Physics [M.S.]

Location(s): In-person/hybrid

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The M.S. in Physics prepares students for traditional physics research and advanced topics in physics. Graduates are well-prepared for doctoral study, junior college or community college teaching, or research in industry or government labs.

The program is designed to:

Enable students to conduct advanced research in physics
Increase the proficiency of students in professional communication
Improve the ability of students to learn advanced topics in physics
Improve the ability of students to learn physics independently

This is a STEM-designated program (see OPT Extension).

Program Admission

Admit Terms and Deadlines

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; students may start the program in the Fall or Winter. See Application Deadlines.

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

For full admission, applicants must have 1) Earned a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an equivalent degree from a non-U.S. institution, 2) a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale, or 3.0 in the last half of the undergraduate program. Conditional admission may be available to applicants not meeting minimum admission requirements.

Program Requirements

Applicants must also meet the following program requirements. Requirements may be more stringent than the minimum graduate school requirements.

Applicants should have the equivalent of an undergraduate major in physics
A strong background in mathematics, including multivariable calculus and differential equations. Students who do not meet these requirements may be granted conditional admission requiring additional undergraduate coursework in physics and/or mathematics.
A personal statement of 1-2 pages explaining your purpose for pursuing the MS degree at EMU
Two letters of recommendation

Application

Your application will be submitted using GradCAS, a Centralized Application Service (CAS) hosted by Liaison. After reviewing the admission requirements, please review the application instructions and select the appropriate application.

- Go to 2023-2024 GradCAS to apply to a program beginning in Summer 2024, Fall 2024, or Winter 2025.

- Go to 2024-2025 GradCAS to apply to a program beginning in Summer 2025, Fall 2025, or Winter 2026.

Domestic Applicants Domestic applicants are required to submit only the transcript from the institution granting their bachelor’s degree if either of the following criteria is met: 1) Lists 30 or more credit hours with an overall GPA of 3.0 or over OR 2) Lists 60 or more credit hours with an overall GPA between 2.7 and 2.99. Within the application, follow the instructions to submit an official transcript. The University may ask applicants to submit additional transcripts after applying.

International Applicants Before applying, applicants must review the international application/process deadlines at emich.edu/international as they may differ from general program requirements.

For additional information regarding the application process, please see Graduate Admissions or International Admissions.

Department Information

Physics & Astronomy 240C Strong Hall, 734.487.8799

Ernest Behringer, PhD, Department Head

Marshall Thomsen, PhD, Graduate Coordinator

Advisor Information

Marshall Thomsen, PhD, 240F Strong Hall, 734.487.8794

Eric Paradis, PhD, 240H Strong Hall, 734.487.6656

Degree Requirements: 30 hours

The M.S. in Physics requires the completion of 30 hours of coursework to be distributed among required courses, elective courses, and satisfactory performance on a comprehensive written/oral examination and one of the following two options: a) the successful completion of the experimental laboratory courses PHY 517 and PHY 558 in the summer after your first and second year of graduate study, or b) the completion of a research problem culminating in a written thesis or report.

Required Core Courses: 25 hours

PHY 510 Proposal Writing in Physics 1 hr
PHY 533 Topics in Computational and Advanced Physics I 2 hrs
PHY 534 Topics in Computational and Advanced Physics II 2 hrs
PHY 535 Topics in Computational and Advanced Physics III 1 hr
PHY 581 Mathematical Physics 3 hrs May be substituted in exceptional cases w/ dept. approval. If approved, the student must select a PHY elective as a substitute.
PHY 641 Modern Optics 4 hrs
PHY 664 Advanced Mechanics I 4 hrs
PHY 671 Electromagnetic Theory 4 hrs
PHY 675 Quantum Mechanics 4 hrs

Laboratory, Research Project, or Thesis Track: 5 hours

Select one track from the following.

Experimental Physics Laboratory Track: 5 hours

PHY 517 Experimental Project in Physics 2 hrs
PHY 558 Advanced Experimental Techniques in Physics 2 hrs
Restricted Elective:

A minimum of one credit hour is filled through electives within the department, selected with the approval of a department advisor.

Research Project Track: 5 hours

A candidate completes a research project under the supervision of a research advisor. This research must culminate in a written report and in an oral presentation.

In the case of a research report, the student may receive credit for up to three hours from:
PHY 690 Thesis/Final Project 1 hr
PHY 691 Thesis/Final Project 2 hrs
PHY 692 Thesis/Final Project 3 hrs
Restricted Elective:

A minimum of two credit hours is filled through electives within the department, selected with the approval of a department advisor.

Thesis Track: 5 hours

A candidate completes original research under the supervision of a guidance (thesis) committee. This research must be suitable for publication, written in a form acceptable to the Graduate School, and defended in an oral examination.

Students may receive credit for up to six hours from the following courses:
PHY 690 Thesis/Final Project 1 hr
PHY 691 Thesis/Final Project 2 hrs
PHY 692 Thesis/Final Project 3 hrs
Restricted Elective:

If a student needs additional credit hours to reach the required 30 credit hour total, these may be filled through electives within the department, selected with the approval of a department advisor.

Critical Graduation Information

Each graduate student is responsible for fulfilling the requirements or equivalents of the Eastern Michigan University catalog in force at the time of their initial registration or a subsequent catalog, including the one in effect at the time of their graduation.

Master’s degree requirements must be completed within six (6) years of first enrollment in the master’s degree program.

In the event a student does not complete the master’s degree requirements within six years of the date of their original registration, the student may be required to have their credits re-evaluated by the academic department(s) of their degree in keeping with catalog requirements in force during the year of their graduation.

The following are minimum requirements for all master’s degrees awarded by Eastern Michigan University. Some programs require more than the minimum in one or more areas below.

A master’s degree must require a minimum of 30 credit hours.
No more than six credits of independent study courses and no more than 12 credit hours of special topics and independent study courses combined may be applied to a graduate degree.
Residency Requirement:
- For students admitted to master’s degree programs of 36 or fewer required hours, at least 24 new graduate hours beginning the semester of acceptance and enrollment into the degree program must be earned at EMU. The remaining program requirement hours may be met through transfer or prior degree credit (EMU or elsewhere).
- For students admitted to master’s degree programs of 37 or more required hours, at least 30 new graduate hours beginning the semester of acceptance and enrollment into the degree program must be earned at EMU. Minimum degree hours must still be met for graduation. The remaining program requirement hours may be met through transfer or prior degree credit (EMU or elsewhere).
- Residency and enrollment in multiple programs: Students enrolled in multiple master’s/specialist degree programs must have 24 unique credit hours in each degree program.
Only credits from one completed graduate certificate may be applied to a master’s or specialist degree in a relevant field of study, as determined by the Graduate School and with the approval of the degree-granting academic department, and be included in the residency hours above.
Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all graduate-level courses taken at EMU and in their program of study to remain in good academic standing and be eligible for graduation. Students do not need to be registered for classes during the semester of graduation.
The Graduate School does not permit the use of undergraduate courses (499 and below) to meet degree requirements on graduate programs of study.
Some master’s programs require a thesis; others require a special project or internship; others require students to pass a final exam. See the Graduate School website for Thesis and Dissertation Manuals, all forms, and information about research and human subject approval. Every completed thesis or dissertation must be submitted to Digital Commons. Any form of graduate student work submitted to Digital Commons must first be approved by a faculty advisor and the Graduate School.