Physics PhD Program Description
The central element in our Ph.D. program is research conducted by students under the close supervision of a faculty Research Advisor. To prepare for this key stage of their graduate career, students take a full year of course work in basic areas of physics, classical mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and statistical mechanics, as well as at least three one-quarter courses in advanced topics. Typically these courses are closely related to the student's research interest, but at least one must be in a different area.
Upon enrollment in the program, students are matched with a faculty mentor who serves as their advisor until a research advisor is selected. Faculty mentors provide guidance on selecting courses, progressing to degree, preparing for advancement to candidacy, selecting a research advisor, and on any issues that influence the student's academic progress. Students meet with their faculty mentor on a quarterly basis until the time they advance to candidacy.
Graduate students should secure a research advisor by no later than the beginning of their third year, and preferably earlier. At the beginning of the third year, each student must pass the advancement to candidacy examination, after which the primary focus is research and work on a dissertation.
The Department's course and examination requirements are outlined below:
- Advancement to Candidacy Exam: Until students pass the Advancement to Candidacy examination, their program is overseen by their faculty mentor. When the student is ready to take the Advancement to Candidacy Exam, his or her program is overseen by a committee of three faculty members chaired by the student's research advisor.
- The Guidance provided by a student's mentor, and later their advancement committee, includes advice in choosing appropriate courses. The committee may require that certain courses be taken in addition to the normal course requirements, or may tell the student to expect questions in certain areas on the Advancement to Candidacy exam. The guidance may also include advice on choosing a field of specialization as well as help in locating research opportunities.
- The Oral Advancement to Candidacy Exam is taken by the end of winter quarter in the student's third year. For students who entered in Fall 2010 or later, if they received a master's degree from a previous institution, then they must take their exam winter quarter of their second year. The exam explores the student's ability to begin research in his or her chosen field. It begins with a short presentation in which the student assesses the overall situation in the field, and proposes a possible line of research, justifying its potential significance. The exam committee may then ask more general background questions. The scope and content of the exam are agreed upon beforehand. If the committee fails the student, the reasons will be given in writing, and the student must retake the exam by the end of spring quarter of the third year.
- Course Requirements: First year students will be required to pass the following graduate physics courses with a grade of B or better: [205] Classical Mechanics(or Galactic Dynamics [237], with a grade of B or better may be substituted for Phys 205 provided the student has demonstrated competency in Lagrangian Mechanics to the 205 instructor. If Phys 237 is used in this way as a substitution, it cannot be used as an elective). [210A-B] Electromagnetic Theory, [215A-B-C] Quantum Mechanics, and [219] Statistical Mechanics (see course descriptions on UCSB General Catalog). A student must maintain an over-all B average in graduate courses. Upon petition, a student may be exempted from a normally required course on the basis of equivalent courses taken at another institution. In addition to the core courses, theoretical students must complete a minimum of five advanced graduate courses and experimental students must complete a minimum of three advanced graduate courses. These courses must be passed with a grade of B or better. For theorists, at least one of these courses must be in an area clearly distinct from the student's field of specialization. In appropriate cases, a course in a different department or a different institution may be substituted. The appropriateness of the latter or the suitability of a proposed course as being in a "clearly distinct area" will be determined by the student's advisory committee.
Please see the Physics Department Graduate Student Handbook [in PDF form] for details on the graduate program of study.
Astrophysics Emphasis
For more information about the Astrophysics Emphasis, please see the Emphasis Worksheet.
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