Rutgers University Department of Physics and
Astronomy
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There are two options for the Master of Science degree: with essay and with
thesis. For both options up to 12 credits can
be at the upper level (300 or 400 level) undergraduate courses taken at
may be transferred from another institution. Transfer credits must be at
the graduate level. For transfer of graduate courses taken as an
undergraduate, a letter is required from the registrar of the institution
involved stating that the course or courses were not used toward an undergraduate
degree. No more than 9 credits with grades of C or C+ may be used toward the
degree.
MS with Essay
The MS with essay is a course based Master's degree. Course selection should be
chosen in consultation with the Graduate Program Director. 30 credits of
course work is required for the degree. Non course-work based credits,
such as the seminar in physics, and research credits, cannot be counted toward
the degree. Generally no fewer than 24 credits in physics, astronomy or closely
related fields, of which no more than 12 credits may be at the advanced
undergraduate level, are required.
The essay may be based on material from a regular physics course,
Physics 699, or a research project.
MS with Thesis
The MS with thesis requires a minimum of 30 credits, including a minimum of six
credits in research and a minimum of 24 course credits. In addition, no fewer than 18 course
credits must be in physics, astronomy or closely related fields. No more than 6
credits may be at the advanced undergraduate level. Non course-work based
credits, such as the seminar in physics, cannot be counted toward the degree.
MS Examination
The M.S. examination is an oral comprehensive examination covering the
fundamentals of the courses taken by the student in the program and, in the
case when a thesis is submitted, over the thesis material. No M.S. exam is
required for students who have been advanced to
candidacy for the Ph.D. or have passed the oral component of the qualifying
examination, and do not submit a thesis. Students failing the examination on
the first attempt will be permitted one more attempt. The examination is to be
administered by the student's M.S. committee. This consists of three faculty
members appointed by the Graduate Program Director, one of whom is normally the
M.S. coordinator. When courses have been taken outside of physics, the
committee should contain a faculty member from the appropriate discipline.
The general policy of financial support is as described for the Ph.D. program. However, the department rarely has resources to provide financial support to Masters students.
The Graduate Studies Committee will consider requests from Physics graduate students for the Master of Philosophy degree. The committee will generally observe the following guidelines:
The M.S.T. degree is primarily for practicing teachers, although others may be accepted. The requirements for the M.S.T. degree in physics consist of 30 credits, a comprehensive examination, and an essay or thesis.
The courses are chosen in consultation with the departmental advisor to fit the needs of the individual student, with the aim of giving each candidate the opportunity to learn more physics. Both undergraduate and graduate courses may be used, depending on the person's previous experience.
Each candidate must demonstrate competence in the basic subjects of mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, atomic and nuclear structure, and calculus at a comprehensive M.S.T. examination. The examination is normally oral, and is administered by a committee of three members of the faculty appointed by the Graduate Program Director.
To the extent that a student has satisfied the basic physics requirements as preparation for the comprehensive examination, he or she may select courses in physics, other sciences, mathematics, or in education.
No more than nine credits with grades of C may be accepted toward the M.S.T.
degree. Up to twelve credits may be transferred from other institutions with
approval of the department and the
The M.S.T. critical essay is generally a review of a particular area of physics, resulting from specialized study. It may also describe the results of a candidate's development of a novel teaching unit, including perhaps a laboratory experiment. An M.S.T. candidate may elect to submit a regular M.S.T. thesis for which six credits may be earned through research rather than in courses. The research may be in theoretical or experimental physics, or it may be primarily pedagogical in nature. The research must be supervised by a member of the faculty with the advice of the candidate's committee and a final defense of the thesis work will be held before the candidate's committee.
A student may take any of the regular courses offered by the physics department or any of the special evening courses upon admission to the graduate school as a non-matriculated student. Such courses may later be applied toward any of the regular degree programs if the student is admitted as a candidate for such a degree. Students applying for non-matriculated status should submit a transcript of their undergraduate grades and one letter of recommendation along with their application; GRE tests are not required.
Another possibility is to apply through the Office of Non-degree Graduate Study, but students are not allowed to accumulate more than 12 credits in non-degree study prior to matriculation in a graduate program.
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Revised May, 2008