
    • 1(a).1 electric field, potential and charge density calculations
    • 1(a).2 method of images
    • 1(a).3 solutions of Laplace’s equation in different coordinate systems with specified boundary conditions
    • 1(a).4 multi-pole expansion
    • 1(a).5 Green's function expansion
    • 1(a).6 dielectric medium and displacement field
    • 1(a).7 magnetic field calculations
  • Objective 1 (b): Demonstrate deep understanding and solve fundamental problems in quantum mechanics using (Focus: PHYS 816):
    
    • 1(b).1 matrix theory to solve spin and simple harmonic oscillator problems
    • 1(b).2 techniques with angular momentum, spherical harmonics, and tensors
    • 1(b).3 perturbation methods
  • Objective 1(c): Demonstrate deep understanding of the principles analytical mechanics using (Focus: PHYS 810):
    
    • 1(c).1 Newton’s 2nd Law and conservation theorems applied to multiple-body problems,
    • 1(c).2 Lagrange’s equations as applied the two-body problem and constraint problems,
    • 1(c).3 Hamilton’s equations as applied to conservative systems, and
    • 1(c).4 Canonical Transformations and Hamilton-Jacobi Theory.
      
      
• Goal 2: All physics graduates must engage in scientific research and have the ability to communicate the process and results of the research effectively.
  
  • Objective 2(a): Be able to write a well-organized logical, scientifically sound research paper, scientific report, or grant proposal. Focus: PHYS 890, 891, 893.
  • Objective 2(b): Be able to present effectively a well-organized, logical, scientifically sound, and audience-appropriate oral report on a scientific topic. Focus: PHYS 890, 891, 832.
    
    
• Goal 3: All physics graduates with an Option II – Teaching emphasis will broaden and deepen their science background and be able to effectively guide others in learning science.
  
  • Objective 3(a): Be able to guide and encourage secondary school students in research projects in the physical sciences. Focus: PHYS 882.
  • Objective 3(b): Be able to summarize and compare central issues and debates of philosophers of science. Focus: PHYS 760.

Program Guide (PDF)

• Goal 1: To produce graduates with in-depth knowledge of materials science, which involves connections between the underlying structure of a material and its physical and chemical properties.
  • Objective 1(a): Demonstrate understanding and solve problems in Nanophysics and Thin Films which deal with physical and electronic properties in reduced dimensions, film deposition techniques, and characterizations.
  • Objective 1(b): Demonstrate understanding and solve problems in Solid State Physics and Electronics which involve physical and electronics properties of crystals and semiconductors, including crystal structure, bonding, doping, and electronic properties semiconductors.
  • Objective 1(c): Write computer programs in Python for modeling and predicting materials behavior without doing the actual experiments.
  • Objective 1(d): Demonstrate understanding and problem-solving skills in the physical chemistry of polymers, mechanics of composite materials, and testing.
  • Objective 1(e): Learn working principles and hands-on experience on many state-of-an-art instruments such as scanning electron microscope, x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermal analyzer, electrochemistry, and many more.
    
    
• Goal 2: All materials science graduate students must engage in research, follow new developments in their field via attending colloquiums/conferences, have the ability to design and communicate the process and results of the research effectively.
  
  • Objective 2(a): Write a well-organized, logical, scientific report or thesis based on original research performed
  • Objective 2(b): Present a well-organized, logical, report or thesis on original research performed
  • Objective 2(c): Develop skills to design and perform new experiments
  • Objective 2(d): Learn basics of instruments and hands-on experience on many state-of-the-art instruments
  • Objective 2(e): Learn industrial standards for materials testing 
  • Objective 2(f): Get experience on industrially/state/federal funded projects

Program Guide (PDF)