Students interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in physics at California Institute of Technology (Caltech) submit transcripts, three recommendation letters, a personal statement and standardized test scores. Applicants should have studied advanced calculus, quantum mechanics and atomic and nuclear physics as undergraduates. The PhD degree takes five to six years to complete, and students must pass two written exams and an oral exam before being formally admitted for PhD candidacy. New students take placement exams covering topics in mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and results of the placement determine course selection. The doctoral thesis is defended before a committee of four faculty members. Students admitted to the doctoral program in physics receive a full tuition waiver plus a fellowship or research or teaching assistantship.
California Institute of Technology
Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy
1200 East California Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91135
626-395-6811
pma.caltech.edu
Doctoral students in physics at the University of Maryland-College Park must pass a qualifying examination, attend research seminars and present research orally and in writing. They also write and defend a dissertation. The dissertation topic should be chosen by the end of the third year of study; the degree can be completed in five to six years of full-time study. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation. Doctoral students can focus their research in experimental topics such as relativity, nonlinear dynamics or biophysics. Alternatively, a theoretical track focuses on areas including plasma theory, gravitational theory and quantum computing. Financial aid is available in the form of research and teaching assistantships; highly qualified applicants are considered for department fellowships.
Department of Physics
University of Maryland
1120 Physics Building
College Park, MD 20742
301-405-5982
physics.umd.edu
Students enrolled in the doctoral program in physics at the State University of New York at Stony Brook must demonstrate competency in core areas: statistical, classical and quantum mechanics as well as electricity and magnetism. Most degree candidates complete the core during the first year of the program, and those who pass a placement examination are exempt from the core course requirement. There are two program tracks available, one for students in physics, and one for students interested in astronomy. Astronomy students take courses about stars and galaxies in addition to the core physics courses. Students can select from a number of thesis topics, including nuclear theory, mathematical physics and particle theory. The dissertation is presented to a three-member committee. Fellows and teaching assistants are awarded full tuition scholarships; students can also apply for research grants.
State University of New York at Stony Brook
Department of Physics & Astronomy
100 Nicolls Rd.
Stony Brook, NY 11790
631-632-8100
graduate.physics.sunysb.edu