Program Overview

Physics, Specialization in Scientific Instrumentation MS

Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Arts and Sciences

Degree Awarded: Master of Science in Physics in Scientific Instrumentation

Chairperson: Chang Kee Jung, Physics Building P-1

Graduate Program Director: Derek Teaney, Physics C-1

Assistant Graduate Program Director: Donald J. Sheehan III, Physics Building P-1

Overview

The Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Arts and Sciences offers courses of study and research that normally lead to the Ph.D. degree. The M.A degree is awarded either as a terminal degree, or to students on the way to the Ph.D. degree. The Master of Science in Scientific Instrumentation (MSI) program is provided for those interested in instrumentation for physical research. The Master of Science in Quantum Information Science and Technology (MSQIST) prepares students to work in this rapidly growing area. A Master of Arts in Teaching program, from the School of Professional Development, is available for students seeking to teach physics in high schools. An Advanced Graduate Certificate in Accelerator Science is offered, which can be taken concurrently with a PhD or Masters degree.

Admission Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in physics or a closely related field from an accredited institution. In the case of the M.Sc. in Quantum Information Science and Technology the degree must be in science and engineering, but need not be in physics or a closely related field.
• A minimum grade average of B in all undergraduate coursework, and B or better in the sciences and mathematics.
• Acceptance by the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Graduate School.

Degree Requirements

• A candidate for the master’s degree with concentration in instrumentation will be required to demonstrate a certain level of knowledge of physics (by written and/or oral examination), to take required and elective courses, and to complete both a major and minor project.
• The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of students learning about the design, construction, and testing of sophisticated instrument systems.
• The degree holder will not be a super-technician, but a professional scientist trained in both physics and measurement techniques.

Requirements for the Master’s Degree

• A student shall demonstrate proficiency in undergraduate physics at the level of the courses PHY 335 (Junior Laboratory I), 405 (Advanced Quantum Physics). Students need to have demonstrated knowledge in two of the three areas Nuclear and Particle Physics (covered in PHY431), Condensed Matter Physics (PHY 472) and Laser and Atomic Physics (PHY 452). This can be done (1) by acceptance by the Master’s in Scientific Instrumentation Committee of courses taken as an undergraduate, (2) by written examination, or (3) by passing the courses appropriate to a student’s background;
• A course about research instrumentation (PHY 514 );
• Two semesters each of graduate lab (PHY 515 ) and graduate seminar (PHY 598 , PHY 599 );
• Students shall work as teaching assistant in an undergraduate laboratory for at least one semester (being a TA in PHY 445 may satisfy the requirement of taking the second semester of graduate lab (PHY 515 ));
• Thirty credits (minimum) of graduate courses (500 level or above), including a minor project and a master’s thesis. This thesis must describe a major piece of work in scientific instrumentation and must be in a form acceptable to the Graduate School. It need not be original research in the same sense as a Ph.D. thesis, but it should be the result of an effort consistent with a year of full-time work. The thesis should present an improvement of the state of the art in some area, the development of a sophisticated apparatus, or some other significant laboratory project, and be defended before a committee;
• Students shall acquire those technical skills deemed necessary by their thesis supervisors. These must include, but are not limited to, machining capability and computer literacy.

Course Requirements

• PHY 514 - Current Research Instruments 3 credits
• PHY 515 - Methods of Experimental Research I 3 credits
• PHY 598 - Graduate Seminar I 0-1 credits
• PHY 599 - Graduate Seminar II 0-1 credits

Requirements for the Professional MSI Track

• In the Professional MSI Track the minor project is replaced by a minimum of 9 credits of “Plus Courses” in Stony Brook’s College of Business, the School of Journalism or similar courses from a different program (subject to approval).
• The advisory committee will advise the student on which “Plus Courses” to take.
• For further information on this program, contact Professor Harold Metcalf.