Program Overview

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Introduction to the Master's Program in Physics

The Master's Program in Physics is designed for students who want to obtain an advanced degree in physics. Students who successfully complete our program will have acquired strong analytical skills that are valued in many fields. If they decide they want to continue their education, they will be in a strong position to enter a Physics or Astronomy Ph.D. program.

Program Overview

Why Pursue a Master's in Physics?

Physics is a broad subject that ranges from pondering the origins of the universe to designing better electronic memory devices.

Admission Requirements

• Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores are optional for applications filed for Fall 2025 matriculation.
• Promising students with degrees in related fields may be accepted to a 2-year program starting with undergraduate courses in the first year and graduate-level courses in the second.

Career Paths

• We have had 88% of our graduates admitted into PhD programs, whether at Northwestern or at another institution.
• Our Master's graduates have gone into PhD programs in Physics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Neuroscience.
• As for industry, one of our students recently began a position as a Machine Learning Engineer at Apple Inc., and another has been working as a Data Scientist for a large auto insurance company.

Program Duration

• The average time to completion has been 4.5 quarters for the Standard Path and 5 quarters for the Broad Path.

Courses

Core Courses

• Physics 411-0: Classical Mechanics (fall)
• Physics 412-1: Quantum Mechanics I (fall)
• Physics 412-2: Quantum Mechanics II (winter)
• Physics 414-1: Electrodynamics I (winter)
• Physics 416-0: Introduction to Statistical Mechanics (winter)

Elective Courses

• Physics 411-1: Methods of Theoretical Physics
• Physics 412-3: Quantum Mechanics III
• Physics 414-2: Electrodynamics II
• Physics 420-0: Statistical Physics
• Physics 422-1,2,3: Condensed Matter Physics
• Physics 423-0: Nuclear Physics
• Physics 424-1,2: Particle Physics
• Physics 426-0: Non-linear Physics (ELEC_ENG 406-0)
• Physics 430-0: Physics of Continuous Media
• Physics 432-1,2: Many-body Theory
• Physics 434-0: Quantum Fluids, Solids and Gases
• Physics 435-0: Soft Matter Physics
• Physics 436-0: Mesoscopic and Nanometer Scale Physics
• Physics 445-1,2: General Relativity
• Astronomy 421-0: Observational Astrophysics
• Astronomy 425-0: Stellar Astrophysics
• Astronomy 429-0: Extragalatic Astrophysics and Cosmology
• Astronomy 443-0: Stellar Structure and Evolution
• Astronomy 445-1,2: General Relativity and Applications
• Astronomy 448-0: Interstellar Gas and Radiation Pressure
• Astronomy 449-0: Stellar Dynamics
• Astronomy 405-0: Basics of Radio Astronomy

Paths to Completion

Standard (Thesis) Path

• Nine (9) graded courses are required
  • Five (5) core courses
  • Four (4) elective courses
• Master’s Thesis
  • Either an in-depth reading project, or a research project, supervised by an appropriate faculty member
  • Thesis to be submitted and/or presented for evaluation
  • Usually completed by end of summer quarter of the first year

Broad Path

• Twelve (12) graded courses are required
  • Five (5) core courses
  • Seven (7) elective courses

MS Degree Requirements for PhD Students

• Completion of eight core courses in the first year
• Completion of five or more elective courses in the second year
• GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Master's degree handbook

Funding and Support

• Department funding is not available.
• For tuition information, please refer to the relevant university resources.
• Some students have been paid as lab assistants.
• External fellowships or funding opportunities are available through the Office of Fellowships.

Program Format

• The Master's Program is only offered in-person.