Richard Genberg, Interim Chair and Visiting Professor
GenbergRW@appstate.edu

J. Sidney Clements, Program Director and Professor
ClementsJS@appstate.edu

Christopher S. Thaxton, Program Director and Assistant Professor
ThaxtonCS@appstate.edu

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers the following graduate program:

            Master of Science degree in Engineering Physics (113*/40.0801) with two concentrations:
                        Systems and Laboratory Automation (113B)
                        Professional Science Master’s in Instrumentation and Automation (113C)
            Graduate Minor in Physics (272/40.0801)

The MS program is designed to prepare individuals for technical careers in industrial, governmental, and independent laboratories as well as for teaching positions at the community college level. It may also serve as an intermediate step for those who later elect to pursue more advanced study in applied physics, engineering physics, engineering, or a related area.

Graduate students will choose a research area of Applied Physics, Electronics Instrumentation or Astronomical Instrumentation and Observations.

The concentration in Systems and Laboratory Automation is a more traditional MS program that contains thesis and non-thesis options. The other concentration, the Professional Science Master’s in Instrumentation and Automation, is a professional science master’s program as described by the A. P. Sloan Foundation. In addition to 25-26 semester hours of required physics courses, the PSM concentration includes a required core of business and communications courses (12 semester hours). The PSM concentration does not have a thesis option, but requires a three semester hour internship.

PROGRAM OF STUDY FOR THE GRADUATE MINOR IN PHYSICS (272/40.0801)

A graduate minor in Physics consists of 8-12 semester hours selected from graduate level PHY offerings, except PHY 5989.

PROGRAM OF STUDY FOR THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING PHYSICS WITH A CONCENTRATION IN SYSTEMS AND LABORATORY AUTOMATION (Major Code: 113*/40.0801; Concentration Code: 113B)

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree in physics, astronomy or any science or related area such as mathematics, computer science or engineering from an accredited college or university; complete application to the Cratis Williams Graduate School (http://www.graduate.appstate.edu), including resume, three letters of recommendation, official GRE general exam scores, and official transcripts from all colleges attended.

Basic Criteria for Unconditional Admission: (Undergraduate GPA X 400) + GRE Verbal + GRE Quantitative = 2000

Location: On Campus

Other Requirements for the MS in Engineering Physics with a concentration in Systems and Laboratory Automation:

Thesis: Optional
Proficiency: None required
Comprehensive: A written comprehensive examination is required for the non-thesis option. An oral defense of the thesis is required for the thesis option (satisfies the comprehensive requirement).
Product of Learning: None required

PROGRAM OF STUDY FOR THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING PHYSICS WITH A PROFESSIONAL SCIENCE MASTER’S CONCENTRATION IN INSTRUMENTATION AND AUTOMATION (Major Code: 113*/40.0801; Concentration Code: 113C)

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree in physics, astronomy or any science or related area such as mathematics, computer science or engineering from an accredited college or university; complete application to the Cratis Williams Graduate School (http://www.graduate.appstate.edu), including resume, three letters of recommendation, official GRE general exam scores, and official transcripts from all colleges attended.

Basic Criteria for Unconditional Admission: (Undergraduate GPA X 400) + GRE Verbal + GRE Quantitative = 2000

Location: On Campus

Other Requirements for the MS in Engineering Physics with a PSM Concentration in Instrumentation and Automation:

Thesis: None required
Proficiency: None required
Comprehensive: The internship project report satisfies the comprehensive requirement for students in the PSM concentration.
Product of Learning: None required