Program Overview

Overview of the Master's in Physics and Physics: Astrophysics

The Master's in Physics and the Master's in Physics: Astrophysics offer a comprehensive range of graduate-level courses and research opportunities in astronomy, biophysics, condensed matter physics, cosmology, elementary particle physics, and quantum information. The faculty have international reputations in a broad range of subjects, and collaborations between department members and members of other departments with differing research interests are common. Close interaction between faculty and students is the norm.

Program Outcomes

As a Master's student, you will hone your ability to use advanced mathematics to model, describe, and analyze physical phenomena. You will deepen your understanding in fundamental areas of physics, including Classical Mechanics, Electricity, Magnetism, and Quantum Mechanics. Students who complete a Master's thesis will also carry out original research and develop valuable communication skills to present scientific ideas and results effectively, orally and in writing, to professional colleagues.

Application Requirements

• Application fee
• Resume/CV
• Personal statement
• Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test, if applicable
• Transcripts
• Three letters of recommendation

Tuition and Financial Aid

See Tuition and Financial Aid information for GSAS Programs. Note: This program is eligible for federal loans and Tufts tuition scholarships.

Tracks and Research Areas

Tracks

• Physics
• Physics: Astrophysics
• Physics: Physics Education

Research Areas

• Astronomy and astrophysics
• Biophysics
• Condensed matter physics
• Cosmology
• General relativity
• Particle physics
• Physics education

Faculty

The faculty members in the Physics and Astronomy department have diverse research interests and expertise. Some of the faculty members and their research areas include:

• Timothy Atherton: Condensed Matter Physics, Soft materials, Colloids, Liquid Crystals, Computational Physics, Physics Education
• Pierre-Hugues Beauchemin: Experimental High Energy Physics
• Bruce Boghosian: Applied dynamical systems, applied probability theory, kinetic theory, agent-based modeling, mathematical models of the economy, theoretical and computational fluid dynamics, complex systems science, quantum computation
• Peggy Cebe: Condensed Matter Physics, Polymer Physics
• Hugh Gallagher: Experimental particle physics, neutrino oscillations, neutrino interaction physics, neutrino astrophysics, computer simulations of neutrino-nucleus interactions
• Gary Goldstein: Theoretical high energy and nuclear physics, Science and society, Science education
• David Hammer: Research on learning and instruction
• Mark Hertzberg: Theoretical Physics: Cosmology, Particle Physics, Astrophysics
• Soubhik Kumar:
• Peter Love: Quantum Information, Quantum Simulation, Adiabatic Quantum Computation, Computational Physics
• W. Anthony Mann: Experimental high energy physics, elementary particle interactions, neutrino oscillations, neutrino-nucleus interactions, baryon instability searches
• Danilo Marchesini: Astronomy; galaxy formation and evolution; extra-galactic surveys; active galactic nuclei; near-infrared astronomy
• David Martin: Extra-solar planets "exoplanets", Planets in multiple-star systems, including circumbinary planets, Stellar populations and fundamental parameters, White dwarfs, Black holes, M-dwarfs, Stellar activity (spots and flares), Celestial mechanics, including the Kozai-Lidov effect, Planet formation, Observational astrophysics
• Austin Napier: Experimental Particle Physics, Electromagnetic Theory, Computational Physics
• Ken Olum: Gravitational waves, cosmic strings, energy conditions in general relativity, anthropic reasoning in cosmology
• Fiorenzo Omenetto: ultrafast nonlinear optics, nanophotonics, biopolymer multifunctional materials, material science, photonic crystals, photonic crystal fibers
• Anna Sajina: Extragalactic astrophysics
• Krzysztof Sliwa: Physics of elementary particles, Topology and geometry of the Universe, Magnetic monopoles
• Igor Sokolov: Engineering for Health, Physics of cancer and aging, Mechanics of biomaterials at the nanoscale, Synthesis and study of functional nanomaterials for biomedical imaging and drug delivery, Advanced imaging for medical diagnostics, Novel processes and materials for dentistry
• Cristian Staii: Biological Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, Quantum Mechanics
• Roger Tobin: Experimental condensed matter physics, physics education
• Thomas Vandervelde: Interaction of light with matter, physics of nanostructures and interfaces, metamaterials, material science, plasmonics, and surfactants, semiconductor photonics and electronics, epitaxial crystal growth, materials and devices for energy and infrared applications
• Taritree Wongjirad: Measuring the properties of the neutrino, one of the fundamental particles of the Standard Model

Program Details

• School/Department: Physics and Astronomy
• Program Director: Anna Sajina, ad interim
• Location: Medford/Somerville
• Format: On-campus
• Commitment Options: Full-time
• Average Duration: 2 years
• Credits: 36
• Tuition per Credit: $1542
• Eligible for Aid/Scholarship: Yes

Related Programs

• Physics and Physics: Astrophysics (Doctorate)
• Physics: Physics Education (Master's)
• Physics: Physics Education (Doctorate)