Please refer to the Course Planning page for a general idea of when these courses are offered. For exact dates, times, locations, fees, and instructors, please refer to the course finder.

Ten courses must be completed within five years.  For general M.Sc. students not applying for a concentration, the curriculum consists of four Applied Physics core courses and six electives. At least four of the courses must be in Applied Physics at the 700-level or higher. An Applied Physics elective may be substituted for a required course if the student has previously completed an equivalent graduate-level course. Only one C-range grade (C+, C, or C−) can count toward the master’s degree. All course selections outside of the Applied Physics core, elective, and/or the relevant concentration course requirements below are subject to advisor approval.

Core Courses

Select four (at least three must be from the first six).

Course Number & Name Course Format
Course Number & Name: 615.641 - Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.642 - Electromagnetics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.651 - Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.653 - Classical Mechanics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.654 - Quantum Mechanics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.665 - Modern Physics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.671 - Principles Of Optics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.680 - Materials Science Course Format: Online - Synchronous

Electives

Select six of the following:

Course Number & Name Course Format
Course Number & Name: 535.614 - Fundamentals of Acoustics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.611 - Classical Physics Course Format: In-person, Online - Synchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.647 - Fundamentals of Sensors Course Format: In-person, Online - Asynchronous, Online - Synchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.648 - Alternate Energy Technology Course Format: In-person, Online - Synchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.662 - Introduction to Astrophysics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.731 - Photovoltaic & Solar Thermal Energy Conversion Course Format: In-person
Course Number & Name: 615.745 - Physics of Space Systems II Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.747 - Sensors and Sensor Systems Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.748 - Introduction to Relativity Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.751 - Modern Optics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous, Online - Synchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.755 - Space Physics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.757 - Solid State Physics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.761 - Intro To Oceanography Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.762 - Applied Computational Electromagnetics Course Format: Online - Synchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.765 - Chaos and Its Applications Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.769 - Physics of Remote Sensing Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.772 - Cosmology Course Format: Online - Asynchronous, Online - Synchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.775 - Physics of Climate Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.778 - Optical System Design and Modelling Course Format: Online - Synchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.780 - Optical Detectors & Applications Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.781 - Quantum Information Processing Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.782 - Optics and Matlab Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.800 - Applied Physics Project Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.802 - Directed Studies in Applied Physics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 675.613 - The Bold Science Motivating and Enabled by our Engineering Course Format: Online - Asynchronous

COURSES BY CONCENTRATION

A Concentration can be selected but is not required. Concentrations are noted on the student’s transcript.

Materials and Condensed Matter Core Courses

Students can elect to concentrate their studies in materials and condensed matter by completing a combination of courses from the Applied Physics (615.xxx), Electrical and Computer Engineering (525.xxx), and Materials Science and Engineering (515.xxx) programs. Four Applied Physics core courses are required. Of the remaining six courses, four or more must be 700 level materials and condensed matter courses selected from the Applied Physics (615.xxx), Electrical and Computer Engineering (525.xxx), and Materials Science and Engineering (515.xxx) programs. The remaining two electives can be from Applied Physics or other EP program. All course selections are subject to advisor approval.

Course Number & Name Course Format
Course Number & Name: 615.641 - Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.642 - Electromagnetics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.651 - Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.680 - Materials Science Course Format: Online - Synchronous

Materials and Condensed Matter Electives

Select at least four

Course Number & Name Course Format
Course Number & Name: 515.617 - Nanomaterials Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 515.635 - Mechanical Properties of Materials Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 525.606 - Electronic Materials Course Format: Online - Synchronous
Course Number & Name: 525.621 - Introduction to Electronics and the Solid State Course Format: Online - Synchronous
Course Number & Name: 535.684 - Modern Polymeric Materials Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 535.732 - Fatigue and Fracture of Materials Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 535.748 - Stress Waves, Impacts and Shockwaves Course Format: In-person
Course Number & Name: 615.647 - Fundamentals of Sensors Course Format: In-person, Online - Asynchronous, Online - Synchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.747 - Sensors and Sensor Systems Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.757 - Solid State Physics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.800 - Applied Physics Project Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.802 - Directed Studies in Applied Physics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous

Photonics

Four Applied Physics core courses (EN.615.xxx), one Electrical and Computer Engineering core course (EN.525.xxx), three Photonics electives (700 level), and two electives from Applied Physics or another EP program must be completed.

Core Courses (Applied Physics)

Select 4 of the following:

Course Number & Name Course Format
Course Number & Name: 615.641 - Mathematical Methods for Physics and Engineering Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.642 - Electromagnetics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.653 - Classical Mechanics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.654 - Quantum Mechanics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.665 - Modern Physics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.671 - Principles Of Optics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous

Core Courses (Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Select 1 of the following:

Course Number & Name Course Format
Course Number & Name: 525.613 - Fourier Techniques in Optics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 525.625 - Laser Fundamentals Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 525.691 - Fundamentals of Photonics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous

Photonics Electives

Select at least 3 of the following:

Course Number & Name Course Format
Course Number & Name: 525.613 - Fourier Techniques in Optics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 525.625 - Laser Fundamentals Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 525.636 - Optics & Photonics Lab Course Format: In-person
Course Number & Name: 525.691 - Fundamentals of Photonics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 525.753 - Laser Systems and Applications Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 525.756 - Optical Propagation, Sensing, and Backgrounds Course Format: In-person, Online - Synchronous
Course Number & Name: 525.772 - Fiber-Optic Communication Systems Course Format: Online - Synchronous
Course Number & Name: 525.796 - Introduction to High-Speed Optoelectronics Course Format: Online - Synchronous
Course Number & Name: 525.797 - Advanced Fiber Optic Laboratory Course Format: In-person
Course Number & Name: 585.734 - Biophotonics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.751 - Modern Optics Course Format: Online - Asynchronous, Online - Synchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.778 - Optical System Design and Modelling Course Format: Online - Synchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.780 - Optical Detectors & Applications Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.781 - Quantum Information Processing Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.782 - Optics and Matlab Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.800 - Applied Physics Project 1 Course Format: Online - Asynchronous
Course Number & Name: 615.802 - Directed Studies in Applied Physics 1 Course Format: Online - Asynchronous

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