Program Description
The University of Central Florida offers a Master of Science in Physics. Research opportunities are available in condensed matter physics, nanostructure devices, surface science, optical physics, complex systems, biophysics, atomic and molecular physics, physics education and planetary/space science.
Program Tracks
- Physics MS, Planetary Sciences Track
Curriculum
The Physics MS program requires a minimum of 30 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree and offers students a thesis and nonthesis option. All students take 12 credit hours of core courses, and then the remaining 18 credit hours consist of both electives and thesis or directed research according to the option chosen.
Total Credit Hours Required: 30 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor’s Degree
The Master of Science in Physics program is flexibly designed in order to prepare students for the widest possible range of industrial careers or for further study at the doctoral level. Courses must be selected so that at least one-half of the required courses are taken at the 6000 level.
Students pursuing a nonthesis master’s degree must take at least one directed research course as part of their elective work. In this course, students will work on a research project under the supervision of a faculty member and present a final report.
Required Courses: 12 Credit Hours
- PHY 5606 - Quantum Mechanics I 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 5346 - Electrodynamics I 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 5524 - Statistical Physics 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 6246 - Classical Mechanics 3 Credit Hours
Elective Courses: 18 Credit Hours
Both thesis and nonthesis students take electives in consultation with their advisers. Out of the 18 elective credit hours at least 12 credit hours of formal course work are required and not more than 6 credit hours of 5000-level elective courses are counted toward the degree. At least 6 credit hours of thesis or 3 credit hours of directed research for the nonthesis option are required. Otherwise, elective selection is intended to be very flexible in order to meet student needs and interests. Electives may be chosen following one of the suggested specializations below, or a different program of study may be followed with academic adviser approval.
Materials Physics Specialization
- PHY 6624 - Quantum Mechanics II 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 6347 - Electrodynamics II 3 Credit Hours
- PHZ 6426 - Condensed Matter Physics I 3 Credit Hours
- PHZ 6428 - Condensed Matter Physics II 3 Credit Hours
- PHZ 5505 - Plasma Physics 3 Credit Hours
- PHZ 5432 - Introduction to Soft Condensed Matter Physics 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 5715 - Physical Basis of Life 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 5933 - Selected topics in biophysics of macromolecules 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 5255 - Physics of Fluids and Biofluids 3 Credit Hours
- PHZ 6420 - First Principles Computational Methods in Condensed Matter Physics 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 6938 - Theory and Computation of Molecular Wave Functions 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 6938 - Selected Topics in Scattering Theory 3 Credit Hours
- EEE 5356C - Fabrication of Solid-State Devices 4 Credit Hours
- Other graduate courses from Physics, Math, Optics, Materials Science, Engineering require approval by the student’s adviser and the Graduate Program Director.
Optical Physics Specialization
- PHY 6624 - Quantum Mechanics II 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 6347 - Electrodynamics II 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 6938 - Theory and Computation of Molecular Wave Functions 3 Credit Hours
- OSE 6111 - Optical Wave Propagation 3 Credit Hours
- OSE 5115 - Interference and Diffraction 3 Credit Hours
- OSE 6526C - Laser Engineering Laboratory 3 Credit Hours
- OSE 6455C - Photonics Laboratory 3 Credit Hours
- OSE 6347 - Quantum Optics 3 Credit Hours
- OSE 5312 - Light Matter Interaction 3 Credit Hours
- Other graduate courses from Physics, Math, Optics, Materials Science, Engineering require approval by the student’s adviser and the Graduate Program Director.
Space Physics Specialization
- PHY 6624 - Quantum Mechanics II 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 6347 - Electrodynamics II 3 Credit Hours
- PHZ 5505 - Plasma Physics 3 Credit Hours
- AST 5334 - Extrasolar Planets and Brown Dwarfs 3 Credit Hours
- EAS 5315 - Rocket Propulsion 3 Credit Hours
- EAS 6405 - Advanced Flight Dynamics 3 Credit Hours
- EAS 6507 - Topics of Astrodynamics 3 Credit Hours
- OSE 5041 - Introduction to Wave Optics 3 Credit Hours
- EEL 5820 - Image Processing 3 Credit Hours
Theory/Computational Physics Specialization
- PHY 6624 - Quantum Mechanics II 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 6347 - Electrodynamics II 3 Credit Hours
- PHZ 6420 - First Principles Computational Methods in Condensed Matter Physics 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 6938 - Theory and Computation of Molecular Wave Functions 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 6938 - Selected Topics in Scattering Theory 3 Credit Hours
- PHZ 6426 - Condensed Matter Physics I 3 Credit Hours
- PHZ 6428 - Condensed Matter Physics II 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 6667 - Quantum Field Theory I 3 Credit Hours
- PHY 7669 - Quantum Field Theory II 3 Credit Hours
- PHZ 5505 - Plasma Physics 3 Credit Hours
- OSE 6347 - Quantum Optics 3 Credit Hours
- OSE 5312 - Light Matter Interaction 3 Credit Hours
- Other graduate courses from Physics, Math, Optics, Materials Science, Engineering require approval by the student’s adviser and the Graduate Program Director.
Thesis Option: 6 Credit Hours
Students who choose the thesis option are required to conduct a program of original scientific research or some investigation involving a creative element and to submit a written thesis detailing these investigations. An oral defense and examination of the thesis is required. These six credit hours count towards the 18 hours of required electives for the degree. An exit interview conducted by the Graduate Program Director is required after passing the thesis defense.
- PHY 6971 - Thesis 6 Credit Hours
Nonthesis Option: 3 Credit Hours
Nonthesis students are required to take 15 credit hours of electives from the list of elective specializations shown above. In addition, they must take a minimum of 3 credit hours of directed research. The three credit hours of directed research count towards the 18 hours of required electives for the degree. In the directed research course, students work on a research project under the supervision of a faculty member and are required to present a final report as well as a written comprehensive exit examination. The Graduate Program Director will arrange this exam. The exit exam is followed by an exit interview.
- PHY 6918 - Directed Research 3 Credit Hours
Independent Learning
Students pursuing a nonthesis master’s degree must take at least one directed research course as part of their elective work. In this course, students will work on a research project under the supervision of a faculty member and present a final report.
Application Requirements
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
Applicants interested in being considered for an assistantship and fellowship opportunities should apply directly to the Physics PhD program by the Fall priority deadline.
In addition to the general UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must provide:
- One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
- Résumé.
- Goal statement. Please state in two paragraphs your interest in the UCF Physics program, specifying the research area of your interest, including Faculty member(s) working in that area.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
Students entering the Physics graduate program with regular status are normally expected to have completed coursework generally required for a bachelor’s degree in physics, including mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermal and statistical physics, and quantum mechanics.
Meeting minimum UCF admission criteria does not guarantee program admission. Final admission is based on an evaluation of the applicant’s abilities, past performance, recommendations, match of this program and faculty expertise to the applicant’s career/academic goals, and the applicant’s potential for completing the degree.
Application Deadlines
| Physics MS | *Fall Priority | Fall | Spring | Summer |
| Domestic Applicants | Jan 15 | Jul 1 | Dec 1 |
| International Applicants | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Jul 1 |
| *Applicants who plan to enroll full time in a degree program and who wish to be considered for university fellowships or assistantships should apply by the Fall Priority date. |
Financials
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowships
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student’s graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
