Physics & Astronomy

Specific requirements for each of the graduate degrees are described below. Questions about these are best answered by the graduate secretary or graduate coordinator.

Both MS and PhD candidates must do the following:

1. Register for a minimum of 6 hours during each academic year. Otherwise he or she will automatically be dropped from their program and must apply for readmission.
2. Register for Fall and Winter semesters and usually either Spring or Summer terms. It is expected that he or she will register for at least 2 credit hours each semester plus Spring/Summer. However the only hard-fast requirement is to take 6 hours total for the year and make satisfactory progress year-round.
3. Register for a minimum of 2 credit hours during the semester in which he or she defends their thesis or dissertation or else pay for the equivalent of two credit hours in advance of the defense. It is strongly advised that 2 credit hours of 699R be reserved to be taken in the semester of graduation to fill this requirement.
4. If from a foreign country here on a student visa, register for 9 credit hours of course work every Fall and Winter semester until all course work is finished. After completion he or she may register for fewer hours each semester, but no less than 2 and only after the graduate coordinator has been notified and the Department has sent verification of course work completion to International Services.
5. If working as a teaching or research assistant, take a minimum of 6 and preferably 9 credit hours Fall and Winter semesters until their major course work is completed.

All candidates must do the following to receive a PhD:

1. Complete 54 credit hours of course work. Of these, a minimum of 36 hours must be in approved courses leaving a maximum of 18 hours of dissertation work (699R). A student may complete more dissertation hours than this but only 18 will count toward graduation.
   Students with an MS degree may apply up to 18 credit hours of course work from that degree toward the 36 required credit hours of approved courses.
2. Create, with the help of their advisor and committee, the list of approved courses they will take and submit them to the university as their study list. The study list includes the following:
• Three required courses: Physics 601, 602, and 3 hours of 795R
• Physics graduate courses from the following choices:
• Acoustics: Physics 660, 661, 662, 721
• Astronomy: Physics 611, 612, 627, 628, 727, 728
• Atomic, Molecular, and Optical: Physics 641, 642, 651, 652, 731
• Condensed Matter: Physics 641, 642, 651, 652, 731
• Plasma: Physics 641, 642, 645, 651, 652, 721, 731, 745
• Theoretical and Mathematical: Physics 641, 642, 651, 652, 721, 731
• Up to 3 hours of Physics 697R.
3. Complete Physics 696R during each of their two initial semesters. This does not count toward the minimum of 36 hours of approved course work.
4. Complete Physics 691R every semester of residence. This does not count toward the minimum of 36 hours of approved course work.
5. Maintain an appropriate GPA
• Each course on the study list must be passed with a grade of B- or better.
• The overall GPA for courses on the study list must be 3.0 or better.
6. Complete all course work within 8 years of their admittance date.
7. Register for at least two consecutive 6-hour semesters on the BYU campus.
8. Pass the qualifying and candidacy examinations
9. Complete and defend a dissertation within 8 years of their admittance date.

All candidates must do the following to receive a Masters Degree:

1. Complete 30 credit hours of course work. Of these, a minimum of 24 hours must be in approved courses leaving a maximum of 6 hours of thesis work (699R). A student may complete more thesis hours than this but only 6 will count toward graduation.
2. Create, with the help of their advisor and committee, the list of approved courses they will take and submit them to the university as their study list. The study list must include the following:
• A minimum of 18 credit hours of non-repeatable 500 and 600 level courses.
• Up to 6 hours of Physics 697R.
• No more than 9 credit hours of BYU undergraduate courses. If included, these courses must be approved by both the Advisory Committee and the graduate coordinator.
3. Complete Physics 696R during each of their two initial semesters. This does not count toward the minimum of 24 hours of approved course work.
4. Complete Physics 691R every semester of residence. This does not count toward the minimum of 24 hours of approved course work.
5. Maintain an appropriate GPA
• Each course on the study list must be passed with a grade of C- or better.
• The overall GPA for courses on the study list must be 3.0 or better.
6. Complete all course work within 5 years of their admittance date.
7. Take the qualifying examination their first semester. A passing grade is not required.
8. Complete and defend a dissertation within 5 years of their admittance date.