2013–2014 UNIVERSITY CATALOG - Florida Institute of Technology

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 and six semester
credit hours of Thesis (PHY 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 two
courses from the following:
Subject Courses (a minimum of 2 courses from the following)
MTH 5202 Mathematical Methods in Science and Engineering 2 .......... 3
PHY 5018 Electromagnetic Theory 2 ...................................................... 3
PHY 5031 Quantum Mechanics 2 ........................................................... 3
PHY 5035 Solid State Physics 1 ............................................................... 3
PHY 5045 Introduction to Elementary Particle Physics .......................... 3
Students are allowed to take at most one subject course outside the
department (PHY or SPS) in addition to Mathematical Methods in
Science and Engineering 2 (MTH 5202). 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
advisor 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, solar-terrestrial
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.
220 Florida Tech 2013–2014
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
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
advisor 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.