Our Graduate Program
We offer a two-year M.S. in Physics degree, which prepares students for a Ph.D. in physics, careers in industry, or further studies in other sciences or engineering.
Research
Our faculty do research in the science of lakes and oceans, biophysics, astronomy, condensed matter, experimental particle physics and neutrino astrophysics, microfluidics, and gravitational physics. Some of the topics are highly interdisciplinary. Several of our faculty are associated with the UMD Large Lakes Observatory and the University of Minnesota’s Water Resources Science program. They may accept and advise students in water-related fields of research at PhD level.
See more information on the faculty research interests page.
Courses
We offer foundation courses in fundamental Physics, methods courses in computational, analytical, and experimental techniques, and elective specialty courses. Students are also required to take two courses outside the department, such as in electrical engineering, computer science, chemistry, math, or another field that fits their career goals.
There are two routes to completing the degree:
- Plan A is a research-based path that culminates in writing and defending a MS thesis.
- Plan B is course-based and involves taking additional courses and completing a smaller research project.
Funding
Most of the students we admit into the program are funded with teaching assistantships, research assistantships, or other fellowships that cover the costs of the education and the living expenses.
For more information regarding our graduate program, please contact Prof. Alec Habig, our Director of Graduate Studies.
How to Apply
See our application requirements and instructions.
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Goals of UMD Physics
Institutional goal 1: Knowledge and Scholarly Formation
Physics goal 1: demonstrate knowledge of core physics topics
Outcome 1: students will demonstrate knowledge of classical mechanics, classical electrodynamics, and quantum physics at the graduate level, and the mathematical techniques intrinsic to the study of these topics.
Institutional goal 2: Research and Methodological Skills Relevant to Field
Physics goal 2: will have developed research and methodological skills relevant to physics.
Outcome 2a: students will develop skills in one or more methods used by practicing researchers in academia and industry: experimental, numerical, and data analysis methods.
Outcome 2b: students doing a thesis will apply one or more methods to their thesis or project. Students doing a project demonstrate knowledge of one or more methods if their project doesn't require application of such methods. Where do students progress: methods courses, thesis/project
Institutional Goal 3: Communication Skills
Physics goal 3: communicate physics ideas and research in a variety of contexts.
Outcome 3a: students will improve/demonstrate the ability for oral communication in chalk-talk/instructive situations for both peer and novice audiences, plus formal presentations.
Outcome 3b: students successfully justify their research in a proposal and present the outcome of their thesis/project in writing. Where do students progress: seminar course, thesis, TA duties
Institutional Goal 4: Leadership and Collaborative Skills
Physics goal 4: collaborate with peers and experts in their field outside UMD
Outcome 4: will have one or more interactions with an expert in the field outside UMD. Where do students progress: during thesis work or internship or career exploration experiences
Institutional Goal 5: Cultural Competence and Global Context Formation
All contemporary research in physics necessarily draws on international physics research activities, collaborations, and publications. This assessment substitutes for a per-student assessment.
You can also find more details in an easy-to-compare format at our entry in the American Institute of Physics Gradschoolshopper.com website.