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Graduate Degree ProgramsBelow are a list of graduate degree programs in physics offered at New Mexico Tech. The courses of study outlined below are meant as a guide for developing an individual's program in consultation with her or his advisor. Master of Science in PhysicsThere are several options for the Master of Science degree. You may choose a degree with thesis or without, and your thesis may be experimental or theoretical. We also offer an M.S. with Specialty in Instrumentation. All candidates for a degree must pass the preliminary examination covering courses in physics and mathematics normally included in the typical undergraduate physics curriculum. General Degree RequirementsFor all M.S. programs the general degree requirements are that nine (9) credit hours from the following courses be completed:
Students must also take Physics 579, Graduate-Faculty Seminar (four semesters). M.S. with ThesisIn addition, to the general degree requirements outlined above, students will join one of the active research areas in the department and write a thesis over an independent research topic chosen in consultation with her or his advisor. Students presenting a theoretical thesis must, in addition, complete Physics 501 & 502, Graduate Laboratory. M.S. without ThesisIn addition,to the general degree requirements outlined above, students must complete Physics 501 & 502, Graduate Laboratory, and three (3) credit hours of Physics 590, Independent Study. M.S. in Physics with Specialty in InstrumentationStudents entering this program should have a bachelor's degree in engineering, one of the sciences, mathematics, or computer science. Students will also be expected to complete at Tech basic undergraduate physics and electronics courses they have not had. Given the varied backgrounds and interests of students in this specialty, the program of study is tailored to each student's needs. The flexibility needed to do this is evident in the following requirements. In addition to the general degree requirements outlined above, the following courses in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics must be completed:
And at least two of the following
Students must also take three (3) credit hours of Physics 590, Independent Study and an additional three (3) credit hours of graduate study approved by the advisory committee. Students working toward this degree may be involved in a variety of projects at New Mexico Tech. The physics department, the electrical engineering department, and the research and development division have a wide variety of test tools for designing computer-based and digital signal processor-based instrumentation, as well as RF and microwave systems. In addition, students have the opportunity of working on instrumentation problems at the Energetic Materials Research Center at New Mexico Tech (EMRTC). EMRTC is dedicated to enhancing our national capabilities in the development of new materials and fabrication techniques using explosives. Doctor of Philosophy in PhysicsStudents of exceptional ability as demonstrated in previous courses in physics and mathematics, or in the preliminary examination, may pursue a program leading to the doctoral degree. All applicants to the Physics doctoral degree program must submit GRE general and physics subject test scores. The major doctoral programs of the Physics Department are in Astrophysics and Atmospheric Physics. A degree in Mathematical Physics is offered in cooperation with the Mathematics Department. Students may also work in other areas of physics in which the Department has expertise. Shock Physics is one such area of current interest.General Degree RequirementsThis program requires that the following courses be completed:
A minimum of 50 credit hours of graduate and upper-division courses approved by the student's advisory committee must be taken, of which 12 credit hours must be mathematics beyond that required for an undergraduate physics major. AstrophysicsOur graduate students can choose to pursue a Ph.D. in Physics with a Dissertation in Astrophysics. In this program they will join one of the active research areas in the department.This program requires, in addition to the general degree requirements, that the following courses be completed:
Students interested in astrophysics can choose to participate in any of our active research areas. Research interests within the department include pulsars, galactic structure, radio galaxies and quasars, clusters of galaxies, accretion disk physics, and plasma astrophysics. Our pulsar work includes developing new data acquisition systems for use at the VLA or other radio telescopes. The department is also active in developing an optical interferometer in the nearby Langmuir science reserve. In addition, students have the opportunity to work directly with research staff at the VLA. Recent student work with NRAO staff has involved VLBA studies of active nuclei, solar radio physics, radio jets, magnetic fields in clusters of galaxies, and interferometric imaging techniques. See also Astrophysics Research Atmospheric PhysicsOur graduate students can choose to pursue a Ph.D. in Physics with a Dissertation in Atmospheric Physics. In this program they will join one of the active research areas in the department.This program requires, in addition to the general degree requirements, that the following courses be completed:
Students interested in atmospheric physics can choose to participate in any of our active research areas. These include cloud physics and thunderstorm structure, lightning and atmospheric electricity, clouds and climate, middle atmospheric photochemistry, and atmospheric radioactivity. Many of these programs involve the development of specialized instrumentation used to study these phenomena. Students also have the opportunity to carry out their research at Langmuir Laboratory, and may also take advantage of our collaborative relationship with the National Center for Atmospheric Research to carry out research at that facility. See also Atmospheric Physics Research Mathematical PhysicsOur graduate students can choose to pursue a Ph.D. in Physics with a Dissertation in Mathematical Physics. Their dissertation may be supervised by faculty in the Physics or Mathematics departments. This program requires, in addition to the general degree requirements, that the following courses be completed:
Current areas of faculty interest are in fluid dynamics and high strain rate behavior in solids. The first two areas are part of current research in astrophysics and in atmospheric physics. The third area is related to current work being carried out at the Energetic Materials Research Center (EMRTC), on campus, where students also have the opportunity to carry out their research. See also Astrophysics Research and EMRTC |
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Maintained by Gina Chavez (e-mail: rchavez@kestrel.nmt.edu). Modified: December 2, 2005 |
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