Graduate studies handbook
The official Graduate Studies Handbook can be downloaded from the following link:
Graduate Studies Handbook (2025-2026) (PDF)
The following contains some highlights.
Doctoral program
Course requirement
The student shall complete 7 core courses, and 5 additional courses from an approved list. Core courses cover classical mechanics, electrodynamics, thermal and statistical physics, quantum physics, and mathematical methods. All courses must be at the graduate level.
Students must maintain full-time status while completing their degree. When not enrolled in graded courses, students enroll in research credits.
Attendance at departmental colloquia is mandatory for first-year and second-year students and comprises a part of the course requirement.
Dissertation
A dissertation is completed to complete the degree. Dissertations must be formatted in accordance with the WSU Graduate School’s Thesis/Dissertation Formatting Guidelines. The dissertation must be approved by the student’s doctoral committee. A bound copy of the dissertation is submitted.
The doctoral committee is usually formed during the student’s second year of enrollment. The committee meets yearly to approve and update the student’s program of study.
A residency period of at least three years is required to earn the degree.
Examinations
The student completes a Comprehensive Examination, a Preliminary Examination, and a Final Examination.
The Comprehensive Examination is usually completed at the end of the student’s second year of enrollment. It comprises four 5-hour written tests on each of the four core areas of physics, followed by a 2-hour oral examination. A passing grade must be earned on the exam to move to the next stage (the Preliminary Examination). A student who fails the Comprehensive Examination on the first attempt might either have to re-take the entire exam or only certain of the tests on a second attempt depending upon a faculty vote. A student who fails a second time exits the doctoral program, but still may pursue a doctoral degree in another program or complete a MS degree in physics.
Incoming students are offered a “free shot” at the Comprehensive Examination which, if failed, does not count as their first attempt.
The Preliminary Examination is an oral examination wherein the student presents a research proposal. The proposal is graded pass/fail.
The Final Examination is a presentation of the student’s dissertation.
Master’s program
The MS in Physics program requires 30 semester hours of coursework drawn from the core, electives, research, and seminar credits. A final project is presented for evaluation.
Codes of conduct
Graduate students will adhere to ethical codes of conduct in their academics, research, and treatment of others.
Annual review
Graduate students are reviewed annually on their academic and research progress.
Graduate student learning outcomes
- Use scientific reasoning and independent thinking to form and test hypotheses.
- Apply important concepts in each of four core areas of physics: mechanics, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics, and thermal and statistical physics.
- Design and conduct one or more original significant scientific research projects with publication-quality results.
- Present scientific results clearly, both orally and in writing, to the larger scientific community through publications, conference presentation, research proposals, and in other meaningful ways.
- Prepare for a career in physics or careers that exploit the skills gained during graduate studies.
- Be prepared for graduate study and/or career in physics.