Department of Physics and Astronomy

Chris Winstead, Ph.D., Chair
118 College Drive #5046
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
(601) 266-4934

Biswas, Maung, Pandey, Sirola, Vera, Winstead

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers or participates in programs leading to the Master of Science in Physics and the Doctor of Philosophy in Computational Science: Physics emphasis. At the master’s level, the department offers a traditional master’s program in physics as well as emphasis areas in computational science and polymer science. At the doctoral level, the department participates in the Computational Science Ph.D. program.

Admission Requirements

All applicants must satisfy the admission requirements of The Graduate School as outlined in the Graduate Bulletin. Admission to graduate programs in physics is based upon several factors including a student’s previous academic performance, recommendation letters (minimum of three), and official scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (all sections). Letters of recommendation should be from persons qualified to assess the applicant’s readiness for graduate study. A TOEFL (iBT) score of 76 or an IELTS score of 6 is required of those applicants for whom English is not their native language. It is recommended, but not required, that students applying for a stipend take the Advanced Physics GRE.

Prospective master’s degree students should have completed mathematics through differential equations, and satisfactorily completed courses in introductory physics, mechanics, electricity and magnetism, modern physics, and quantum mechanics at the undergraduate level. Applicants possessing a bachelor’s degree in physics may apply for regular admission to the Ph.D. program but will earn a master’s degree in physics as part of a successful progress through the Ph.D. program. Such applicants possessing only a bachelor’s degree will be formally admitted into the master’s degree program and will officially enter the Ph.D. program after earning a master’s degree.

Applicants who hold a degree in physics but are inadequately prepared or those possessing a degree in a field other than physics may be granted conditional admission but will be required to complete makeup courses with a grade of B or better. The Graduate School specifies additional requirements for conditional admission. The department chair may impose additional requirements as well. Students admitted conditionally should communicate with the chair to outline the requirements for removing conditional status. Conditionally admitted students must earn a 3.0 GPA on the first 9 hours or all hours taken the semester the 9 hours are completed.

Plan of Study. Students must submit their signed, official Plan of Study Form to the Graduate School by the end of the second semester they are enrolled. The Plan of Study Forms are available at www.usm.edu/graduateschool/planofstudy.php - click on the “Plans of Study” link.

Research and Scholarly Integrity Education

All faculty holding Regular or Associate graduate faculty status, must complete CITI training modules required by the Graduate School and their departments. All graduate students must complete the CITI training modules required by the Graduate School and their departments the first semester they are enrolled in graduate school. The RSIE policy and training information are found on the Graduate School web page –www.usm.edu/graduate-school. Contact the Dean of the Graduate School if you have any questions regarding the policy of training information.

Programs

Master of Science

Doctor of Philosophy

Computational Science (Physics), Ph.D.