Graduate Studies

Program Description

Many students enroll in the M.S. program in physics in order to test their ability to do doctoral work in the field. In this respect, the course work and research experiences that are offered at Bowling Green provide an excellent opportunity to do this. Any student wishing to pursue a doctoral degree upon receiving the Master of Science degree here is strongly advised to enroll in the Plan I (thesis) option. It has been the experience of many M.S. graduates of this program that the experience gained in completing the thesis research is invaluable in their future doctoral program.

Graduate Degrees Offered

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers programs leading to the Master of Science degree and a cooperative Ph.D. in collaboration with the University of Toledo. The curriculum of the programs emphasizes applications as well as a solid foundation for pre-doctoral training. Course work focuses on developing skills in several areas of emphasis: astrophysics, computational physics, theoretical physics, solid state physics and materials science. All graduate students are involved in research as part of the degree program.

The cooperative Ph.D. program enables qualifying students to take courses at BGSU and the University of Toledo and to earn their Ph.D. from UT under the direction of either BGSU or UT faculty in physics or astronomy.

Prerequisites to Graduate Work

Applicants should have the equivalent of a bachelor's degree with a major in physics, or a minor in physics and a major in a cognate field from an accredited institution. Applicants should also have taken a minimum of one year of undergraduate chemistry. Applicants with prerequisite deficiencies may be required to take undergraduate course work or satisfactorily complete an examination as a condition of admission.

Cooperative Ph.D. Program

For students wishing to obtain a Ph.D. in Physics, the cooperative program with the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Toledo is an option. Graduate students at BGSU complete requirements of the Master of Science at BGSU and then take the Ph.D. qualifying exam offered by the University of Toledo. After successfully passing that examination, the student is admitted to the University of Toledo's program and can take courses at the University of Toledo and at BGSU. After being admitted to candidacy, students may engage in dissertation research with BGSU, UT, or faculty from both BGSU and UT.

Admission Procedure

Master of Science

Plan I: Candidates must complete a minimum of 30 semester hours of 500- and 600-level courses approved for graduate credit including a minimum of 26 hours in physics. Students are required to take: PHYS 601, PHYS 602, PHYS 603, PHYS 604, PHYS 605 and PHYS 606, for a total of 18 semester hours. Students must also register for two hours of PHYS 681 per semester in each of four semesters. In addition to the above 26 hours of core courses in the major field, candidates must present a formal thesis and pass an oral examination on the thesis.
A specialization in Materials Science is available. The student must take PHYS 610 and PHYS 6540-6550 at the University of Toledo. A thesis on some materials topic must be completed.

Plan II: Candidates must complete a minimum of 32 semester hours of 500- and 600-level courses approved for graduate credit, including two hours in PHYS 691 (Directed Research in Physics), for a minimum of 28 hours in physics. Students are required to take: PHYS 601, PHYS 602, PHYS 603, PHYS 604, PHYS 605 and PHYS 606 and PHYS 691, for a total of 20 semester hours. Students must also register for two hours of PHYS 681 per semester in each of four semesters. As an important part of the research seminar work, the student must submit a scholarly paper and pass a final written comprehensive examination covering selected fields.

For students pursuing a specialization, both Plan I and Plan II require additional course work.

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