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Ph.D. Curriculum and Roadmap

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Curriculum for Ph.D. in Applied Physics

 

Required Core Theory Courses (all 4 required)

 

  1. Quantum Mechanics, PHY 6645 (3 cr. hr.)

  2. Electricity and Magnetism, PHY 6346 (3 cr. hr.) 

  3. Mathematical Physics, PHZ 5115  (3 cr. hr.)

  4. Solid State Physics, PHZ 5405 (3 cr. hr.)

 

Required Core Applied Courses (4 out of 6 required)

 

  1. Applied Quantum Mechanics, PHY 6646 (3 cr. hr.)

  2. Applied Electricity and Magnetism, PHY 6347 (3 cr. hr.)

  3. Computational Physics, PHZ 5156C (3 cr. hr.)

  4. Materials Physics, PHY 6938 (3 cr. hr.)

  5. Lasers and Applications, PHY 6446 (3 cr. hr.)

  6. Biophysics I, PHY 6938 (3 cr. hr.)

 

Required Laboratory Courses ( 1 out of 2 required)

 

  1. Measurements and Instrumentation, PHY 6938 (3 cr. hr.)

  2. Electronics for Research PHY 5720C (3 cr. hr.)

Required

Industrial Practicum, PHY 6938 (3 cr. hr.)

 

Electives (minimum of 3 required)

·         Any Graduate level (5000 & 6000 level) course can be used as an elective. Examples are shown below.

·         Maximum of one course can be allowed outside the Department.

·         These are subject to approval of advisor and Ph.D. committee.

 

  1. Atomic and Molecular Spectra I & II, PHZ 6204 & PHZ 6205 (3 cr. hr. each)

  2. Computational Physics II, PHY 6938 (3 cr. hr.)

  3. Physics of Light wave Devices & Applications, PHY 6447 (3 cr. hr.)

  4. Biophysics II, PHY 6938 (3 cr. hr.)

  5. Solid State Physics II, PHZ 6426 (3 ct. hr.)

  6. Materials Physics II, PHY 6938 (3 cr. hr.)

  7. Classical Mechanics, PHY 6246 (3 cr. hr.)

  8. Mathematical Physics, PHZ 5116 (3 cr. hr.)

 

Credit Hour Requirement for Ph.D. in Applied Physics

10 courses (4 theory courses, 4 applied courses and 2 lab courses):     30 hrs.

Dissertation & Directed Research                                                  45-51 hrs.

               (Minimum of 24 cr. hr. should be Dissertation hours)

Electives                                                                                  9-15 hrs.
 

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Total credit hours required:                                                           90 hrs.

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

The road map to obtaining a Ph.D. in Applied Physics

at the University of South Florida:

 

 

 

(a)        Entering graduate students will initially guided by the Director of Graduate Studies in the Physics Department.  He/She will advise students regarding the choices of coursework for their first two semesters.

 

(b)        Students entering with only a B.S. degree should complete the course requirements in the theoretical and applied core within the first three semesters.  After the second semester they should choose a research advisor who will guide them through the Ph.D. program.  A written Ph.D. qualifying examination will be administered in their forth semester.  This written exam will be based on the core theoretical and applied courses.  Upon passing the examination they will become eligible to pursue the Ph.D. program.

 

(c)        Student entering with an M.S. in Physics are not required to take any courses from the theoretical core if they have already taken these courses in their M.S. program.  They should choose a research advisor in the second semester to guide them through the doctoral program.

 

(d)        The student, in consultation with the research advisor, will assemble a Committee that consists of the advisor and at least three other Physics faculty members.  For students with an M.S. degree the committee along with the Director of Graduate Studies will determine the transfer credits and the need for a written qualifying examination.  This decision is made based on the student’s Master’s thesis and the graduate GPA.  In general, the qualifying examination is waived if the student has completed a Master’s thesis and his/her GPA at USF (minimum of 2 semesters) is better than 3.33 (B+).  (Note: For Ph.D. students entering the program in Spring 07 and beyond, the qualifying examination will generally not be waived and the formal part of the qualifying examination will consist of the GRE Physics Subject Test).

 

(e)        After satisfying the qualifying exam requirement, a student who is declared eligible for the Ph.D. program by his/her Committee will prepare for the Ph.D. candidacy examination.  For this, the student will prepare a written document outlining research progress to date, future plans, and a timeline for completion of the proposed research.  Successful defense of this research proposal to the Committee will result in promotion to Ph.D. candidacy.  In general, a student entering the program with a B.S. is expected to complete the candidacy in his/her fifth semester, while a student entering with an M.S. degree will complete the candidacy in his/her third semester.

 

(f)         Any further required coursework is arranged in consultation with the research advisor.  Graduate students are expected to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.  Failure to do so will result in a probationary semester at the end of which the student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher to continue in the Ph.D. program.

 

(g)         The student will complete the Industrial Practicum requirement prior to the completion of the doctoral dissertation.

 

(h)        After successful completion of the research goals outlined to the Committee, and with approval from the research advisor, the student will present a written dissertation to the Committee followed by a public oral defense.

    

 

 

 

 

 

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