2012–2013 UNIVERSITY CATALOG - Florida Institute of Technology

A general written examination is required in the first semester of
residence for diagnosing any deficiencies in undergraduate preparation.
Any deficiencies must be removed before a degree will be
granted, as evidenced by this examination.
Before the master’s degree is granted, the student must pass a final
oral examination administered by a committee of three or more
members of the graduate faculty selected by the student and the
departmental adviser and including at least one member from outside
the physics department. The oral examination emphasizes, but
is not necessarily restricted to, subject matter related to the field of
the thesis. For students not electing to do a thesis, the oral examination
covers the general areas of the student’s graduate studies.
Space Sciences, M.S. ________________________
Major Code: 8132 Degree Awarded: Master of Science
Age Restriction: N Admission status: graduate
Delivery Mode/s: classroom only Location/s: main campus
Admission Materials: 3 letters of
recommendation, résumé, objectives
The space sciences graduate program stresses many subfields of
space studies, such as stellar and extragalactic astrophysics, solarterrestrial
interrelation (space weather, solar energetic particles),
cosmic ray physics, energetic radiation from thunderstorms and
lightning on Earth and other planets, planetary science, human
space exploration research and related instrumentation. Graduate
study in space sciences at the master’s level prepares graduates
for continued and specialized study toward the doctoral degree in
space-related fields as well as a wide range of scientific and technical
responsibilities in industry and government.
Admission Requirements
An applicant for admission should have an undergraduate degree in
any subfield of space sciences (astronomy/astrophysics, geosciences,
planetary sciences, astrobiology), physics or a related engineering
field. All entering space sciences graduate students are required to
be prepared in mathematics at least through vector analysis. The
GRE scores from both the general and subject test in physics are
recommended but not required.
Degree Requirements
The master’s degree is conferred on students who have satisfactorily
completed a minimum of 30 semester credit hours of
graduate study. A master’s thesis is optional.
Master’s degree students must complete the following five core
courses with a grade of C or better:
Core Courses (15 credit hours)
MTH 5201 Mathematical Methods in Science and Engineering 1 ............ 3
PHY 5015 Analytical Mechanics 1 ........................................................... 3
PHY 5017 Electromagnetic Theory 1 ....................................................... 3
PHY 5030 Quantum Mechanics 1 ........................................................... 3
PHY 5082 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics ................................ 3
In addition, students must take three subject courses from the list
below and six semester credit hours of Thesis (SPS 5999). Students
choosing to complete a nonthesis program must take two additional
subject courses in place of the six semester credit hours of thesis.
The subject courses must be PHY or SPS 5000-level and above,
and must include at least three courses from the following:
Subject Courses (a minimum of 3 courses from the following)
MTH 5202 Mathematical Methods in Science Engineering 2 .................. 3
SPS 5010 Astrophysics 1: Stellar Structure and Evolution ...................... 3
SPS 5011 Astrophysics 2: Galactic Structure and Cosmology ................. 3
SPS 5020 Space Physics 1: The Low-Energy Universe ........................... 3
224 Florida Tech
SPS 5021 Space Physics 2: The High-Energy Universe .......................... 3
SPS 5030 Planetary Science 1: Interiors ................................................. 3
SPS 5031 Planetary Science 2: Atmospheres .......................................... 3
Course substitutions must be approved by the department head and
the Graduate Research and Academic Steering Panel (GRASP).
A general written examination is required in the first semester of
residence for diagnosing any deficiencies in undergraduate preparation.
Any deficiencies must be removed before a degree will be
granted, as evidenced by this examination.
Before the master’s degree is granted, the student must pass a final
oral examination administered by a committee of three or more
members of the graduate faculty selected by the student and the
departmental adviser and including at least one member from outside
the physics department. The oral examination emphasizes, but
is not necessarily restricted to, subject matter related to the field of
the thesis. For students not electing to do a thesis, the oral examination
covers the general areas of the student’s graduate studies.
Physics, Ph.D. ____________________________
Major Code: 9101 Degree Awarded: Doctor of Philosophy
Age Restriction: N Admission status: graduate
Delivery Mode/s: classroom only Location/s: main campus
Admission Materials: GRE
recommended
The doctoral degree is conferred primarily to recognize the individual
who has demonstrated a satisfactory breadth and level of
scientific accomplishment and has the ability to investigate scientific
problems independently. It is also expected that the successful
candidate for the degree will have advanced or played a significant
part in the advancement of fundamental knowledge in physics.
Admission Requirements
General admission requirements and the process for applying are
presented in the Academic Overview section. The GRE scores from
both the general and subject test in physics are recommended but
not required. Florida Tech students who wish to continue toward
the doctoral degree after completing the master’s degree (or after
completing 15 semester credit hours of graduate courses) must
submit a full application (fee will be waived) to the department.
Degree Requirements
Students entering the doctoral degree program with a bachelor’s
degree must follow the master of science degree requirements listed
above for 30 semester credit hours. Students may take six semester
credit hours of Research (PHY 6090) or six credit hours of subject
courses in place of Thesis (PHY 5999). Students must also complete
an additional 45 semester credit hours to satisfy the doctoral
program requirements as stated below.
Students entering the doctoral degree program with a master’s
degree, or a continuing doctoral student with 30 approved semester
credit hours of coursework must take five formal on-site Florida
Tech courses (equivalent to 15 semester credit hours) and 30
semester credit hours that may include courses listed for the master’s
degree, individual study, research and dissertation. A course
used for a master’s degree cannot be used to fulfill the doctoral
degree requirements. Course substitutions must be approved by
the department head and the Graduate Research and Academic
Steering Panel (GRASP).