There are two degree pathways in the Clemson Physics and Astronomy department, M.S (both thesis/non-thesis options), and PhD. The thesis option M.S. requires 24 credit hours of coursework with 50% of those credits coming from 8000 level courses within the department and at least 6 hours coming from master’s research credits within the department. This culminates in a master’s thesis defense in which you present the work that you have done for your M.S. to a defense committee at the end of your courses.
The non-thesis option requires 30 credit hours of graduate coursework with at least 15 credits coming from the core courses in the department and the rest coming from electives either within the department or outside of it. The PhD coursework involves taking the four 8000+ level core courses by the end of your second year as well as completing 4 8000+ level electives before you graduate. This track also involves a qualifying exam at the end of your third year as well as a PhD dissertation defense at the end of your last year, the former of which is detailed below. Depending on performance on the placement test, the PhD track may also require the completion of some or all of the 6000 level core courses. The core courses in Clemson’s Physics and Astronomy department are:
Masters (6000 level):
- Statistical Mechanics (PHYS 6650)
- Common/Useful Textbooks: Schroder, An Introduction to Thermal Physics; Blundell & Blundell, Concept in Thermal Physics
- Classical Mechanics I (PHYS 6210)
- Common/Useful Textbooks: Taylor, Classical Mechanics; Morin, Introduction to Classical Mechanics with Problems and Solutions
- Electrodynamics I (PHYS 6410)
- Common/Useful Textbooks: Griffiths, Introduction to Electrodynamics
- Quantum Mechanics I&II (PHYS 6550/6560)
- Common/Useful Textbooks: Griffths, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics; McIntyre, Quantum Mechanics: A Paradigms Approach
PhD (8000+ level):
- Math Methods (PHYS 8110)
- Common/Useful Textbooks: Arfken, Webber, & Harris, Mathematical Methods for Physicists
- Statistical Mechanics (PHYS 8150)
- Common/Useful Textbooks: Pathria, Statistical Mechanics; Reif, Fundamentals of Statistical Mechanics; Greiner Neise & Stöcker, Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
- Classical Mechanics (PHYS 8210)
- Common/Useful Textbooks: Goldstein, Poole, & Safko, Classical Mechanics; Jose & Saletan, Classical Mechanics: A Contemporary Approach
- Electrodynamics (PHYS 8410)
- Common/Useful Textbooks: Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics
- Quantum Mechanics I&II (PHYS 9510/9520)
- Common/Useful Textbooks: Sakurai, Modern Quantum Mechanics; Shankar, Principles of Quantum Mechanics; Cohen-Tannoudji, Quantum Mechanics
In addition to these, the department also offers electives specific to given sub-disciplines studied within the department. Commonly offered electives include:
- Astronomy
- Radiation Processes and Measurement (ASTR 8100; Odd year fall semesters)
- Stellar Astrophysics (ASTR 8200; Even year spring semesters)
- Galactic Astronomy (ASTR 8300; Even year fall semesters)
- Cosmology (ASTR 8400; Odd year spring semesters)
- General Relativity (PHYS 9660; Odd year fall semesters)
- Atmospheric Physics:
- Atmospheric Dynamics (PHYS 8250; Even year fall semesters)
- Ionospheric Physics (PHYS 8260; Odd year spring semesters)
- Measurement Techniques in Aeronomy (PHYS 8270; Odd year fall semesters)
- Atmospheric Tides and Planetary Waves (PHYS 8280; Even year spring semesters)
- Biophysics/Medical Physics
- Cellular Biophysics (PHYS 8180; Even year fall semesters)
- Computational Biophysics (PHYS 8190; Every spring semester)
- Molecular Biophysics (PHYS 8170; Odd year fall semesters)
- Medical Physics (PHYS 8550; Even year spring semesters)
- Condensed Matter/Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Quantum Field Theory (PHYS 9530; Even year fall semesters)
- Methods of Spectroscopy (PHYS 8510; Odd year spring semesters)
- Atomic Physics (PHYS 8550; Odd year spring semesters)
- Solid State Physics I (PHYS 8450; Odd year fall semesters)
- Solid State Physics II (PHYS 8460; Even year spring semesters)
The Medical Biophysics program also offers M.S. and PhD programs. The M.S. program involves 30 credit hours of coursework with 4 required core courses, 12 credit hours of laboratory research coursework (a rotation between faculty labs), and the rest of your coursework coming from electives from various physical or biological science departments in Clemson. The PhD coursework consists of 60 credit hours with 4 core courses, 4 electives from the physical or biological science departments, and the rest consisting of research credits. The four core courses for the medical biophysics program are:
- Molecular and Cellular Medical Biophysics (MBIO 8100)
- Medical Biophysics at Larger Scale: Tissues and Organs (MBIO 8110)
- Medical Biophysics and Human Health (MBIO 8210)
- Medical Biophysics Seminars (MBIO 8220)
For more information, please see the Graduate Student Handbook.