Typical course sequence for Physics Ph.D., Physics Track

First Year

Fall Semester

• PHYS:5710 Classical Mechanics
• PHYS:5811 Electrodynamics I
• PHYS:5741 Quantum Mechanics I

Qualifying Exam: January

Spring Semester

• PHYS:5730 Statistical Mechanics
• PHYS:5812 Electrodynamics II
• PHYS:5742 Quantum Mechanics II

Second Year

Advanced physics courses* - two courses

Alternatives:

Some physics students postpone a 200-level course to the second year in order to take a 100-level course the first year. This is can be done to take a 100-level course in a research area (for example, plasma physics). It can also be done to take a course that was not completed as an undergraduate (for example, PHYS:4761/4762 Mathematical Methods of Physics).

Typical course sequence for Physics Ph.D., Astronomy Track

First Year

Fall Semester

• ASTR:6880 High Energy Astrophysics (or another advanced astronomy course**)
• PHYS:5710 Classical Mechanics
• either PHYS:7990/ASTR:79914 Research in Astronomy or a physics course

Qualifying Exam: January

Spring Semester

• ASTR:6781Galactic Astronomy (or another advanced astronomy course**)
• PHYS:5730 Statistical Mechanics I
• either ASTR:7991 Research in Astronomy or ASTR:4770 Radio Astronomy

Second Year

• One advanced astronomy course** each semester
• Special Topics in Astrophysics or a physics course

Third Year

• One advanced astronomy course** each semester

* Advanced physics courses (each taught in alternating years)

• PHYS:6720Nonlinear Optics
• PHYS:7720 Semiconductor Physics
• PHYS:7740Quantum Field Theory
• PHYS:5840 Quantum Gauge Theories
• PHYS:7760 General Relativity and Cosmology
• PHYS:7725 Special Topics in Condensed Matter
• PHYS:7730 Advanced Plasma Physics

**Advanced astronomy courses (two are taught each year in a three-year rotation):

• ASTR:6870 Radiative Processes in Astrophysics
• ASTR:6785 The Interstellar Medium
• ASTR:6790 Stellar Astrophysics
• ASTR:6880 High Energy Astrophysics
• ASTR:6781 Galactic Astronomy
• ASTR:6782 Extragalactic Astronomy