Master of Science in Physics with Concentration in Space Physics
The two-year M.S. in Physics with a concentration in Space Physics program provides students with
a strong foundation in physics with an intensive focus on space physics. Graduate study in space
physics at the Master’s level prepares graduates for continued and specialized study toward the
doctorate program in space-related fields as well as for challenges they will confront in space
industrial and government settings.
Admission Requirements
!" #$$%&'#"( )*+ #,-&..&*" ./*0%, /#12 #" 0",2+3+#,0#(2 ,23+22 &" $/4.&'. *+ 2"3&"22+&"3
$/4.&'. *+ # +2%#(2, #+2# 52636 #.(+*"*-47#.(+*$/4.&'.8 $%#"2(#+4 .'&2"'2.8 32*$/4.&'.96 :/2
32"2+#% ;<= (2.( &. +2>0&+2,6 :/2 ;<= .0?@2'( (2.( &" $/4.&'. &. +2'*--2",2,6
Degree Requirements
!%% ,23+22A.22B&"3 3+#,0#(2 .(0,2"(. -0.( .#(&.)4 (/2 +2%21#"( ;+#,0#(2 C'/**% +2>0&+2-2"(.8
$#.. # >0#%&)4&"3 2D#-&"#(&*" ?#.2, *" 0",2+3+#,0#(2 $/4.&'. '*0+.2. #( (/2 EFF %212%8
.0''2..)0%%4 '*-$%2(2 # GFFA%212% %#?*+#(*+48 #", ,2-*".(+#(2 *+ ,212%*$ B"*H%2,32 *)
'*-$0(2+ $+*3+#--&"36
:/2 I#.(2+J. ,23+22 &. '*")2++2, *" .(0,2"(. H/* /#12 '*-$%2(2, # minimum *) KF .2-2.(2+
'+2,&( /*0+. *) 3+#,0#(2 .(0,46 Of these 30 credits, at least 21 must be in physics/geophysics, at
most 3 may be for individual study or other informal courses, and at most 9 may be numbered
between 450 and 499. A Master’s thesis or supervised project is optional.
I#.(2+J. ,23+22 .(0,2"(. -0.( .0''2..)0%%4 '*-$%2(2 (/2 )*%%*H&"3 G $/4.&'. '*+2 '*0+.2.L
Course Number
Course Title
Credits
PHYS 495/511
PHYS 551
PHYS 554 /(454)
Mathematical Methods of Physics I
Classical Mechanics
Quantum Mechanics I (Intermediate Modern Physics I)
3
3
3
PHYS 561/(461)
PHYS 584/(480)
Electromagnetic Theory I (Intermediate E & M I)
Statistical Mechanics (Thermodynamics)
3
3
M" #,,&(&*"8 #%% $/4.&'. IC .(0,2"(. H&(/ # '*"'2"(+#(&*" &" .$#'2 $/4.&'. -0.( '*-$%2(2 (/2
)*%%*H&"3 (H* .$2'&#%&N#(&*" '*0+.2.L
Course Number
PHYS 520
PHYS 493/(593)
Course Title
Special Topics: Plasma Physics
Experimental Nuclear Physics I
Credits
3
3
!%.*8 $/4.&'. IC .(0,2"(. H&(/ # '*"'2"(+#(&*" &" .$#'2 $/4.&'. -0.( (#B2 # -&"&-0- *) (/+22
2%2'(&12 '*0+.2. &" (/2&+ .$2'&#%&N#(&*" )+*- (/2 %&.( ?2%*HL
Course Number
PHYS 491/(591)
PHYS 576/(476)
Course Title
High Energy Physics I
Advanced Computational Physics I (Computational Physics)
Credits
3
3
GPHY 540
ASTR 535
ASTR 575
ASTR 620
ASTR 698
ME 533
ME 552
Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors
Observational Techniques I
Computational Astrophysics
Planetary Science I
Special Topics: Solar Physics and Space Weather
Computational and Theoretical Fluid Mechanics
Introduction to Physical Gas!dynamics
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
ME 554
EE 460
Introduction to Plasma!dynamics and Space Weather
Space System Mission and Analysis
3
3
:/2 O/4.&'. P2$#+(-2"( Q2#, #", (/2 ;+#,0#(2 !,1&.&"3 R*--&((22 -0.( #$$+*12 '*0+.2
.0?.(&(0(&*".6
! H+&((2" >0#%&)4&"3 2D#-&"#(&*" &. +2>0&+2, &" (/2 )&+.( *+ .2'*", .2-2.(2+ *) +2.&,2"'2 (*
,&#3"*.2 #"4 ,2)&'&2"'&2. &" 0",2+3+#,0#(2 $+2$#+#(&*"6 !"4 ,2)&'&2"'&2. -0.( ?2 +2-*12,
?2)*+2 # ,23+22 H&%% ?2 3+#"(2,8 #. 21&,2"'2, ?4 H+&((2" 2D#-&"#(&*"6
S2)*+2 (/2 I6C6 ,23+22 &. 3+#"(2,8 (/2 .(0,2"( -0.( $#.. # )&"#% *+#% 2D#-&"#(&*" #,-&"&.(2+2,
?4 # '*--&((22 *) (/+22 *+ -*+2 -2-?2+. *) (/2 3+#,0#(2 )#'0%(4 .2%2'(2, ?4 (/2 .(0,2"( #",
/&.7/2+ #,1&.*+ #", &"'%0,&"3 #( %2#.( *"2 -2-?2+ )+*- *0(.&,2 (/2 $/4.&'. ,2$#+(-2"(6 :/2
*+#% 2D#-&"#(&*" 2-$/#.&. &. *" (/2 )0",#-2"(#%. *) $/4.&'.8 .$#'2 $/4.&'. #", '*-$0(#(&*"6
M" (/2 212"( # (/2.&. &. $+2.2"(2,8 (/2 2D#-&"#(&*" H&%% #%.* '*12+ .0?@2'( -#((2+ +2%#(2, (* (/2
(/2.&.6