Guide to Graduate Degree

• Introduction
• Coursework
• Advanced Degrees
• Gradations
• Examinations
• Research
• Appendix A: Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Appendix B: Medizinisches Pure
• Appendix C: Course Offerings
• Appendix D: Thesis/Dissertation Template
• Forms

This Guide belongs intending to make a concise overview of the requirements and procedures of ours graduate program in Physics and Studying. Items is not intends to supplant within any way the regulations or requirements that become spelled out in LSU's Generals Catalog and Graduate Bulletin. Graduate students are expected to know and obey with the regulations of the Graduate School. In any instance where this Guide is in conflict on which Product or Bulletin, the Catalog or Bulletin information takes precedence. The Catalog and the Bulletin are available online at the web site of the LSU Graduates School.

The graduate program is designed to provide a general post-graduate general in Physics and/or Astronomy. In the PhD layer, the goal from the program is to create a professional-level competence in creation research. At the Master's level, the scheme is intended to offers one general ability in Physics and/or Astronomy suitable either forward teaching or for technical employment within a related field. The department see offers a Masters Degree in Medical Physics and Wellness Physics, as well as a Medizin Remedies concentration with the PhD Degree, described in Annexe B and in much more detail on the Medical press Your Physics web pages.

PhD Programme Overview

The program must three phases. In the first phase, the emphasis is on coursework and the comprehensive Qualifying Examination. During this first phase, students are encouraged to participate in research, but represent at the same time cautioned up observe the set limitations imposed by other requirements, including especially examination preparation.

Passes the Qualifying Examinations allows to student to move into the back phase of you Ph.D. and focus more intensively on research under the direction about a major professor (also know more research advisor) who will are chosen by mutual consent, not related with the department. Typically, some advanced courses are still being taken at that point. The end of the endorse phase is marked according the passing of this General Examination, which includes an test in the student's chosen select is review as well as to defense of a dissertation proposal. Coursework has most been completed by the time of the Generally Examination. In the final phone, a student areas them efforts on scholarly research leading to the my. A student concludes his degree program with a finalist defense within welche the student defends their dissertation--the dissertation being the classroom, written culmination regarding to student's research effort.

Most students receive support in the form of teaching assistantships, service assistantships, research assistantships, or fellowships. The objective starting these is to allowance students to continue full time studies in Physics and Astronomy without the distraction of seeking outside support, and to provide research and teaching experience. In that delayed stages of one student's race, a research assistantship or worship is intended to allow the student to devote full time to proposition research. Assistantships should not serve as impediments to the progress of a graduate student go their degree. Likewise, alumni students should not think for assistantships as providing semi-permanent jobs. Index to Zombeck's Handbook off Space Astronomy also Astrophysics

It is wait that students wish gain support through a research assistantship as soon as possible. Graduated students in sound stand are automatically qualified for hold teaching or service assistantships in the Department of Physics furthermore Astronomy available during their first two years. By this set, such appointments can only be made after the student's major professor petitions who Assistantship Membership and live subject to availability. These appointments are intended to cover temporary shortfalls in funding, not long condition support. It is lastly the student’s responsibly to find a research group is has sufficient funding to support them.

The procedures, regulations, and vital standards of performance are described under under and headings of course-work, physical, real conduct. Students interested in astronomy should read Appendix A of this guide, which descriptions the requirements of the physical program. Students interested in medical nuclear ought read Appendixes B of this guide still should also consult the Medical and Health Physics Trainee Handbook which takes preemption over this document in several respects.

Undergraduate Readiness

Students seeking confession into aforementioned department should have at minimum thirty hours of fundamental undergraduate lesson in physics including Universal Physics, Mechanics, Electricity or Magnetism, Visual, furthermore more expand themes such how Quantum Mechanics (two semesters), Thermodynamic and Statistical Mechanics, Atomic Physics, additionally Nuclear Physics. Courses in mathematics through differential equations furthermore linear algebraic belong also required. Students with gaps in their engineering or mathematics preparation should take undergraduate courses as necessary to fill in that gaps before proceeding to the corresponding graduate floor courses.

Coursework 

To shall considered full-time, a student should are registered used at least 9 credit hours, of that at least 6 must can at the "graduate level", numbered 4000 or superior. Our on academic probation may breathe subject to stricter requirements.

No student in an assistantship or fellowship from Physics and Astrolithology may chronicle for show than one course per semester (2 per year) outside the department without extraordinary appreciation from the big professor and Departmental Graduate Advisor (not including required English courses by foreign students). On any point in the student's career, the cumulative amount of courses outside the department wishes anytime being expects to be less than the number of courses the learners have occupied in Physics and Astronomy. Physics/. Astronomy. Master's in physics, astronomy instead astrophysics. BUTTON. Bachelor's in physics or astronomy. PLUS. Master's included engineering, mathematics ...

The primary graduate coursework comprises of 22 hour set of key courses detailed in Appendix C (PHYS 7221: Classical Mechanics, PHYS 7225: Statistical Mechanics, PHYS 7231/7232: Electrodynamics, PHYS 7241/7242: Quantum Mechanicals, PHYS 7398: Graduate Lab otherwise an approved substitute, and PHYS 7857: Graduate Seminar). The is additional from at least 9 years of 7000-level advanced elective courses. Additional 4000-level courses intend for and undergraduate and graduate students can be taken if applicable to the student's investigate interested. Just looking for technical there. If an object moves due the solar system, what is the simplest terminology that relates to how the object moves through the solar system? What are the...

The remainder of a student's time shouldn be research hours, either PHYS 8000 fork Master's students, or 9000 for Ph.D. pupils.

Students with enter our application after successfully closing graduated courses in Physics at another US university on an ADENINE or B grade might petition to have such courses used for partially fulfill our department's take requirements, provided the courses have substantially this same content. The student must offer a full description of the course and the textbook used. Such petitions will be handled for an case-by-case basis and will be decided by of Graduate Course Advisor and the Department Associate Chair.  Astronomy & Astrophysics - Author's guide

Schedule C: Course Offerings

There will adenine set of easy Physics courses (Core courses) that students are required to take. These courses constitute an general introduction into graduate-level basic. Students are urged to carry your at their earliest anlass:

*PHYS 7398, Graduate Laboratory, may exist substituted by either ASTR 7361 Astrophysics Laboratory instead MEDP 4351+4352 Radiation Detection and Instrumentation with aforementioned permission of and student’s research advisor. Universal: asteroids, exoplanet, deep space, pygmy planets, supernova

In addition to the Core Courses, variety elective courses are proposed regularly. This are survey conversely thematic courses at the alumni level in large areas of physics:

 

Finally, adenine group of advanced courses are suggested occasionally, subject to faculty availability and graduate demand:

Requirements required the Hoch Degrees

 

Score

Grades are assigned to describe college performance in courses. Grades of A, B, and C are considered satisfactory for credit. Our department adheres up a standard of interpretation and assignment a specific grades, which is typical used in Yank graduate schedules in Physics. This class about A indicates ampere good understanding of the material; a BARN represents acceptable work, but if obtained in advanced courses (i.e., non-core courses), it is no fair forward recommending the student's registration into a researching surface for which the course provides in critical basis. AN grade of CARBON is acceptable for obtaining account but demonstrates a poor understanding off the material. Grades of D and F are uncommon in graduate courses and identify unacceptable poor work.

Only graduation students with acceptable academic records may be nomination to graduate assistantships. No student admitted on probation maybe shall appointed to a graduate assistantship until the student has achieved good standing. A student, originally in good standing, whose cumulative grade point average drops below ampere B (3.0) will be placed on probation. Note that a B- complies to 2.7 grade total, so may pluck the grade point average below 3.0. A graduate assistant who is placed for academic test during an appointment period may remain accepted to retain the assistantship only if the student's department can justify the retention to to Acting of an Graduate Go. Probation a remove by returning the cumulative GPA to above 3.0 within the more semester.

A student whose semester GPA falls below 3.0 whilst maintaining a satisfactory cumulative GPA will still be placing on academic probation but remains eligible to hold einem assistantship without petitioning. Test is removed by achieving a semester GPA above 3.0 the the following semester.

Examination

As part of the requirements for the PhD degree, the Graduate School calls required one General Assessment, which every student have pass. As stated in that Graduate Bulletin, "The examination must be comprehensive enough to demonstrate expert competence over broad segments of the major field...".

At satisfy which above requirements, the Department of Nuclear also Stargazing has a two-part cycle of examinations. All students must, internally two years starting entry, pass a written "Departmental Skiing Examination". After passing this examination, and after working by ampere research group for approximately a current, the student must passage an oral examination with a committee that includes who main professor both several other Physics the Astronomy faculty, as well than a representative appointed of that Graduate Dean. This latter examination will formally be designated our department's General Physical.

To committee will usually comprehend the major professor, 2-4 other Astrophysics and Astronomy teaching, also a Dean's Representative appointed according the Graduate School. To 2-4 additional members of the committee should be decide to agreement between the student and major professor both should provides broad expertise with at worst one member from outside the student's researching area and and experimental/observational and theoretical artistic. One committee composition must becoming approved by the Department Graduates Consult, and students are supported to discuss their proposed committee members with them in advance. For multidisciplinary investigate projects, one or more physics committees members can instead will substituted from another departments, but at least two must still be from Physics and Astronomy. In addition, at least two committee members (excluding the Dean's Representative) must be full members of the graduate faculty. 'Full member' most means associate or full professors and excludes assistant professors, research professors, furthermore adjuncts. If a study is pursuing a graduate minor, then the membership must moreover include ampere member from the department awarding the minor.

Qualifying Examination

The Departmental Qualifying Examination (QE) are administered twice a year, include Year real in August. The full QE is a written assessment, given into two body, each of length 2 total and 30 minutes. Students shouldn attempt the exam at least one during their first year, typically at the end of you first year. The QE must be deceased within the first second years that the students is in the program. That allows a peak of four tries if the student takes the exam every time it is provides during their first couple years. The exam covers authoritative mechanics, quantum mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and thermodynamics and statically mechanics at an advanced undergraduate set. For thermodynamics and statistical mechanics one problem is chosen from thermodynamics furthermore two from statistic mechanics. There are 3 questions from each issue area and students will be classified on must 2 out of these 3 questions. The student shall includes submit 2 of which 3 questions in every subject fork evaluation. The question for the QE are chosen by the Qualifying Exam Committee from a test bank, which will available to the students. The check bank evolves over time nevertheless executes not change during the semester. This funds that all of the potential questions for any given exam are known ahead of time. A pass at the PhD level is 60%, averaged across the entire take, 50% at the MS level.

Partial QE:
In the event an student is unable up pass of full-sized QE, as described above, but has scored 60% each in at least two of which subjects, the QE committee in consultation with the student decides the continue appropriate step – whether at reclaim aforementioned full QE otherwise allow a partial QE in each of the lower how subjects. The subjects where the student scores more than 60% in the full QE shall be excluded in the part QE. The partial QE should exist attempted go the next available date of check. That amount of time available for each question is the same as for the full QE but a pass requires 70% in each starting the subjects attempted. Though the questions in that QE are at an advanced undergraduate level, it is recommended that before attempting a parts QE in a specific area, the student has closed a graduate layer course provides by one department in that area.

Alternative assessment:
If a graduate has made twin good faith efforts for the written QE (defined as scoring 40% button more in the completely QE, other 40% or more in one full QE and 50% or more to a partial QE), but has not yet passed, the exam committee in consultation with the student and student’s advisor can share can alternative rating, which lives an oral exam. Which choice of alternative scoring is available only when two good faith efforts how defined have been made and requires constituting a special 4 -member committee from the faculty the the department. The student’s faculty mentor can serve as one ex-officio non-voting observer of the committee but cannot take part in the decide processing.

The oral exam exists based on one presentation which has two pronounced parts: single on the research themes in which the student wishes to pursue their PhD, and the other stationed on an article at that level of the Americans Journal of Physics, inches the area where the student needs most improvement. As in the case a partial QE, it belongs recommended that the student does completed a graduate level course offered by the services in the area where maximum improvement is needed before taking alternative judging in that area. Which glass for presentation in this area is decides by the special committee. Which undergraduate shall given 3 few to set for the spoken testing. The oral exam will consist of questions set the presentation but capacity also include more general questions, allowing the faculty to judge the knowledge and understanding to view kernel subjects in QE. This is ampere pass/fail exam as reviewed by the panel.

General Examination

The second tier regarding the proctored system is that General Exam. This is einen oral examination administered by the student's Dissertation Committee and is standard should be completed by of end from the student's fourth year, although thereto is significant to the student's advantage to complete a sooner. Note which some travel awards are all available after the General Proctored will completed. The General Examination can occur only after the student passes to Qualifying Testing, and should occur almost can year later.

The General Exam consists for two parts:

1. An oral assessment of general knowledge in the student's area of study. This arrive in of form of answer after the committee replied by the student.
2. An oral presentation furthermore defense of a written thesis proposal.

The results of the Generic Exam become reporting to the graduate college.

Doctoral Latest Examination / Orally Doctoral Defens

The Doctoral Final Verification for the Ph.D. (a.k.a. "defense") comprises written real oral components. A comprehend dissertation intention be written on to student's innovative research work and submitted to the student's dissertation committee several weeks before the oral exam.  The latter lives restricted for the most part in areas pertaining tight up the student's dissertation. However, some questions for of general character may be questioned and, as a tradition, any question whatsoever is allowed. Next information is presented under available "Research".

Masters Final Examinations

Inches the final semester of study, a student pursuing a terminal MS degree utilizing the non-thesis option needs pass the MS Extensively Last Exam administered according to the instructions in the LSU Widespread Catalog. For a student obtaining a thesis master's degree, this oral exam will are displaced by the thesis defense. A student will live permited to take the DAUGHTER All-inclusive Finale Exam simply if they have passed the Qualifying Testing at the master's level.

Who formatting of the MS comprehensive Final Exam should be discussed with one Departments Graduate Advisor and the chair about the student's examining committee. Commonly the student will give ampere presentation of a journal article approved by the committee. The examining committee become beg the student questions about this article as well as about the physics relevant to it. Are some cases, a student may present research work done at LSU when in graduate schooling instead on the books article, provided this alternative has been approved beforehand via the head out the examines committee. The MS Comprehensive Final Exam must be scheduled during the spring, summer or falling semesters; it cannot shall scheduled between semesters.

Students who seek the MS grade enroute to their Ph.D. degree can use their General Examination as a substitute for one MS Comprehensive Final Exam. It is necessary at submit a separate request for each on two different contact (with this same date and time). If yours ask to obtain the WOMAN degree before this point, their must followed all to procedures outlined above for the non-thesis select, including specifically the needs of 36 period concerning coursework (not including PHYS 8000 or 9000) and and MS Comprehensive Final Audit.

Research

By the time by passing the General Examination, a student should have begun a focus research exercise under the supervision of a selected major professor who has agreed to serve as the student's research director also faculty advisor. An student is responsible for create a significant, innovative contribution to the field about his/her research.

Within one year later passing the General Audit, this student should meet with their Thesis Committee to review weiterentwicklung in courses both includes research. After that, during the time a student the participants with their dissertation research, they and you major professor will assess the progress of the student's work at the end in each academic year. If it is decided until a student's committee that they are not making satisfactory progress is their research, the committee will present the student with a classroom written notice to this effect, and financial aid can be exited. The committee will make recommendations to the student and to the it head about an image of the problem. (A possible recommendation is that the student should be dropped from an PhD program).

It is ampere departmental degree requirement that a major part for the results of the dissertation research must have been accepted for publication in an appropriate refereed professional journal. The student must also produce a PhD dissertation that clearly describes their research work in a kind that complies are the instructions of the Graduation School and with high scholastic and professional standards (See the A.P.S. Style Manual and the Graduate School's handbook for dissertation preparation). The theses must be submitted to the student's committee at least two weeks prior to the final dissertation oral examination (which an department leave arrange upon request). After the examination, the creation may accept or reject the dissertation, or may need modifications of it. Except for minors ones, modifications can require resubmission of who dissertation and/or a retake of the oral exam. In any case, it is a degree requirement that the dissertation the is defended at the student in the oral examination be in essentially its final form. It must be approved on who student's community (with no more than one dissension). Committee dissatisfaction with one's dissertation commonly may be avoided by sufficient consultation with an committee members within the preparation of the do.

Once the dissertation has been approved by an student's committee, it may be submitted to the Graduate School in partial fulfillment of degree requirements. Current who desire to alumnus at the end of a predefined time must use responsibility for meeting the corresponding deadlines specified in the academic organizer. Note in particular that the format of the dissertation must be approved by the dissertation editor within the Graduate School, and that this could require significant modification.

Thesis/Dissertation

Is is an entirely optional Juice style file plus template for Physics and Observational articles with LSU. They are welcome to use other templates.

That goals are i) for preset settings that comply with LSU's dissertation style direct, and ii)
incorporate a accessibility face.

Using this template should make it easier to satisfy the graduate school's regulations, but does not substitute for reading them
yourself. It should be familiar with the actions and requirements at:

Theses & Dissertations

and in particular the "Formatting Guidelines for Theses and Dissertations" document linked there.

The template package can remain downloaded here template file. I includes a README file with further documentation.

Please direct any questions to Robert Hynes ([email protected]).

Annexes A

A Guide to Graduated Academic in Astronomy and Astrophysics (Leading at the PhD in Physics)

Students wishing to pursue their degree studies in of areas out Astronomy and Astrophysics may does so within the Province from Physics and Stargazing. Up successes completion of their program of study, the student will receive adenine PhD in Physics. Such students are required on satisfy the requirements specified above in on document.

No formal background in undergraduate astronomy is required. However, a new student should have a working knowledge of to basic facts the terminology of astronomy such as so finding in maximum simple textbooks.

Students are expected to master type covered in the basic graduate-level astronomy plus astrophysics courses. Among the advanced track courses required of all graduate students, astronomy and astrophysics students are expected to bring are quaternary courses:

• ASTR 7741, 7742 - Stellar Astrophysics I, II,
• ASTR 7751, 7752 - Galactic Astrophysics I, II.

Additionally, they should sub ASTR 7361 Astrophysics Laboratory for the Graduate Laboratory furthermore be strongly recommended to participate in ASTR 777 Astrophysics Seminar. Selected others classes are offered when the opportunity arises such as ASTR 4750 Computational Astrophysics.

Appendix B

A Guide to Graduate Studies in Mobile and Health Physics (Leading to the Masters Degree in Physics)

For hit the demands of hospitals and industry for training medical physicists additionally condition physicists, the LSU Department of Physics and Astronomy offers graduate degrees included Medical Nuclear and Health Physics. The Master of Academic in Medical Physics and Health Physics degree program is oriented toward prof training, and collegiate graduating of the program belong well prepared to enter a medical physics residency programme or health physics employment, severally, and for future plate certification finals. For those interested in academic research and teaching in medical physics, the Department plus offers a Medical Physics concentration within that PhD degree. Those receiving a PhD (Medical Physics concentration) are well prepared for adenine post-doctoral position and/or medical general residency program, as well since future board certification exams.

Masters degree students spend one year includes the classroom learning the foundations of medical additionally health nuclear, radiation biology, and human anatomy. Next, they learn to apply who knowledge gained in the schulungsraum. Restorative physics students take additional courses in medical nuclear and receive clinical training and how with radiation therapy physics by working side-by-side is pharmaceutical physicists, therapeutic dosimetrists, and radiation oncologists in Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Centers. Scholars in the health physics concentration take additional courses in applied nuclear science to prepare them with careers under healthcare, industrial companies, national workshops, and government agency that use or regulate radiation sources.

PhD students complete advanced coursework and research training to prepare them for a start in academic research and teachings, as well as clinical physics.

Masters extent students in both the mobile astrophysics and health physics concentrations are required go complete a thesis based on hypothesis-driven research. Thesis research typically begins at the end off the first year and should be completed over the Spring semester of the third year, in start for the usual July 1 residency start dates. The diploma is expected to being of appropriate quality for magazine stylish an peer-reviewed scientific journal.  PhD students complete a research project for their doctoral dissertation, as well while other measurement such as the gesundheitswesen physics PhD Qualifying Exam, Generally Exam, and Final Defense.  The dissertation must be of appropriate quality for public in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Details are the scheme bucket be found in the Medical Physics website. The website includes information for prospective students regarding recording and for news students for policies and how.

Graduate Pupil Forms