Introduction

The physics department has a Certificate Program in Applied Physics. By choosing this program, your Ph.D. degree will still be in physics, but the five core courses you take in your first few years of graduate school are tailored for quick entry into an emerging interdisciplinary area of research. Areas of specialization include Nano and Materials Physics, Biophysics, Geophysics, Plasma Science, Optics as well as other potential future areas of interest. This program allows students to take core courses from departments outside of physics when appropriate, to better prepare them for cutting-edge research at the interface between disciplines.

As is the case for our regular Ph.D. degree program, ten graduate courses are required for a Ph.D. Example course sequences for the certificate program are found under the "Sample Curricula" link, but the core courses are the same for al lphysics students, and 5 of the 6 must be taken and passed. The Comprehensive Examination sequence for this certificate program is similar to that of our regular physics Ph.D. degree. Comps I consists of the 5 core courses in each area of specialization. The Comps II examination is based on a paper and presentation together with an oral examination. The formal thesis proposal (Comps III) is also the same as our regular physics degree program, consisting of a formal thesis proposal presentation to a faculty committee.

Please talk to the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in Physics (currently Professor Mihaly Horanyi ) if you are interested in this program. He will help you to plan your program of studies.