Master of Science (M.S.) Major in Physics (Non-thesis Science Minor Option)

PHYS 5100. Professional Development.

This course covers topics related to teaching, research, and employment responsibilities. The completion of this course is required as a condition of employment for graduate assistants. This course does not earn graduate degree credit. Courrse is repeatable with different emphasis.

PHYS 5110. Seminar in Physics.

A course designed to acquaint the graduate student with current research areas in physics. May be repeated twice for total of three semester hour’s credit.

PHYS 5199B. Thesis.

This course represents a student’s continuing thesis enrollments. The student continues to enroll in this course until the thesis is submitted for binding.

PHYS 5200. Professional Development.

This course covers topics related to teaching, research, and employment rights and responsibilities. It provides a brief background on teaching and learning theories and consists of organized practice teaching. Completion is required as a condition of employment for graduate instructional and teaching assistants. This course does not earn graduate degree credit.

PHYS 5299B. Thesis.

This course represents a student’s continuing thesis enrollments. The student continues to enroll in this course until the thesis is submitted for binding.

PHYS 5301. Classical Mechanics.

This course discusses the fundamentals of classical mechanics focusing on the physical description of the behavior of single and multiple particle systems. This course does not earn graduate degree credit.

PHYS 5302. Electricity and Magnetism.

An introduction to the electromagnetic field theory of classical physics for static fields. Topics included will be the electrostatic field, polarization and dielectrics, electrostatic energy, magnetic field of steady currents, magneto static energy, and magnetic properties of matter. This is a graduate leveling course in Electricity and Magnetism (stacked with PHYS 4310). This course does not earn graduate degree credit.

PHYS 5303. Quantum Mechanics.

This course is an introduction to quantum mechanics. Topics include mathematical foundations, fundamental postulates, time development, and one dimensional problems. This is a graduate leveling course in Quantum Mechanics (stacked with PHYS 4312). This course does not earn graduate degree credit.

PHYS 5304. Experimental Research Methods.

This is a laboratory based course introducing experimental methods used in physics research with emphasis on quantum effects through materials synthesis and characterization methods. The specific experiments are chosen by department faculty on topics of current research interests. The students are exposed to different research topics through laboratory rotations. Prerequisite: Instructor approval. Corequisite: PHYS 5314 with a grade of "C" or better.

PHYS 5312. Advanced Quantum Mechanics.

This course is a study of quantum mechanics including combination of two or more quantum mechanical systems, addition of angular momentum, time independent perturbation theory, and time dependent perturbation theory.

PHYS 5313. Mathematical Methods of Physics.

This course is a survey of mathematical methods of physics at the graduate level focusing on complex analysis of analytic functions (Laurent expansions and evaluation of residues) and methods of solving both ordinary and partial differential equations (Frobenius' method and Sturm-Liouville theory) with applications to mechanics and electromagnetic theory.

PHYS 5314. Statistical Physics.

This course is an introduction to the laws of statistical physics and their application to realistic problems at the graduate level. The topics include a brief review of equilibrium thermodynamics, Boltzmann and Gibbs distribution, Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein statistics, derivation of Planck's Law and black-body radiation, and heat capacity of solids.

PHYS 5320. Solid State Physics.

This is an introductory course at the graduate level intended for students who have not had a previous course in Solid State Physics. Topics covered include crystal structure, the reciprocal lattice, x-ray diffraction, lattice vibrations, electronic band structure, and optical, transport and magnetic properties of metals and semiconductors including applications. Prerequisite: PHYS 5312 with a grade of "C" or better.

PHYS 5322. Semiconductor Device Microfabrication.

This experimental methods course provides an in-depth overview of the physics and technology of semiconductor device micro and nano fabrication. Topics include materials used in electronic devices, thin film deposition, wet and dry etching, lithography processing, and topics relevant to semiconductor research and devices. Fabrication and characterization techniques will be covered. Corequisite: PHYS 5312 with a grade of "C" or better.

PHYS 5324. Thin Film Synthesis and Characterization Laboratory.

This advanced experimental course is designed as a research group project experience with emphasis on nanoscale device fabrication. All projects are conducted in university facilities with state-of-the-art thin film growth, processing, and characterization facilities. Prerequisite: PHYS 5322 with a grade of "C" or better. Corequisites: PHYS 5312 with a grade of "C" or better.

PHYS 5327. Semiconductor Device Physics.

This course demonstrates how solid state physics applies to describing important examples of thin film device operation with emphasis on semiconductor devices. Additional topics may include photon and phonon effects on electronic properties, quantum phenomena, many body effects in solids, carrier transport properties, micro-electromechanical systems, and materials interface issues. Corequisite: PHYS 5314 with a grade of "C" or better.

PHYS 5328. Advanced Solid State Physics.

Review of models of a solid and energy band theory. Additional topics may include interaction of electromagnetic waves with solids, lattice vibrations and phonons, many body effects in solids, device physics, quantum phenomena, carrier transport properties, current device configurations, and materials interface problems. Prerequisite: PHYS 5320 with a grade of "C" or better.

PHYS 5329. Physics of Materials Degradation and Reliability.

This course examines the material science of physical mechanisms governing the fundamental failure modes of materials, and particularly thin films. The application of materials physics characterization techniques for detecting the signatures of failure mechanisms will also be presented. Prerequisites: PHYS 5328 with a grade of "C" or better.

PHYS 5331. Electromagnetic Field Theory.

This course is an introduction to electrodynamics at the graduate level using rigorous mathematical formulation. Topics include methods of solving problems in electrostatics and magnetostatics, boundary value problems and Green’s Functions, fields in media, and Maxwell’s Equations and time varying fields.

PHYS 5332. Materials Characterization.

This course covers skills and knowledge required for microscopy methods including optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, scanning tunneling electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and confocal microscopy. Topics covered include x-ray and neutron diffraction techniques including structure analysis, powder and glancing angle diffraction, pole figure, texture analysis, and small angle scattering. Prerequisite: PHYS 5312 with a grade of "C" or better.

PHYS 5340. Advanced Dynamics.

Classical mechanics at an advanced level. Topics covered may include special relativity in classical mechanics, Hamilton equation of motion, canonical transformations, and Hamilton-Jacobi theory.

PHYS 5350A. Thin Film Photovoltaic Devices.

This course is a survey of the Physics of photovoltaic devices with emphasis on device physics including the photovoltaic effect, photon absorption, electrons and holes, generation and recombination, the pn-junction, charge separation, monocrystalline solar cells, thin film solar cells, and losses.

PHYS 5350B. Relativity.

This course includes a review of Special Relativity, an introduction to the mathematics of tensor calculus and differential geometry, and such topics from General Relativity as the Schwarzschild solution and black holes, tests of General Relativity, cosmological models, and applications of relativity in the Global Positioning System (GPS).

PHYS 5350F. Astrophysics.

This course surveys a variety of issues in astrophysics through problem solving, quantitative measurements, and theoretical reasoning. Topics include celestial mechanics, stellar structure and evolution, star formation, and supernova remnants.

PHYS 5350G. Electrical and Magnetic Characterization Methods.

This course introduces electric and magnetic characterization methods important to metals, magnetic and semiconductor materials and devices. Various measurement techniques and methods will be reviewed. Students will learn to work with characterization tools.

PHYS 5350H. Astronomical Spectroscopy.

A lecture course introducing students to spectroscopy in astronomy, with particular emphasis on molecular spectroscopy. The course will cover a broad range of aspects including the development of spectroscopy in astronomy, the theory of atomic and molecular spectra, spectra in different astrophysical environments, instrumentation and data reduction. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

PHYS 5350I. Advanced Computational Methods for Physics.

In this course students will learn and practice the Python computer language along with several of its scientific modules to model, visualize & analyze complex physical systems that cannot be described by mathematical equations with analytical solution. Special attention will be paid to programming techniques for data manipulation & analysis of large amounts of data residing in multiple data sets. The Python implementation of the (free) Anaconda distribution will be utilized. No previous knowledge of Python or programming required since a basic training will be provided in the first lectures, which will serve as an introduction or refresher for students.

PHYS 5360. Physics Education Research: Teaching & Learning.

This course is an introduction to pedagogical issues in physics, including their related philosophical analysis and empirical research studies on student learning. Students will be guided to read, analyze, and present existing scholarly research that justifies approaching certain physics topics from particular perspectives and with particular instructional methods.The course is appropriate for future researchers in physics education and future physics teachers at secondary and post-secondary levels.

PHYS 5370. Problems in Advanced Physics.

Open to graduate students on an individual basis by arrangement with the Department of Physics. May be repeated with prior approval of the department. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

PHYS 5395. Fundamentals of Research.

Course is available to graduate students only at the invitation of the department. May be repeated with prior approval of the department. Prerequisite: Instructor approval.

PHYS 5398. Industry Internship.

Supervised work experience in an appropriate high tech industry. Students will be required to keep a daily journal and make a final presentation (both written and oral) describing their accomplishments.

PHYS 5399A. Thesis.

This course represents a student’s initial thesis enrollment. No thesis credit is awarded until student has completed the thesis in PHYS 5399B.

PHYS 5399B. Thesis.

This course represents a student’s continuing thesis enrollments. The student continues to enroll in this course until the thesis is submitted for binding. Graded on a credit (CR), progress (PR), no-credit (F) basis.

PHYS 5599B. Thesis.

This course represents a student’s continuing thesis enrollments. The student continues to enroll in this course until the thesis is submitted for binding.

PHYS 5999B. Thesis.

This course represents a student’s continuing thesis enrollments. The student continues to enroll in this course until the thesis is submitted for binding.