Program Admission

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Graduate School Application

After reviewing the admission requirements below, please select the appropriate application. The University is transitioning application platforms; pay close attention when selecting the application below.

• 2021-2022 Application (Winter 22)
• 2022-2023 Application (Summer 22, Fall 22, or Winter 23)  

The program you are applying to may not accept applicants every semester.

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

Admission Requirements

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

A four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an equivalent degree from a non-U.S. institution. In addition, 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, is required for full admission. Applicants who do not meet minimum admission requirements may be considered for conditional admission. See International Admissions for international applicant requirements.

Applicants must also meet the following program 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

Department Information

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Physics & Astronomy | Ernest Behringer, Ph.D., Department Head | 240C Strong Hall, 734.487.8799, ebehringe@emich.edu

Marshall Thomsen, Ph.D., Graduate Coordinator, 240K Strong Hall, 734.487.8794, jthomsen@emich.edu

Advisor Information

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Marshall Thomsen, Ph.D., 240K Strong Hall, 734.487.8794, jthomsen@emich.edu

Eric Paradis, Ph.D., 240H Strong Hall, 734.487.6656, eparadis@emich.edu

Degree Requirements: 30 hours

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The M.S. in Physics requires the completion of 30 hours of course work to be distributed among required courses, elective courses, and cognate courses, 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 Courses: 26-29 hours

• PHY 510 - Proposal Writing in Physics 1 hr
• PHY 517 - Experimental Project in Physics 2 hrs
• 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 558 - Advanced Experimental Techniques in Physics 2 hrs
• PHY 581 - Mathematical Physics 3 hrs May be waived in exceptional cases w/ dept. approval
• 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

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  The requirements for PHY 517  and PHY 558  may be waived if a student instead chooses to complete a research project, culminating in either a written and oral research report or in a thesis and oral defense.  In the case of a research report, the student may receive credit for up to three hours from the following courses, and in the case of a thesis the student 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

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  Elective Courses in Physics: 1-4 hours

  One or four hours will be filled through electives within the department, selected with the approval of a department advisor (four hours only if PHY 581  is waived).