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Requirements for a Ph.D. in Physics:
The Doctor's degree requires a total of seventy-two (72) credits after the Bachelor's degree or forty-two (42) credits beyond the Master's degree. The emphasis is on research which produces new scientific knowledge of significant character.
Course Requirements
Core courses
All candidates for the Ph.D. must take a basic core of graduate courses including the following:
- PHYS 6210: Mathematical Methods in Physics (4 credits)
- PHYS 6410: Electrodynamics (4 credits)
- PHYS 6510: Quantum Mechanics I (4 credits)
- PHYS 6520: Quantum Mechanics II (4 credits)
- PHYS 6590: Statistical Mechanics (4 credits)
Grades in the graduate "core" courses lower than "B" are a cause for concern even though the student may be maintaining an overall "B" average. When such a situation arises the student should consult the advisor and some definite decision should be recorded as to what remedial steps are necessary.
Other Required Courses
In addition to the above sequence of core courses, there are the following doctoral course requirements. Each student should take two courses outside their research area from the following:
- ASTR 4220/6220: Astrophysics
- ASTR 4240/6240: Gravitation and Cosmology
- ASTR 4250/6250: Interstellar Medium
- PHYS 4510/6510: Origins Of Life: A Cosmic Perspective
- PHYS 4620/6620: Particle Physics
- PHYS 6530: Quantum Mechanics III
- PHYS 6710: Theory of Solids I
The above requirements’ should be meet by all students from Fall 2007 or later.
Note, PHYS-6530 Quantum Mechanics III is strongly recommended for all students. (All theory students should take this course).
There are special requirements for students specializing in astrophysics and biophysics.
Colloquium Requirements:
For the Ph.D. in Physics, students are required to attend the Physics Colloquium. This requirement is met by registering for, and passing, the one-credit colloquium course as listed in the course catalog. This course must be passed at least three times, prior to graduation. The criteria for passing the courses are decided by the instructor.
Qualifying and Candidacy Examinations
Although the incoming student may specify an intention to pursue a program leading to the Ph.D. degree, admission to the program is granted only after: (a) satisfactory completion of the core course requirements, (b) selection for qualification, and (c) passing the candidacy examination. Selection for qualification is based mostly on performance on a two-part written qualifying examination which covers the material in the advanced undergraduate courses. Passing this written examination at a well-defined level of performance is sufficient to pass the qualifying process. If a student has not achieved a clear pass on the written examination but has performed near the passing level, the qualifier examine committee will also consider performance in course work and, to a limited extent, research work in selection for qualification. The candidacy examination is taken in the third year and is based on progress in and preparation for research. Students should consult the Qualifying and Candidacy Examination Handbook for further details.
Waiver of Thesis Requirement for Master's Degree for Ph.D. Candidates
A student who has completed the Candidacy Examination satisfactorily, may apply for award of the Masters of Science degree with waiver of thesis requirement, provided the requirements for the Master's degree including 30 credits of appropriate course work are otherwise satisfied. To do this the student should request the advisor to certify by memorandum to the Chair of the Department Graduate Program Committee that the advisor is satisfied that the student is capable of doing research, and should fill out the required degree diploma card in the office of the Registrar before the required time for the semester in which the degree is to be awarded, and pay the required fee. The student must be registered for the semester, as well.
Thesis Requirements
The requirement for the thesis dissertation for the doctoral degree (Ph.D.) is that it must demonstrate that the student has undertaken scientific research and accomplished the discovery of significant new information in the field of study. The student must have made the major contribution to the carrying out and evaluation of the work, and should have made substantial contribution to its selection and initiation as well. It is, of course, recognized that the process is learning and teaching interaction. Therefore, it is to be expected that the student's advisor will provide substantial guidance both in selection of a thesis topic and in its carrying out. However, the student, the advisor, and the doctoral committee (see below) should be quite clear that the evaluation of the student's work is to be based on what the student did at all phases of the work, which should be clearly distinguished from what the advisor or other collaborators did. To avoid later confusion, it is in fact especially advisable for the student to make written notes, dated, concerning the earliest discussions with the advisor and others about choice of a thesis topic and methods of approach. This is in addition to normal orderly data-keeping procedures associated with any respectable research program.
Doctoral Committee
The student is to be guided in his or her research by an advisor and by an advisory committee including four other faculty members. These are chosen by the student and the advisor in consultation with the Chair of the Graduate Program Committee and are approved by the Dean of the
Graduate
School
. One member must be from outside the Physics Department. The advisory committee is formed as soon as the student has formulated the thesis problem, and it should be kept informed of its progress. This committee gives the final approval to the thesis and the thesis preparation.
Presentation of Thesis
The Doctor's thesis is a formally written dissertation describing the work done by the student. It should be written at a level such that another student wishing to continue the work could understand what had been done. The thesis must conform with the rules laid down in the
Rensselaer
manual: "Thesis Writing" which can be obtained in the Graduate School Office. The preparation of a thesis is a particularly important step in the education of a full-fledged scientist. In preparing the final draft in consultation with the advisor and the advisory committee the student obtains insight into the care and precision that the profession requires in the writing of a scientific paper.
Normally the student should prepare a few pages of manuscript and have the advisor check it so that both student and advisor understand what is required. The student then prepares the manuscript, consulting with the advisor as is mutually agreed. The advisor should approve the entire draft of the thesis before it is given to the thesis committee.
In order to allow the committee sufficient time to read the thesis and not to delay the student unnecessarily, the student is to observe the following procedure:
One month before the intended date for the thesis presentation, the student must get an agreement from his/her committee:
- When committee members will receive copies of the thesis.
- When the student will visit them for their comments.
- On the date of the examination.
Normally, the thesis should be given to the committee three weeks before the examination, and it should be returned to the student about one week before the examination to allow time to make alterations. The committee members should not be asked to try to read a thesis in less than one week. The student should schedule the thesis examination and the finishing of the thesis so that the deadlines set by the
Graduate
School
are met without unduly inconveniencing the committee. The examination is open to any interested persons. The candidate is expected to give a well-prepared summary presentation of the research in about 15-25 minutes, and then must answer questions put to him/her by committee members and others present, as called on by the committee chair.
The thesis must be accompanied by an abstract of less than 600 words.
Publication of Thesis
A serious effort should be made to publish all theses (possibly in more compact form, as appropriate) in the regular scientific literature. The credit line should read, "This paper is based on thesis submitted to the faculty of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of ...... (month and year)". At the time of the defense, the committee must be satisfied with the student's progress towards a published paper.
Fees
Candidates for the Ph.D. pay a nominal fee (see the Institute Handbook) to cover costs of microfilming and binding two thesis copies for Library preservation.
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