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 (PHYS 551, 552, 650).

Under both plans, the graduate work offered for the master’s degree must include PHYS *466, 505, 511 and 521. In addition, if material equivalent to one of the advanced labs (PHYS *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; PHYS *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:

  • PHYS *466, 505, 511, 521, 522.
  • Three seminars (PHYS 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) or Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), candidates for a doctoral degree in Physics may conduct dissertation research at LANL or SNL. Certain conditions have been specified by LANL or SNL for the acceptance of students for research, 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: PHYS *466, 505, 511, 521.
  • Three seminars (PHYS 500 and/or 501).
  • Four elective courses. Recommended: ASTR 526, 538, 539; PHYS 581 (when the topic is Cosmology or High Energy Astrophysics).
Details must be discussed with a graduate advisor each semester.

Courses

ASTR 1115. Introduction to Astronomy. (3)



ASTR 1115L. Introduction to Astronomy Laboratory. (1)



ASTR 1996. Topics. (1-6, no limit Δ)



ASTR 2110. General Astronomy I. (3)



ASTR 2110L. General Astronomy I Laboratory. (1)



ASTR 2115. General Astronomy II. (3)



ASTR 2115L. General Astronomy II Laboratory. (1)



ASTR 2996. Topics. (1-6, no limit Δ)



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)



PHYS 1110. Physics and Society. (3)



PHYS 1115. Survey of Physics. (3)



PHYS 1115L. Survey of Physics Laboratory. (1)



PHYS 1120. Introduction to Applied Physics. (3)



PHYS 1125. Physics of Music. (3)



PHYS 1125L. Physics of Music Laboratory. (1)



PHYS 1230. Algebra-Based Physics I. (3)



PHYS 1230L. Algebra-Based Physics I Laboratory. (1)



PHYS 1231. Problems in Algebra-Based Physics I. (1)



PHYS 1240. Algebra-Based Physics II. (3)



PHYS 1240L. Algebra-Based Physics II Laboratory. (1)



PHYS 1241. Problems in Algebra-Based Physics II. (1)



PHYS 1310. Calculus-Based Physics I. (3)



PHYS 1310L. Calculus-Based Physics I Laboratory. (1)



PHYS 1311. Problems in Calculus-Based Physics I. (1)



PHYS 1320. Calculus-Based Physics II. (3)



PHYS 1320L. Calculus-Based Physics II Laboratory. (1)



PHYS 1321. Problems in Calculus-Based Physics II. (1)



PHYS 1996. Topics. (1-6, no limit Δ)



PHYS 2310. Calculus-Based Physics III. (3)



PHYS 2310L. Calculus-Based Physics III Laboratory. (1)



PHYS 2311. Problems in Calculus-Based Physics III. (1)



PHYS 2415. Computational Physics. (3)



PHYS 2996. Topics. (1-6, no limit Δ)



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



PHYS **327. Geophysics. (3)



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



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



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



PHYS *400. Seminar. (1, may be repeated five times Δ)



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



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



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



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



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



PHYS 445 / 545. Introduction to Quantum Information Science. (3)



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



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



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



PHYS 456. Honors Problems. (1, may be repeated once Δ)



PHYS *463. Advanced Optics I. (3)



PHYS *464. Laser Physics I. (3)



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



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



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



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



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



PHYS 480. Special Topics in Physics and Astronomy. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



PHYS 505. Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics. (3)



PHYS 511. Electrodynamics. (3)



PHYS 521. Graduate Quantum Mechanics I. (3)



PHYS 522. Graduate Quantum Mechanics II. (3)



PHYS 523. Quantum Field Theory I. (3)



PHYS 524. Quantum Field Theory II. (3)



PHYS 529. Condensed Matter I. (3)



PHYS 534. Plasma Physics I. (3)



PHYS 542. Particle Physics I. (3)



PHYS 545/445. Introduction to Quantum Information Science. (3)



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



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



PHYS 554. Advanced Optics II. (3)



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



PHYS 564. Laser Physics II. (3)



PHYS 566. Quantum Optics. (3)



PHYS 568. Nonlinear Optics. (3)



PHYS 569. Advanced Topics in Modern Optics. (3, may be repeated once Δ)



PHYS 571. Quantum Computation. (3)



PHYS 572. Quantum Information Theory. (3)



PHYS 581. Advanced Topics in Physics and Astrophysics. (3, may be repeated three times Δ)



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



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



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



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Office of the Registrar

MSC11 6325
1 University of New Mexico
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Phone: (505) 277-8900
Fax: (505) 277-6809