Graduate Programs
About our Graduate Programs
The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers graduate programs leading to the Ph.D. and M.S. degrees. The department is in Sharp Laboratory, which houses a physics library, research and teaching laboratories, excellent machine and electronics shops and advanced computing facilities.
Students may enter the Ph.D. program after successfully completing an M.S. degree program, at the University of Delaware or elsewhere, or may be admitted directly to the Ph.D. program directly after a bachelor’s degree. To obtain a Ph.D., students will normally follow the coursework-intensive regular track. Students entering the program with an M.S. degree in physics or astronomy who are particularly well prepared may choose to follow the less coursework-intensive fast track.
Look through our graduate programs
Students may enter the Ph.D. program after successfully completing an M.S. degree program, at the University of Delaware or elsewhere, or may be admitted directly to the Ph.D. program directly after a bachelor’s degree. To obtain a Ph.D., students will normally follow the course intensive regular track. Students entering the program with an M.S. degree in Physics or Astronomy that are particularly well prepared may choose to follow the less coursework intensive fast track.
In addition to fulfilling the course requirements, Ph.D. students must:
- pass the Ph.D. candidacy exam, which has two oral components,
- upon successful completion of a research program, write a Ph.D. dissertation thesis showing originality of thought and scholarship.
The dissertation is defended in an oral examination administered by the student's dissertation committee.
The M.S. with thesis requires 24 credits hours in PHYS courses, including at most 3 credits of research (PHYS 868). At least 6 credits of classroom courses must be at the PHYS 800 level. In addition, 6 credits of thesis work (PHYS 869) are required. The purpose of the M.S. thesis is to demonstrate that the student can conduct research under supervision and communicate the results clearly in English. The thesis is defended in an oral examination administered by a committee of three members of the Department.
The M.S. without thesis degree requires 30 credit hours in PHYS courses, including at most 3 credits of research (PHYS 868). At least 6 credits of classroom courses must be at the PHYS 800 level. In addition, the degree candidate will survey the literature on a current topic in physics or astronomy, write a report on this topic and make a public presentation to the department, represented by three members of its faculty (appointed by the director of the graduate program with approval of the chair of the department).
The University of Delaware holistically supports its graduate students, beginning with their health and wellbeing. Benefits include a subsidized health plan and physical and behavioral health services. UD fosters a culture of academic excellence, with committed faculty and staff and access to state-of-the-art research facilities and technology. UD prioritizes professional development with job training, internships and industry partnerships. Graduates further enhance their professional growth and visibility with opportunities to work on interdisciplinary research teams, present their work at conferences and publish in academic journals. Visit the links below to learn how UD is supporting society’s future leaders, scholars, and innovators.
