Graduate Program

Students wishing to enter the M.S. or the Ph.D. programs in Physics must have an undergraduate degree in physics or its equivalent. Their undergraduate program of studies must have included courses in thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics and classical mechanics.

The department also offers the M.S. and the Ph.D. degree in Physics with a concentration in Biomedical Physics. For details, refer to our website at http://panda.unm.edu.

The Optical Science and Engineering (OSE) M.S. and Ph.D. programs are multidisciplinary and assume an undergraduate background in physics, optics or a related engineering discipline.

There is no foreign language requirement for graduate degrees in physics or OSE. Proficiency in at least one computer language is encouraged.

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 or Optical Science and Engineering may conduct research for the dissertation 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. See Center for Graduate Studies at Los Alamos in the General Information Section of this catalog.

Additional information, specific admission criteria, application forms and directions are available online at: http://panda.unm.edu.

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


Degrees Offered

M.S. in Physics

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

M.S. in Optical Science and Engineering

The Optics Program is jointly administered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. It features an internship option under which a student can apply qualified industrial/government laboratory research along with successfully completed course work toward the degree.

Current research areas: advanced materials, atom optics, biomedical optics, fiber optics, laser physics, lithography, nanostructures, nonlinear optics, optical imaging, optical sensors, optoelectronics, photonic integrated circuits, quantum optics, spectroscopy, and ultra-fast phenomena.

See the Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies section of the catalog for degree requirements. Other program information is available at http://www.optics.unm.edu.

Ph.D. in Physics

The Doctor of Philosophy in Physics requires a minimum of 48 semester hours of graduate work exclusive of dissertation. These hours must include PHYC *466, 503, 505, 511, 521, 522/ASTR 537, four seminars (PHYC 500 and/or 501), and four electives chosen from a list of courses specified on the Department’s website at: http://panda.unm.edu/Acadadv/ handbk.html. Details must be discussed with a graduate advisor each semester.

Ph.D. in Optical Science and Engineering

The Optics Program is jointly administered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Considerable interactions occur with the Center for High Technology Materials and the optical research groups at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory and other organizations in Albuquerque that offer extensive opportunities for research work toward the degree.

Current research areas: ultra-fast optics and photonics, laser physics and engineering, optical imaging, quantum optics, optoelectronic devices, fiber lasers and amplifiers, optical communication, optical materials, optical lithography, nonlinear optics, integrated optics, quantum computing, bio-optics, non-photonics, and laser cooling.

See the Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies section of the catalog for degree requirements. Other program information is available at http://www.optics.unm.edu.

Nanoscience & Microsystems (NSMS) M.S. & Ph.D. Degree Program

This department participates in the interdisciplinary NSMS program; for more information, see the Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies section of this catalog.


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. Concepts of Astrophysics II. (3)



ASTR *423. Radio Astronomy. (3)



ASTR *424. Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology. (3)



ASTR *426. Optics and Instrumentation. (3)



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



ASTR *445. Introduction to Cosmic Radiation. (3)



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



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



ASTR 534. Plasma Physics I. (3)



ASTR 536. Advanced Astrophysics I. (3)



ASTR 537. Advanced Astrophysics II. (3)



PHYC 102. Introduction to Physics. (3)



PHYC 102L. Physics Laboratory. (1)



PHYC 105. Physics and Society. (3)



PHYC 106. Light and Color. (3)



PHYC 106L. Light and Color Laboratory. (1)



PHYC 107. Problems for Introduction to Physics. (1)



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



PHYC **308L. Junior Laboratory. (3)



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



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



PHYC 314. AProblems 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 *400. Seminar. (1 to a maximum of 3 Δ)



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



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



PHYC *410. Chemistry and Physics at the Nanoscale. (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 469. Problems in Methods of Theoretical Physics II. (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 531. Atomic and Molecular Structure. (3)



PHYC 534. Plasma Physics I. (3)



PHYC 535. Plasma Physics II. (3)



PHYC 536. Advanced Astrophysics I. (3)



PHYC 538. Selected Methods of Theoretical & Computational Physics. (3-4 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



PHYC 542. Particle Physics I. (3)



PHYC 545. Introduction to Cosmic Radiation. (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 556. Optical Coherence Theory. (3)



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



PHYC 564. Laser Physics II. (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 573. Classical Mechanics II. (3)



PHYC 576. Advanced Statistical Mechanics. (3)



PHYC 580. Advanced Plasma Physics. (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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Office of the Registrar

MSC 11 6325
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131

Phone: (505) 277-8900
Fax: (505) 277-6809