That portion of the Ph.D. written Candidacy Examination given on the first day of testing constitutes the written comprehensive examination for the M.S. degree in physics. Students who take the entire Ph.D. written Candidacy Examination and pass only this portion are deemed to have passed the M.S. written comprehensive examination. A minimum of 85 semester hours beyond the undergraduate degree or 48 hours past the master's degree is required by this program. The department has the responsibility for academic and dissertation advising. Bona fide candidates for the Ph.D. are those who have passed the Candidacy Examination.
Further details are in the departmental graduate brochure, which is available on request.
A student admitted to the Ph.D. program in physics becomes a candidate for the Ph.D. degree by passing the Ph.D. Candidacy Examination. This examination is given twice each year, early in the fall and spring semesters. The Candidacy Examination consists of comprehensive written and oral examinations. The written examination tests the ability of the student to provide detailed theoretical descriptions and problem solutions in the broad areas of physics that form the foundation for the education of all physicists. The written examination consists of a general and an advanced portion.