Graduate Program

Degrees Offered

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

Students wishing to enter the M.S. or the Ph.D. programs in Physics must have an undergraduate degree in physics or in a related field. 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.

Interdisciplinary Programs

Computational Science and Engineering: The Computational Science and Engineering interdisciplinary graduate certificate program prepares students to effectively use high-performance computing within their disciplines and is open to graduate students in this department. See the School of Engineering section of this Catalog.

Nanoscience and Microsystems Engineering: This department participates in the interdisciplinary Nanoscience and Microsystems Engineering M.S. and Ph.D. programs; for more information, see the Graduate Interdisciplinary Studies section of this Catalog.

Optical Science and Engineering: This department participates in the interdisciplinary Optical Science and Engineering M.S. and Ph.D. programs; 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 10*
Spring semester:   August 1


*The review of completed application packages for the Fall semester will begin on December 15. Full consideration will be given to applications received by January 10.

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

Fall semester: May 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

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 (PHYC 551, 552, 650).

Under both plans, the graduate work offered for the master’s degree must include PHYC *466, 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.

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

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:

  • PHYC *466, 505, 511, 521, 522.
  • Three seminars (PHYC 500 and/or 501).
  • 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 courses selected from: PHYC *466, 505, 511, 521.
  • Three seminars (PHYC 500 and/or 501).
  • 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, may be repeated three times 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, may be repeated once Δ)



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



ASTR 536. Advanced Astrophysics I. (3, may be repeated once Δ)



ASTR 537. Advanced Astrophysics II. (3, may be repeated once Δ)



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



ASTR 539 / 423. Radio Astronomy. (3)



NONE 102. Introduction to Physics. (3)



NONE 102L. Physics Laboratory. (1)



NONE 103. Selected Topics in Physics. (3, may be repeated three times Δ)



NONE 105. Physics and Society. (3)



NONE 108. Introduction to Musical Acoustics. (3)



NONE 108L. Musical Acoustics Laboratory. (1)



NONE 110. Introduction to Applied Physics. (3)



NONE 151. General Physics. (3)



NONE 151L. General Physics Laboratory. (1)



NONE 152. General Physics. (3)



NONE 152L. General Physics Laboratory. (1)



NONE 157. Problems in General Physics. (1)



NONE 158. Problems in General Physics. (1)



NONE 160. General Physics. (3)



NONE 160L. General Physics Laboratory. (1)



NONE 161. General Physics. (3)



NONE 161L. General Physics Laboratory. (1)



NONE 167. Problems in General Physics. (1)



NONE 168. Problems in General Physics. (1)



NONE 262. General Physics. (3)



NONE 262L. General Physics Laboratory. (1)



NONE 267. Problems in General Physics. (1)



NONE 290. Computational Physics. (3)



NONE **300. Topics in Physics and Astronomy. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



NONE **301. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. (3)



NONE **302. Introduction to Photonics. (3)



NONE **302L. Optics Lab. (3)



NONE **303. Analytical Mechanics I. (3)



NONE **304. Analytical Mechanics II. (3)



NONE **306L. Junior Laboratory. (3)



NONE **307L. Junior Laboratory. (3)



NONE 311. Problems in Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. (1)



NONE 313. Problems in Analytical Mechanics I. (1)



NONE 314. Problems in Analytical Mechanics II. (1)



NONE **327. Geophysics. (3)



NONE **330. Introduction to Modern Physics. (3)



NONE 331. Problems in Introduction to Modern Physics. (1)



NONE **366. Mathematical Methods of Physics. (4)



NONE *400. Seminar. (1, may be repeated five times Δ)



NONE *405. Electricity and Magnetism I. (3)



NONE *406. Electricity and Magnetism II. (3)



NONE 415. Problems in Electricity and Magnetism I. (1)



NONE 416. Problems in Electricity and Magnetism II. (1)



NONE *430. Introduction to Solid State Physics. (3)



NONE *450. Introduction to Subatomic Physics. (3)



NONE 451 / 551. Problems. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



NONE *452. Research Methods. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



NONE 456. Honors Problems. (1, may be repeated once Δ)



NONE *463. Advanced Optics I. (3)



NONE *464. Laser Physics I. (3)



NONE *466. Methods of Theoretical Physics I. (3)



NONE *467. Methods of Theoretical Physics II. (3)



NONE 468. Problems in Methods of Theoretical Physics I. (1)



NONE *476L. Experimental Techniques of Optics. (3)



NONE *477L. Experimental Techniques of Optics. (3)



NONE 480. Special Topics in Physics and Astronomy. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ [3, may be repeated once Δ])



NONE *491. Intermediate Quantum Mechanics I. (3)



NONE *492. Intermediate Quantum Mechanics II. (3)



NONE *493L. Contemporary Physics Laboratory. (3)



NONE *495. Theory of Special Relativity. (3)



NONE 496. Problems in Intermediate Quantum Mechanics I. (1)



NONE 497. Problems in Intermediate Quantum Mechanics II. (1)



NONE 500. Advanced Seminar. (1-3 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



NONE 501. Advanced Seminar. (1-3 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



NONE 503. Classical Mechanics I. (3)



NONE 505. Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics. (3)



NONE 511. Electrodynamics. (3)



NONE 521. Graduate Quantum Mechanics I. (3)



NONE 522. Graduate Quantum Mechanics II. (3)



NONE 523. Quantum Field Theory I. (3)



NONE 524. Quantum Field Theory II. (3)



NONE 529. Condensed Matter I. (3)



NONE 534. Plasma Physics I. (3)



NONE 542. Particle Physics I. (3)



NONE 551 / 451. Problems. (1-4 to a maximum of 16 Δ)



NONE 552. Problems. (1-4 to a maximum of 16 Δ)



NONE 554. Advanced Optics II. (3)



NONE 559. Internship in Optical Science and Engineering. (3)



NONE 564. Laser Physics II. (3)



NONE 566. Quantum Optics. (3)



NONE 568. Nonlinear Optics. (3)



NONE 569. Advanced Topics in Modern Optics. (3, may be repeated once Δ)



NONE 570. Theory of Relativity. (3)



NONE 571. Quantum Computation. (3)



NONE 572. Quantum Information Theory. (3)



NONE 581. Advanced Topics in Physics and Astrophysics. (3, may be repeated three times Δ)



NONE 599. Master's Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)



NONE 650. Research. (1-12 to a maximum of 24 Δ)



NONE 699. Dissertation. (3-12, no limit Δ)



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