Graduate Program

Degrees Offered

  • Master of Science in Physics (M.S.)
    Concentrations: Astrophysics; Biomedical Physics.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (Ph.D.)
    Concentrations: Astrophysics; Biomedical Physics.

Students wishing to enter the M.S. or the Ph.D. programs in Physics must have an undergraduate degree in physics or in an equivalent. Their undergraduate program of studies must have included courses in thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics and classical mechanics. There is no foreign language requirement for graduate degrees in Physics. Proficiency in at least one computer language is encouraged.

Nanoscience and Microsystems Engineering M.S. and Ph.D. Degree Programs

This department participates in the interdisciplinary Nanoscience and Microsystems Engineering program; for more information, see the Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies section of this Catalog.

Optical Science and Engineering M.S. and Ph.D. Degree Programs

This department participates in the interdisciplinary Optical Science and Engineering program; for more information, see the Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies section of this Catalog.


Application Deadlines

International students and students who are seeking financial aid must submit materials no later than:

Fall semester: January 15
Spring semester:   August 1


Deadlines for domestic students who are not seeking financial aid are:

Fall semester: June 1
Spring semester: October 1


Please visit the Physics and Astronomy Department Web site for additional information, specific admission criteria, application forms and directions.


Master of Science in Physics

  • Concentrations: Astrophysics; Biomedical Physics

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Physics is offered under either Plan I (with thesis) or Plan II (without thesis). Under Plan I, a minimum of 24 credit hours of graduate work in physics and mathematics (exclusive of thesis) is required. Under Plan II, 32 credit hours of graduate work in physics and mathematics are to be taken. Included in this 32 credit hours must be at least 4 credit hours in research problems courses (551, 552, 650).

Under both plans, the graduate work offered for the master’s degree must include PHYC *466, 503, 505, 511 and 521. In addition, if material equivalent to one of the advanced labs (PHYC *476L, *477L or *493L) is not included in the student’s prior education, one of these courses must also be taken for the graduate degree. Details must be discussed with a graduate advisor each semester.

A master’s degree program in physics is also offered at the Los Alamos Center for Graduate Studies.

Concentration in Astrophysics

The M.S. in Physics with a concentration in Astrophysics follows the same requirements for Plan I and Plan II. Requirements for the concentration include:

  • ASTR 536.
  • Three courses selected from: ASTR 537; PHYC *466, 505, 511, 521.

Details must be discussed with a graduate advisor each semester.


Doctor of Philosophy in Physics

  • Concentrations: Astrophysics; Biomedical Physics

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Physics requires a minimum of 48 credit hours of graduate work exclusive of dissertation. These credit hours must include ASTR 537; PHYC *466, 505, 511, 521, 522; four seminars (PHYC 500 and/or 501), and four electives chosen from a list of courses specified on the Department’s Graduate Handbook. Details must be discussed with a graduate advisor each semester.

Under the terms of an agreement between the University of New Mexico and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), candidates for a doctoral degree in Physics may conduct dissertation research at LANL. Certain conditions have been specified by LANL for the acceptance of students for research at Los Alamos, and each case is considered on an individual basis. 

Concentration in Astrophysics

The Ph.D. in Physics with a concentration in Astrophysics requires a minimum of 48 credit hours of graduate work exclusive of dissertation. These hours must include:

  • ASTR 536.
  • ASTR 537.
  • Three selected from: PHYC *466, 505, 511, 521.
  • Four elective courses. Recommended: ASTR 526, 538, 539; PHYC 581 (when the topic is Cosmology or High Energy Astrophysics).

Details must be discussed with a graduate advisor each semester.


Courses

ASTR 101. Introduction to Astronomy. (3)



ASTR 101L. Astronomy Laboratory. (1)



ASTR 109. Selected Topics in Astronomy. (3 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



ASTR 270. General Astronomy. (3)



ASTR 270L. General Astronomy Laboratory I. (1)



ASTR 271. General Astronomy. (3)



ASTR 271L. General Astronomy Laboratory I. (1)



ASTR *421. Concepts of Astrophysics I. (3)



ASTR 422 / 538. Concepts of Astrophysics II. (3)



ASTR 423 / 539. Radio Astronomy. (3)



ASTR 426 / 526. Optics and Instrumentation. (3)



ASTR *427. Topics in Planetary Astronomy. (3)



ASTR *455. Problems. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



ASTR 456. Honors Problems. (1 to a maximum of 2 Δ)



ASTR 526 / 426. Optics and Instrumentation. (3)



ASTR 536. Advanced Astrophysics I. (3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



ASTR 537. Advanced Astrophysics II. (3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



ASTR 538. Concepts of Astrophysics II. (3)



ASTR 539 / 423. Radio Astronomy. (3)



PHYC 102. Introduction to Physics. (3)



PHYC 102L. Physics Laboratory. (1)



PHYC 103. Selected Topics in Physics. (3 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



PHYC 105. Physics and Society. (3)



PHYC 108. Introduction to Musical Acoustics. (3)



PHYC 108L. Musical Acoustics Laboratory. (1)



PHYC 110. Introduction to Applied Physics. (3)



PHYC 151. General Physics. (3)



PHYC 151L. General Physics Laboratory. (1)



PHYC 152. General Physics. (3)



PHYC 152L. General Physics Laboratory. (1)



PHYC 157. Problems in General Physics. (1)



PHYC 158. Problems in General Physics. (1)



PHYC 160. General Physics. (3)



PHYC 160L. General Physics Laboratory. (1)



PHYC 161. General Physics. (3)



PHYC 161L. General Physics Laboratory. (1)



PHYC 167. Problems in General Physics. (1)



PHYC 168. Problems in General Physics. (1)



PHYC 262. General Physics. (3)



PHYC 262L. General Physics Laboratory. (1)



PHYC 267. Problems in General Physics. (1)



PHYC 290. Computational Physics. (3)



PHYC **300. Topics in Physics and Astronomy. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



PHYC **301. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. (3)



PHYC **302. Introduction to Photonics. (3)



PHYC **302L. Optics Lab. (3)



PHYC **303. Analytical Mechanics I. (3)



PHYC **304. Analytical Mechanics II. (3)



PHYC **306L. Junior Laboratory. (3)



PHYC **307L. Junior Laboratory. (3)



PHYC 311. Problems in Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. (1)



PHYC 313. Problems in Analytical Mechanics I. (1)



PHYC 314. Problems in Analytical Mechanics II. (1)



PHYC **327. Geophysics. (3)



PHYC **330. Introduction to Modern Physics. (3)



PHYC 331. Problems in Introduction to Modern Physics. (1)



PHYC **366. Mathematical Methods of Physics. (4)



PHYC *400. Seminar. (1 to a maximum of 3 Δ)



PHYC *405. Electricity and Magnetism I. (3)



PHYC *406. Electricity and Magnetism II. (3)



PHYC 415. Problems in Electricity and Magnetism I. (1)



PHYC 416. Problems in Electricity and Magnetism II. (1)



PHYC *430. Introduction to Solid State Physics. (3)



PHYC *450. Introduction to Subatomic Physics. (3)



PHYC 451 / 551. Problems. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



PHYC *452. Research Methods. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



PHYC 456. Honors Problems. (1 to a maximum of 2 Δ)



PHYC *463. Advanced Optics I. (3)



PHYC *464. Laser Physics I. (3)



PHYC *466. Methods of Theoretical Physics I. (3)



PHYC *467. Methods of Theoretical Physics II. (3)



PHYC 468. Problems in Methods of Theoretical Physics I. (1)



PHYC *476L. Experimental Techniques of Optics. (3)



PHYC *477L. Experimental Techniques of Optics. (3)



PHYC 480. Special Topics in Physics and Astronomy. (3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



PHYC *491. Intermediate Quantum Mechanics I. (3)



PHYC *492. Intermediate Quantum Mechanics II. (3)



PHYC *493L. Contemporary Physics Laboratory. (3)



PHYC *495. Theory of Special Relativity. (3)



PHYC 496. Problems in Intermediate Quantum Mechanics I. (1)



PHYC 497. Problems in Intermediate Quantum Mechanics II. (1)



PHYC 500. Advanced Seminar. (1-3 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



PHYC 501. Advanced Seminar. (1-3 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



PHYC 503. Classical Mechanics I. (3)



PHYC 505. Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics. (3)



PHYC 511. Electrodynamics. (3)



PHYC 521. Graduate Quantum Mechanics I. (3)



PHYC 522. Graduate Quantum Mechanics II. (3)



PHYC 523. Quantum Field Theory I. (3)



PHYC 524. Quantum Field Theory II. (3)



PHYC 529. Condensed Matter I. (3)



PHYC 534. Plasma Physics I. (3)



PHYC 535. Plasma Physics II. (3)



PHYC 542. Particle Physics I. (3)



PHYC 551 / 451. Problems. (1-4 to a maximum of 16 Δ)



PHYC 552. Problems. (1-4 to a maximum of 16 Δ)



PHYC 554. Advanced Optics II. (3)



PHYC 559. Internship in Optical Science and Engineering. (3)



PHYC 566. Quantum Optics. (3)



PHYC 568. Nonlinear Optics. (3)



PHYC 569. Advanced Topics in Modern Optics. (3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



PHYC 570. Theory of Relativity. (3)



PHYC 571. Quantum Computation. (3)



PHYC 572. Quantum Information Theory. (3)



PHYC 581. Advanced Topics in Physics and Astrophysics. (3 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



PHYC 599. Master's Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)



PHYC 650. Research. (1-12 to a maximum of 24 Δ)



PHYC 699. Dissertation. (3-12, no limit Δ)



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