Department of Physics & AstronomyAcademicsGraduate ProgramApplication

Application

Requirements

All applicants

  • Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on the 4 scale).
  • Provide three letters of recommendation. Letters can be submitted three ways:
    • Online: you invite your letter writers to submit via the WSU Graduate School online portal, this is the preferred method of submission,
    • Email: your letter writers submit to <physics@wsu.edu>,
    • Postal mail: your letter writers send a paper copy to Dept of Physics & Astronomy, Attn: Graduate Admissions, Washington State University, PO Box 642814, Pullman, WA, USA, 99164-2814.
  • (optional) GRE test scores (general and subject tests) are not required. GRE test scores are sent separately by ETS directly to the WSU Graduate School. Use school code = 4705.
  • We do NOT evaluate applications sent directly to us; you must apply through the WSU Graduate School.
  • Applicants must have an undergraduate degree in physics or a related STEM discipline. Applicants without a degree in physics should have advanced undergraduate-level coursework (one semester) in classical mechanics, statistical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and quantum mechanics. In cases where a few of these areas are missing, we sometimes grant provisional admission with the requirement that the student completes these undergraduate courses while a graduate student. We normally do not grant admission to students with little or no background in physics.

International applicants

  • TOEFL: if applying from a country where a TOEFL score is required, then a minimum score of 80 (IBT) or 214 (computerized test) is required for admission. The IELTS may be substituted with a score of 7 or higher. The scores must be sent directly from the testing service to the WSU Graduate School.
    • Use school code = 4705 (Washington State University), and department code = 0802 (Dept of Physics & Astronomy).

Where to apply

When to apply

  • Application deadline is January 15 for admission to the fall semester (begins on or around August 15).

Completed applications and re-applying

  • After your application is submitted to the WSU Graduate School, we will email you periodically to let you know if your application is complete or is missing one of more components.
  • If you were denied admission and wish to re-apply, you must re-apply completely, i.e., we do not re-open old applications.

What graduate degrees are offered?

  • MS in Physics (thesis option)
  • MS in Physics (non-thesis option)
  • PhD in Physics

Is WSU the right graduate school for me?

  • Look over the faculty in the department and ascertain there are at least 2 or 3 whose research areas match your academic and career interests.
  • Identify living / housing options; one option is on-campus via WSU Housing.
  • Read thoroughly the information provided by the WSU Graduate School. Items of interest include how to establish residency in Washington State, policies and procedures concerning current students, and things to do in and around Pullman.

Financial support

  • All applicants are considered for financial support as a teaching assistant (TA) or research assistant (RA). Scholarships must be applied for separately. A TA or RA appointment, if offered, provides a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend, and the student is responsible for 20 hours/week of work. Funding is not guaranteed for the length of the entire degree program. Funding is determined per-semester, based upon the availability of positions.
  • We try to fund all admitted students, with equal weight given to MS and PhD candidates.
  • The WSU Graduate School’s Costs and Finances page describes finances in detail.
  • TAs are one class of student employee represented by the Coalition of Academic Student Employees.

Life in and around Pullman

Pullman is located on the Palouse, which comprises the grasslands of eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and northern Oregon. Pullman is a small, rural college town with a good airport, and ready access to outdoor and indoor activities alike.

Other information