The Physics and Astronomy Department
Graduate Handbook

August 1997 Revision

This handbook contains a collection of general Physics and Astronomy Department policies concerning graduate study.
The various bylaws are also included.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Hierarchy of Policies

I. Summary of M.S. Requirements
II. Summary of Ph.D. Requirements

Appendices

A. Placement/Qualifying Examination
B. Candidacy Requirement
C. Foreign Language Requirement
D. Credit-No Credit Grades
E. Astronomy 800/Physics 800: Introduction to Research
F. Possible Courses for First Year Students
G. Academic Adviser
H. Ph.D. Guidance Committee
I. Final Defense of Dissertation
J. Physics Graduate Student Bylaws
K. Graduate Student's Rights and Responsibilities

POLICIES GOVERNING GRADUATE STUDIES IN PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY AT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY

In the hierarchy of policies and requirements that govern graduate studies, there are:

the University's policies at the top,
the College of Natural Science's requirements and policies next in line, followed by
the Physics and Astronomy Department's policies, and lastly,
the requirements set down by the student's Guidance Committee (in the case of a Ph.D. candidate). For the first 2 of these we refer you to the "Graduate Catalog" (Michigan State University, Graduate Studies).

1. University Policies:
See the appropriate section in the "Graduate Catalog".

2. College of Natural Science Policies:
The basic structure of these policies can be found in the "Graduate Catalog". However, important specific details about the implementation of these policies and regulations (and the policies and regulations of the University and the College) will be described in what follows.

I. SUMMARY OF M.S. REQUIREMENTS

i) Earn 30 credits with a grade point average of at least 3.0 (with no more than 3 courses in which grades below 3.0 and deferred grades are received).

A minimum of 16 credits must be at the graduate level (800- and 900-level in course number). Up to 14 credits of senior level courses may be counted in the total of 30 credits needed for the M.S., provided these courses have not been used previously in the credit total toward another degree. Senior level courses include all of the Physics and Astronomy courses with course numbers in the 400-499 interval.

In addition to Physics and Astronomy courses, with specific approval by the Department Chair or his/her designated representative, mathematics courses at the 400-level and above, some Engineering, Biophysics and Geology courses may be included in the 30-credit total.

If the student chooses Plan A (with thesis), 4 to 10 credits of thesis research, PHY 899 (or AST 899 if the student is in the Astronomy M.S. program), are to be included in the total of 30. Also, a maximum of 9 semester credits may be transferred from other accredited graduate schools.

ii) Pass the Qualifying Examination at the M.S. level.

iii) In addition, the student is urged to take advantage of the possibilities available for research experience, whether (s)he chooses the thesis option or not. To encourage him/her to do this, there is available course credit, 3 credits per semester up to a total of 6 credits during the student's first or second year, which can be counted towards the 30 credits necessary for the M.S. (see section on Physics/Astronomy 800).

lI. SUMMARY OF Ph.D. REQUIREMENTS

i) Pass the Qualifying Examination on undergraduate Physics at a high performance level (called the Ph.D. level), before the end of the student's first semester of the second year.

ii) Satisfy the Ph.D. Candidacy Requirement by the end of his/her second year (see Appendix A for details). Normally a student will be given two attempts at each of the parts of this requirement.

iii) Complete a program of coursework. The following courses must be completed:

Methods of Theoretical Physics (Fall)
Classical Mechanics, PHY 820 (Fall)
Quantum Mechanics I, PHY 851 (Fall)
Quantum Mechanics II, PHY 852 (Spring)
Electrodynamics I, PHY 841 (Spring)
Electrodynamics II, PHY 842 (Fall)
Statistical Mechanics, PHY 831 (FALL)

Astronomy/Astrophysics students would not be required to take the Quantum Mechanics sequence. In their place are AST 801 (Introduction to Astrophysics) and AST 802 (Astronomy Practicum).

In addition to these, the student's Ph.D. Guidance Committee will prescribe courses. These courses will be principally from the student's area of research specialty.

iv) Write a dissertation on original research, followed by an oral examination based on the dissertation and related material.

v) Register and pay for a minimum of 24 credits of doctoral dissertation research (Physics or Astronomy 999).

APPENDIX A: PLACEMENT/QUALIFYING EXAMINATION

When is it offered?
Before the start of each semester of the academic year.

Who is required to take it?
All incoming students will take the Placement/Qualifying Examination upon arrival.

What is covered on the exam?
This examination will cover undergraduate E & M, Mechanics, Thermodynamics, and some topics from Quantum Mechanics such as are covered in a Modern Physics course or the early parts of an undergraduate Quantum Mechanics course.

What is the purpose of the Exam?
To test the level of a student's understanding of basic undergraduate physics material and problem-solving skills. For entry into the Ph.D. program, all students must pass this examination at the Ph.D. level. This examination also serves as the M.S. degree Qualifying Examination.

For incoming students the examination principally serves as a diagnostic tool to be used by the AAG (Academic Advisers, Graduate) in making course placement recommendations for the student's first year. Based on the performance on that examination and the prior record, a student will be advised by the AAG to take the standard set of first semester courses (Methods of Theoretical Physics, Classical Mechanics, and Quantum Mechanics I) or, depending upon courses and grades prior to coming here, take some senior undergraduate courses, such as PHY 481 (E & M I), PHY 471 (Quantum Physics I), or PHY 422 (Classical Mechanics II) during the Fall Semester.

APPENDIX B: Ph.D. CANDIDACY REQUIREMENT

Michigan State University requires all students pursuing a Ph.D. program to pass a Comprehensive Examination. In the Physics and Astronomy Department, the requirement is as follows:

At the end of each of the following courses, the students will be examined in their Final Examinations both as the final exam for the course grade as well as for one of the Subject Examinations that make up the Candidacy package.

a) Classical Mechanics, PHY 820
b) Equilibrium Statistical Mechanics, PHY 831
c) Electrodynamics I, PHY 841
d) Quantum Mechanics sequence, PHY 851 and 852 (the Candidacy Exam section on this topic is at the end of PHY 852)

In these four examinations (covering 5 courses), an average final examination grade of 3.5 with no grade lower than a 3.0 will satisfy the Ph.D. Candidacy requirement.

For students in the Astronomy graduate program, the two semester exams on Quantum Mechanics will be replaced with examinations over two courses, AST 801 and AST 802.

APPENDIX C: FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

The Department of Physics and Astronomy has no foreign language requirement.

APPENDIX D: CREDIT - NO CREDIT GRADES FOR PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY GRADUATE COURSES

a) Normal grading procedures will be used for the standard first-year graduate courses (the Physics courses: Methods of Theoretical Physics (MTP), 820, 831, 841, 842, 851, and 852, AST 801 and 802), with the instructors in these courses assigning final grades in the standard manner (on the scale of 0.0 to 4.0).
However, a student may choose to enroll for these courses on the Credit-No Credit basis with "Cr" appearing on the transcript if (s)he earns a grade of 3.0 or better. If (s)he chooses to take the course on the regular grading basis, the actual numerical grade awarded will appear on the transcript. In either case, the Physics Department records will show the numerical grade.
b) Anyone taking courses other than those listed above is encouraged to register for them on the Cr-No Cr basis.

APPENDIX E: PHYSICS-ASTRONOMY 800, Introduction to Research

All incoming graduate students, unless otherwise involved in a research program, may enroll in Physics 800 or Astronomy 800 (3 credits), "Introduction to Research". The first summer in the graduate program is a convenient time to take this for the first time. Some students who, for some reason, will not be taking the standard first year courses, may take this course earlier, such as during the second semester of the student's first year. Others, who wish to speed up their participation in research, may take this course in addition to the standard courses. Informal research activity is also encouraged for first year students.

The general procedure is that each student, who has no particular research preference, will spend each of two semesters in different major areas of Physics represented in the department. After two such semesters, the student should get an intelligent view of what goes on in these areas.

However, if a student has a strong preference for a particular area, his/her early deeper involvement with the research in that area should certainly take precedence over getting a quick and broad view of everything.

This procedure will

assist Ph.D. candidates and faculty to get better acquainted with each other before making long term commitments
help solve the problem of how to get Ph.D. students involved with research early
give M.S. students that modicum of research experience that may make them more employable.

The Physics-Astronomy Department Graduate Student Organization (PGO) has available a booklet in which there are brief summaries of what is happening in the various laboratories and what research the faculty are currently involved in.

A student enrolling for Physics or Astronomy 800 for the 3 credits per semester will spend a minimum of 10 hours per week in the laboratory of a faculty member, learning all that (s)he can by just being there, learning from the more advanced graduate students, assisting in data taking, computer work, etc. Interested students should make contact with faculty members before enrolling for the course, and make the necessary arrangements for the affiliation. Physics 800 and Astronomy 800 are offered by the Pass-No Pass (P-N) grade basis.

APPENDIX F: POSSIBLE COURSES FOR FIRST-YEAR GRADUATE STUDENTS

Physics Graduate Students

Physics 851 (3 credits)
Quantum Mechanics I
Physics 852 (3 credits)
Quantum Mechanics II

Physics 905 (3 credits)
Methods of Theoretical Physics (MTP)
Physics 841 (3 credits)
Classical Electrodynamics I

Physics 820 (3 credits)
Classical Mechanics
Physics 831 (3 credits)
Statistical Mechanics OR Frontiers (1 credit)

For Astronomy Graduate Students

Astronomy graduate students will defer the Quantum Mechanics sequence until year two, and in the place of these two courses, AST 801 and 802 are to be substituted.

APPENDIX G: ACADEMIC ADVISER

All incoming graduate students will be advised by the Graduate Student Advisers (AAG) in the department. The AAG's function is to assist the incoming student with the initial preparation of an academic program that matches smoothly with the student's undergraduate preparation and which directs him/her towards his/her degree and career goals. This committee will be involved through the student's first year, assisting and advising the student through the complexities of beginning a graduate program, working through the first year of it, and matching a complete program to future goals and just to assist with any problems that may arise.

For M.S. candidates, the AAG will supervise the preparation for the student's degree program semester by semester, and ensure that the student meets all of the degree requirements. For Ph.D. candidates, the Chairperson of the student's Ph.D. Guidance Committee performs the functions of the AAG once the student has formed a Guidance Committee and is accepted into the Ph.D. Program.

APPENDIX H: THE Ph.D. GUIDANCE COMMITTEE

No specified minimum number of course credits is required by Michigan State University for the Ph.D. degree. In addition to the required sequence of first year courses and program coursework is determined by the individual student's Guidance Committee in consultation with the student. In addition to planning coursework, the Guidance Committee plans the student's research program and administers the final oral exam after the completion of the dissertation.

Because of the role the Guidance Committee plays in planning the student's course and research program, it is important that such a committee be formed at the earliest possible time after a doctoral student has made a decision about his/her area of research and certainly before the end of the student's second year in residence. In fact, the University regulations require all Ph.D. candidates to be assigned a Guidance Committee upon admission to the program. The student should consult the office of the Associate Chairperson in making the necessary arrangements.

It is the responsibility of the Guidance Committee and the student to meet at least once a year to review the progress of the student and plans for the coming year.

APPENDIX I: FINAL DEFENSE OF DISSERTATION

To give the Ph.D. candidate's Guidance Committee (the official examining committee) ample time to study carefully the dissertation the candidate is presenting for acceptance, it is the candidate's responsibility to give to each member of the Guidance Committee a final printed draft of the dissertation at least ten days prior to the date of the dissertation defense.

Furthermore, in order that all faculty may have the opportunity to read the dissertation prior to the oral defense and to participate in the defense, copies of the dissertation must be made available in the Physics-Astronomy Conference Room and the Cyclotron Library at the same time that copies of the dissertation are placed in the hands of the members of the Guidance Committee.

Hence, when the student's Ph.D. dissertation has been written and is in examination form, the student shall distribute copies to the members of the Guidance Committee, the Department Chairperson (for the P-A Conference Room ) and the Cyclotron Library. The Department Chair's office will thereupon schedule the final dissertation defense examination for a date of ten or more days after receiving the copy.

The dissertation examination shall be open and all faculty shall be welcome to attend and participate in questioning the candidate on the dissertation. However, the final deliberation of the guidance committee shall be held in private.

APPENDIX J:PHYSICS GRADUATE STUDENT BYLAWS

I. Nature, Name and Purpose

A. The graduate students of the Physics Department comprise a group to be called the Physics Graduate Organization (PGO).
B. The elected representatives of the PGO constitute a body called the Physics Graduate Council (PGC). Their principal function is to represent the views of the physics graduate students to the administration of the department, college and university, and to inform their constituents of their own representative actions and administrative decisions that affect graduate students.

II. Meetings

A. Meetings of the PGO shall be of two kinds:
1. Ordinary An ordinary meeting of the PGO shall be called in the Spring of the year by the president for the purpose of electing representatives to the standing committees of the department (named in Section III), a representative to the Council of Graduate Students, a representative to the Graduate Student Council of the College of Natural Science, and a new President of PGO.
2. Extraordinary For matters of great importance a meeting of the PGO must be called by the president. (S)he must also do so upon the written request of at least five graduate students.
B. Meetings of the PGC are called by the president when (s)he deems necessary or upon the request of at least two members of the PGC, but no less than once a semester.
C. Robert's Rules of Order shall be observed at meetings of the PGO. These rules may be suspended by unanimous vote.

III. Composition of the PGC: Duties and Prerogatives

A. The PGC shall be composed of eight members:
1. President, who shall also be a representative to the Advisory Committee.
2. One Representative, to both the Council of Graduate Students and the Advisory Committee.
3. One Representative, to both the Graduate Course and Program, and the Graduate Admissions Committee.
4. One Representative, to serve on three committees: Teaching Assignment, Educational Policies, and Service Course. This person should have at least one year of teaching experience.
5. One Representative, to both the P-A Shop and related technical services, and the Space Utilization and Remodeling committees.
6. One Representative, to both the Library and the Publicity committees.
7. One Representative, to the Graduate Student Council of the College of Natural Science.
B. The same person may not simultaneously fill the positions of President of PGO and Council of Graduate Students representative.
C. The members of the PGC shall be nominated and elected in an ordinary meeting of the PGO. They may be recalled in any meeting of the PGO.
D. The PGC may submit statements that represent graduate student opinion to departmental and ad hoc committees with the understanding that these statements will be considered.
E. The representatives shall have power to initiate and second motions and to vote in the committees on which they sit. They shall, at the same time, be ready to assume committee work.
F. The President, in consultation with the Council of Graduate Students representative, shall make or delegate decisions and responsibilities of routine nature or minor importance.
G. The Council of Graduate Students representative shall have power to represent the physics graduate students at meetings of the Advisory Committee.

Graduate Studies
Home

The Physics and Astronomy Department Graduate Handbook

The Physics and Astronomy Department
Graduate Handbook