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Dec 09, 2025
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2025-2026 University Catalog
Physics, PHD
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 Return to: Graduate Degrees
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About the Program
The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Purdue University offers Physics MS and PhD degrees. Physics faculty members are internationally recognized physicists at the forefront of their fields. Faculty explores nature at all length scales, from the subatomic (quarks and gluons) to the macroscopic (black holes and dark energy), and everything in between (atomic and biological systems). The department’s research groups have strong connections across disciplines and collaborate with the College of Engineering, the College of Health and Human Sciences, the College of Pharmacy, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the College of Education at Purdue and with scientists at laboratories and universities throughout the world. Research areas include: applied physics; astrophysics and relativity; atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics; biological physics; condensed matter physics; nuclear physics; particle physics; physics educatoin; planetary physics and geophysics; and quantum information science. Program Website Program Requirements
XX Credits RequiredRequired Courses (18 credits)
Core Courses (12 credits)
Students who pass the Diagnostic test in a specific area and who have passed a graduate course at another institution comparable to the core course with scores equivalent to grade point scores of 3.0/4.0, may file a request for core course equivalence. Each request must provide evidence of successful completion of the comparable course and will be evaluated by the current instructor of the core course. As part of the evaluation, questions related to the subject will be asked to ascertain competency. That evaluation will be reviewed by the Graduate Student Oversight Committee which will then decide whether equivalence should be granted. Equivalence requests for the courses Advanced Theory of Electricity and Magnetism I (PHYS 63000) and Quantum MechanicsI (PHYS 66000) must be submitted before the end of the first week of classes of the student’s first semester at Purdue. Equivalence requests for the courses Thermal Physics (PHYS 61700) and Quantum Mechanics II (PHYS 66100) must be submitted before the end of the first week of classes of the student’s second semester at Purdue. Mathematics Courses (6 credits)
Any 500/600-level mathematics courses can satisfy this requirement. These courses may be replaced in whole or in part by PHYS 60000 and 601000. Optional Refresher Courses (0-12 credits)
Students may consider enrolling in 500-level Physics courses, listed below, to prepare for success in the core courses. Offered each spring. Specialty Courses (12 credits)
In addition to the core courses, each graduate student must take at least three Specialty Courses approved by the Physics and Astronomy Department. Almost all 500/600-level courses offered by the Physics and Astronomy Department are currently approved. The exceptions include remedial courses such as PHYS 51000, 51500, 53000 and 55000 and preparatory or skills courses such as 53600, 58000, 60000 and 60100. The student’s major professor must approve, through an e-mail to the Graduate Secretary, the use of any course taken outside the Physics and Astronomy Department as a Specialty Course. A graduate level course taken in a department at Purdue other than the Physics and Astronomy Department must be approved by the Graduate Oversight Committee. While graduate level physics courses taken at other universities may be transferred to Purdue, they may not be used as Specialty Courses. Electives (0-3 credits)
Select from 500/600-level physics courses to fulfill remaining requirements. A student may take any 500-level courses that may be needed in order to achieve a level of proficiency adequate for good performance in the core courses, (b) laboratory courses needed in preparation for the thesis research, (c) any courses recommended by the Advisory Committee to broaden preparation in physics, and (d) an advanced course or
courses in the field of specialization. Dissertation Research (xx credits)
Students engaged in PHYS 699 research are to set research goals with their major professor. The procedures of the College of Science require that the student meet annually with their Advisory Committee to assess their progress toward those research goals and, when appropriate, amend them. Enrollment in PHYS 699 must be begun before the end of the spring term of the student’s third year. Additional Requirements
If students will be a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), they must take the Pedagogical Methods for Physics Graduate Students course (PHYS 60500) during their first semester. It will help prepare students for work as a GTA. The course is strongly recommended for all graduate students. Concentrations
Interdisciplinary concentrations: Additional Information
Most students receiving the MS degree do so via the non-thesis option. However, a thesis option is available for a student wanting research experience if a physics and astronomy faculty member agrees to supervise the work as their major professor. Graduate students admitted to Purdue without a master’s degree are encouraged to obtain the MS degree during their course of study here. For some students this will be a terminal degree, but most plan to continue working toward a PhD degree. Continuing students can usually satisfy the non-thesis MS degree requirements without delaying their progress toward a PhD degree. To do so the student must simply find a MS non-thesis option major professor, prepare an MS degree Plan of Study, and pass a course or two required by the MS degree program but not the PhD degree program, e.g. a mathematics course or laboratory course. In the process, the continuing student profits by earning a graduate degree in physics just in case unforeseen circumstances cause an interruption or termination of their PhD studies. GPA Requirements
Grades of 500-level physics courses must be B- or better, the grades of 600-level physics courses must be C- or better and the grades of 500/600-level mathematics courses must be C- or better. Note that all courses used towards a Master’s degree must assign letter grades (i.e. no pass/fail or satisfactory/unsatisfactory graded courses are allowed). Overall, a grade index of 2.80/4.0 or higher is required. The Registrar’s Office deletes a first grade from a student’s graduation index if that specific course was originally taken while the student was enrolled as a graduate student and is subsequently repeated for credit and a grade. Graduate Programs Disclaimer
- The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Students should consult with their advisor/department for more information.
- Not all graduate programs may be actively recruiting students and course modality availability may vary.
- Please refer to the Explore Graduate Programs website for a list of currently available graduate programs.
- Transfer credit policy: Credits earned for graduate study at other universities (both domestic and international) may be applied toward an advanced degree. Only credit hours associated with graduate courses for which grades of B- or better were obtained will be eligible for transfer. Any additional conditions under which credit transfers may be made are determined by the various departments.
- Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
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Return to: Graduate Degrees
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