{"id":111,"date":"2021-09-15T19:07:06","date_gmt":"2021-09-15T19:07:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/physics-astronomy\/?page_id=43"},"modified":"2024-08-22T10:16:02","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T16:16:02","slug":"phd-physics-degree-requirements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/as.vanderbilt.edu\/physics-astronomy\/phd-physics-degree-requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"Ph.D. in Physics Degree Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"

To earn a physics Ph.D., students must complete 28 credit hours of formal coursework, pass a proposal-based qualifying exam in their second year, and successfully write and defend a dissertation presenting their original scientific research. The Graduate School requires 72 total credit hours, which includes the program-required 28 credit hours of courses plus registered research hours. The complete physics Ph.D. regulations are set forth in the departmental Ph.D. Requirements Guide<\/a> and subject to all rules and regulations<\/a> imposed by the Graduate School.<\/p>\n

Physics Degree Requirements<\/h2>\n

Completion of the Ph.D. requires:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Completion of 72 semester hours of coursework with satisfactory grades in each course and an overall average of B (3.00) or higher;<\/li>\n
  2. Successfully passing a Qualifying Examination administered by a committee of the Graduate Faculty; and<\/li>\n
  3. Writing and defending the dissertation. The dissertation is to be an original, publishable contribution to the scientific literature in the student\u2019s field of specialization, and must be defended in a public forum.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    See the requirements guide<\/a> for full details.<\/p>\n

    Timetable<\/h2>\n

    A typical timeline of coursework, Qualifying Exam, and Ph.D. defense is shown below.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Download PDF version here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Master\u2019s Degree Requirements<\/h2>\n

    The Department of Physics & Astronomy does not admit students seeking a terminal master’s degree, but one can be earned en route to the Ph.D.<\/p>\n

    Non-Thesis Option<\/strong> (for Ph.D. candidates who desire to earn a master’s degree en route)<\/p>\n