Physics

The Department of Physics offers curricula leading to the following degrees:

PhD, Physics (Biophysics)

PhD, Physics, Specialization in Computational Neuroscience

PhD, Physics, Specialization in Computational Science

PhD, Physics, Specialization in Quantitative Biology

Biophysics students will receive their MS (if applicable) and CPhil degrees in physics. Only their PhD will be in physics (biophysics).

Entering graduate students are required to have a sound knowledge of undergraduate mechanics, electricity, and magnetism; to have had senior courses or their equivalent in atomic and quantum physics, nuclear physics, and thermodynamics; and to have taken upper-division laboratory work. An introductory course in solid-state physics is desirable.

Students may choose to pursue a master’s degree en route to the PhD or may choose to leave with a terminal MS. Requirements for the master of science degree can be met according to Plan I (master’s thesis) or Plan II (comprehensive examination). (See “Graduate Studies: Master’s Degrees.”) For Plan II, the comprehensive examination is an oral exam. A list of acceptable courses is available in the Department of Physics Graduate Student Affairs office.

Contiguous Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Program in Materials Physics

The program offers a MS in physics with specialization in materials physics. It is open only to UC San Diego undergraduates, and is a Plan I program only (thesis). During the first quarter of the senior undergraduate year, students enrolled in the BS degree program with specialization in materials physics (see above) may apply for admission to the MS program. To be eligible, students must have completed the first two quarters of their junior year in residence at UC San Diego and have a GPA of at least 3.0 in both their major and overall undergraduate curriculum. It is strongly recommended that BS students who intend to apply to the MS program take MAE 160, ECE 103, and ECE 134 as restricted BS electives.

It is the responsibility of the prospective BS/MS student to select a faculty member (from the Department of Physics or, with Physics department approval, from the MAE, ECE, or Chemistry departments) who would be willing to serve as the student’s adviser and with whom the student would complete at least twelve units of S/U graded research. Research could commence as early as the undergraduate senior year; research units taken during the senior year would count only toward the MS degree and not toward the BS. The student must confirm that the selected faculty adviser will not be on off-campus sabbatical leave during any quarter of the scheduled BS/MS project.

Students are expected to meet the requirements for the MS in one year (three consecutive academic quarters) from the date of receipt of the BS. Any deviation from this plan, such as a break in enrollment for one or more quarters, may result in the student being dropped from the program.

The requirements for the MS are as follows:

  1. Completion of at least twelve and no more than twenty-four units of research, which may begin as early as the first quarter of the senior undergraduate year. Students accumulate units for their research by enrolling in PHYS 295 (MS Thesis Research), which may be taken repeatedly.
  2. Completion of MATS 201A-B-C during the fifth (graduate) year.
  3. Completion of two restricted electives, to be chosen from PHYS 201, 211A-B; MATS 227, 240A-B-C; ECE 231, 233 (other courses allowed by petition).
  4. Completion of additional courses (restricted electives and/or research) so that the total number of units (research plus required courses plus elective courses) totals no fewer than thirty-six units taken as a graduate student.
  5. Maintenance of a grade point average of at least 3.0 for all course work, both cumulatively and for each quarter of enrollment in the BS/MS program.
  6. Completion of a thesis, with an oral presentation to, and approval of, a three-member committee from the Department of Physics including the faculty adviser. If the faculty adviser is from outside the Department of Physics, the committee shall consist of the adviser and two members from the Department of Physics faculty.
  7. Three consecutive quarters of full-time residency as a graduate student that will commence the quarter immediately following the quarter in which the BS is awarded (not counting Summer Session).
  8. Although students may receive research or teaching assistantships if available, there is no guarantee of financial support associated with the MS program. Students who obtain a teaching assistantship should make sure that it does not interfere with completion of the MS degree requirements within the one-year time frame allotted.
  9. Teaching is not a requirement for the MS.

Suggested Schedule—MS requirements completed during the fourth and fifth (graduate) year:

FALL

WINTER

SPRING