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Students prepare for research by taking courses appropriate for a Ph.D. degree, and most obtain a master's degree as a first step. Each student has two chances to pass the Qualifying Examination. The ultimate goal is to successfully conduct an original research project with the help of a faculty adviser. This research is then comprehensively written up as a thesis and defended in a final oral examination.

Requires a minimum of 72 credit hours beyond the bachelor's degree.

At least 36 hours in lecture courses at the 4000, 5000 or 6000-level. The following courses are required:

• Physics 6101 Classical Mechanics
• Physics 6111 Electrodynamics I
• Physics 6201 Quantum Mechanics I
• Physics 6301 Quantum Mechanics II
• Physics 6211 Electrodynamics II
• Physics 6311 Statistical Mechanics
• Two other 5000-level math or physics lecture courses.

At least 24 hours in Physics 6099 Graduate Research during which the student will perform supervised scientific research, culminating in a written Ph.D. thesis that will be defended in an oral thesis defense.

A minimum grade point average of 3.0 must be maintained for all graduate coursework. The student must pass a Ph.D. qualifying exam after completing the core course requirements for the MS degree (Physics 6101, 6111, 6201). Upon completion of all course work except research, the student must pass the Ph.D. comprehensive exam, which is designed to ensure the student’s ability to perform independent research.