The PhD Degree Program

Below are the major requirements for the PhD degree.

 

The Comprehensive Exam

Admission to the PhD program in the Department of Physics requires a score of more than 60% on the Department’s Comprehensive Examination. This examination is offered once per year (early in the spring semester) and consists of four sections: classical/statistical mechanics, E&M and relativity, quantum mechanics, and a topical elective section reflecting the research interests of the student (e.g., optics, space plasma physics, astrophysics, atmospheric science). The subject matter is that covered in the first three semesters of graduate study.

Students entering UAH with an MS degree or previous graduate training in physics must take this Comprehensive Examination at their earliest opportunity. Students are permitted two attempts to pass the Comprehensive Examination. A student who fails on the first attempt must retake the examination the following year.

Program of Study

Once the comprehensive examination is passed, a student should proceed to form a supervisory committee and prepare a Program of Study. A minimum of 48 hours of graduate course credit is required for the Ph.D. in physics. A maximum of 9 credit hours in thesis/research work from the master’s degree may be allowed to count toward the 48 hour requirement. PH 601, 621, 622, 631, 651 or 652, 732, and a minimum of 12 additional credit hours in courses numbered 600 or above must be taken. Students in the Ph.D. program are required to complete three semesters of PH 792 (Physics Seminar) with a grade of “S”; seminar hours do not, however, count toward the 48-hour minimum degree requirements. In addition, 18 hours of PH 799 (Doctoral Dissertation Research) are required; no more than 9 of these hours may be taken prior to passing the qualifying examination (see below). Courses in addition to those enumerated above are selected in consultation with the student’s advisory committee. Transfer of credit from other institutions requires approval of the advisory committee as well as the Dean of the College of Science and the Graduate Dean. Although a minor subject is not required, students are encouraged to develop an interdisciplinary program of study.

The Qualifying Exam

The last step before the PhD Dissertation defense is the PhD Qualifying Examination. This examination is conducted under the auspices of the Graduate School. It tests the student's general fitness for pursuing a research project in their chosen area and their general knowledge of physics, and may be taken no more than twice.

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