2007-09 - Graduate School - The University of Alabama

Graduate Catalog: Section 6.16http://graduate.ua.edu/catalog/16700.htmlTHE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA GRADUATE CATALOGTable of Contents > College of Arts & Sciences6.16 DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY (PH)Chairperson: Professor Raymond E. White III, Office: 206 Gallalee HallThe Department of Physics and Astronomy offers programs leading to the master of science and the doctor ofphilosophy degrees. Research toward a degree may be conducted in either experimental or theoretical areas.Experimental programs include magnetic materials, high-energy physics, materials science, and observationalextragalactic astronomy. Theoretical programs include condensed matter, elementary particles, atomic and molecularphysics, extragalactic astronomy, and astrophysics.Admission RequirementsA student who wishes to take graduate work leading to the M.S. or Ph.D. degree should have the equivalent of anundergraduate major in physics, and mathematics through differential equations. Any undergraduate coursesrequired to complete a student's preparation should be taken as soon as possible. A comprehensive background ingeneral physics is considered as important as mastery of a specialized field. To be considered for regular admission,an applicant must have a verbal and quantitative score of at least 1000 on the general test of the Graduate RecordExamination. A score of 650 or higher on the GRE subject exam in physics may be substituted for the general GREscore.General requirements are stated in the "Academic Policies" section of this catalog. Specific requirements in physicsfollow. Note that requirements for students specializing in astronomy differ from those for students in other physicsareas.Requirements for the M.S. DegreePlan I (with thesis). A total of 24 hours of coursework is required, 18 of which must be in physics and astronomy.Physics students must take PH 501, PH 531, PH 532, PH 541, PH 542, and 6 hours of PH 599. Students specializing inastronomy must take PH 501, PH 531, PH 541, 6 hours of PH 599, and three graduate astronomy courses other thanAY 650. All full-time students must take one hour of seminar (PH 597 or AY 597) appropriate to their area ofspecialization each semester. PH 597 and AY 597 do not count toward the 24-hour course requirement. An oralexamination covering coursework and the thesis is required for completion of the degree.Plan II (without thesis). A total of 30 hours of coursework is required, 18 of which must be in physics and astronomy.Physics students must take PH 501, PH 531, PH 532, PH 541, PH 542, and two of the following: PH 551, PH 561, PH571, and PH 581. Students specializing in astronomy must take PH 501, PH 531, PH 532, PH 541, and PH 542, andthree graduate astronomy courses other than AY 650. All full-time students must take one hour of seminar (PH 597or AY 597) appropriate to their area of specialization each semester. PH 597 and AY 597 do not count toward the 30-hour course requirement. An oral examination covering coursework is required for completion of the degree.Requirements for the Ph.D. DegreeThe student's program of study for the Ph.D. degree must be approved by the department and the Graduate Schoolby the time the student completes 30 graduate semester hours of UA and/or transfer course work.Courses. A total of 48 hours of coursework is required, 36 of which must be in physics and astronomy. All studentsare required to take PH 501, PH 531, PH 532, PH 541, PH 542, and PH 571. An additional 18 hours of requiredgraduate work will be determined by the student's advisor in consultation with the student. For students specializingin astronomy, 15 of those 18 hours must include astronomy courses with at least one course at the 600 level. All fulltimestudents must take one hour of seminar (PH 597 or AY 597) appropriate to their area of specialization eachsemester. Of the 48-hour requirement, a maximum of 6 hours may be a combination of PH 597 (or AY 597), PH 598,and PH 698.Examinations. There are two separate examinations each prospective Ph.D. candidate must pass: the qualifyingexam and the preliminary exam. The qualifying exam consists of a written exam on advanced undergraduate physics.Financial support may be withdrawn if a student does not pass the exam by the end of his or her second year at theUniversity. Passing the qualifying exam is a requirement for acceptance into the Ph.D. program.The preliminary exam is an oral exam on the student's research plan and on courses in the student's area ofspecialization. Passing the preliminary exam is a requirement for admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. and allows the