Program Overview

---

Applied Physics, Master of Science

The Applied Physics program offers 25+ courses in a wide range of topics, including foundational physics graduate-level education and electives that branch out into topics such as quantum systems, earth and space science, and other subjects critical to addressing world-leading problems. Students can also take electives in other related Applied Physics programs, including Electrical and Computer Engineering, Materials Science, and Space Systems Engineering.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the general requirements for admission to a graduate program of study. The applicant's prior education must include:

• Mathematics through vector analysis and ordinary differential equations
• General physics
• Modern physics
• Intermediate mechanics
• Intermediate electricity and magnetism

Applicants whose prior education does not include these courses may still enroll under conditional status, followed by full admission status once they have completed the conditional requirements. Admitted students typically have earned a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (B or above) in their undergraduate studies.

Program Requirements

Ten courses must be completed within five years. Students not applying for a concentration must follow a curriculum that consists of four Applied Physics core courses and six electives. At least four of the courses must be in Applied Physics at the 700-level or higher. An Applied Physics elective may be substituted for a required course if the student has previously completed an equivalent graduate-level course. Only one C-range grade (C+, C, or C) can count toward the master's degree.

Courses

Core Courses

The following core courses are required: | Course List Code | Title | Credits | | --- | --- | --- | | EN.615.641 | Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering | 3 | | EN.615.642 | Electromagnetics | 3 | | EN.615.651 | Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics | 3 | | EN.615.653 | Classical Mechanics | 3 | | EN.615.654 | Quantum Mechanics | 3 | | EN.615.665 | Modern Physics | 3 | | EN.615.671 | Principles Of Optics | 3 | | EN.615.680 | Materials Science | 3 |

Electives

Select six of the following electives: | Course List Code | Title | Credits | | --- | --- | --- | | EN.615.611 | Classical Physics | 3 | | EN.615.647 | Fundamentals of Sensors | 3 | | EN.615.648 | Alternate Energy Technology | 3 | | EN.615.662 | Introduction to Astrophysics | 3 | | EN.615.731 | Photovoltaic & Solar Thermal Energy Conversion | 3 | | EN.615.744 | Physics of Space Systems I | 3 | | EN.615.745 | Physics of Space Systems II | 3 | | EN.615.747 | Sensors and Sensor Systems | 3 | | EN.615.748 | Introduction to Relativity | 3 | | EN.615.751 | Modern Optics | 3 | | EN.615.755 | Space Physics | 3 | | EN.615.757 | Solid State Physics | 3 | | EN.615.761 | Intro To Oceanography | 3 | | EN.615.762 | Applied Computational Electromagnetics | 3 | | EN.615.765 | Chaos and Its Applications | 3 | | EN.615.769 | Physics of Remote Sensing | 3 | | EN.615.772 | Cosmology | 3 | | EN.615.775 | Physics of Climate | 3 | | EN.615.778 | Optical System Design and Modelling | 3 | | EN.615.780 | Optical Detectors & Applications | 3 | | EN.615.781 | Quantum Information Processing | 3 | | EN.615.782 | Optics and Matlab | 3 | | EN.615.800 | Applied Physics Project | 3 | | EN.615.802 | Directed Studies in Applied Physics | 3 | | EN.535.614 | Fundamentals of Acoustics | 3 | | EN.675.613 | The Bold Science Motivating and Enabled by our Engineering | 3 |

Concentrations

A concentration can be selected but is not required. Concentrations are noted on the student's transcript.

Materials and Condensed Matter

Students can elect to concentrate their studies in materials and condensed matter by completing a combination of courses from the Applied Physics (615.xxx), Electrical and Computer Engineering (525.xxx), and Materials Science and Engineering (515.xxx) programs. Four Applied Physics core courses are required. Of the remaining six courses, four or more must be 700-level materials and condensed matter courses selected from the Applied Physics (615.xxx), Electrical and Computer Engineering (525.xxx), and Materials Science and Engineering (515.xxx) programs.

Course List Code	Title	Credits
EN.615.641	Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering	3
EN.615.642	Electromagnetics	3
EN.615.651	Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics	3
EN.615.680	Materials Science	3
EN.615.647	Fundamentals of Sensors	3
EN.615.747	Sensors and Sensor Systems	3
EN.615.757	Solid State Physics	3
EN.615.800	Applied Physics Project	3
EN.615.802	Directed Studies in Applied Physics	3
EN.515.617	Nanomaterials	3
EN.515.635	Mechanical Properties of Materials	3
EN.525.606	Electronic Materials	3
EN.525.621	Introduction to Electronics and the Solid State	3
EN.535.684	Modern Polymeric Materials	3
EN.535.732	Fatigue and Fracture of Materials	3
EN.535.748	Stress Waves, Impacts and Shockwaves	3

Photonics

Four Applied Physics core courses (EN.615.xxx), one Electrical and Computer Engineering core course (EN.525.xxx), three Photonics electives (700 level), and two electives from Applied Physics or another EP program must be completed.

Course List Code	Title	Credits
EN.615.641	Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering	3
EN.615.642	Electromagnetics	3
EN.615.653	Classical Mechanics	3
EN.615.654	Quantum Mechanics	3
EN.615.665	Modern Physics	3
EN.615.671	Principles Of Optics	3
EN.525.613	Fourier Techniques in Optics	3
EN.525.625	Laser Fundamentals	3
EN.525.691	Fundamentals of Photonics	3
EN.615.751	Modern Optics	3
EN.615.778	Optical System Design and Modelling	3
EN.615.780	Optical Detectors & Applications	3
EN.615.781	Quantum Information Processing	3
EN.615.782	Optics and Matlab	3
EN.615.800	Applied Physics Project	3
EN.615.802	Directed Studies in Applied Physics	3
EN.525.613	Fourier Techniques in Optics	3
EN.525.625	Laser Fundamentals	3
EN.525.636	Optics & Photonics Lab	3
EN.525.691	Fundamentals of Photonics	3
EN.525.753	Laser Systems and Applications	3
EN.525.756	Optical Propagation, Sensing, and Backgrounds	3
EN.525.772	Fiber-Optic Communication Systems	3
EN.525.796	Introduction to High-Speed Optoelectronics	3
EN.525.797	Advanced Fiber Optic Laboratory	3
EN.585.734	Biophotonics	3