2009-10 Graduate Bulletin and Course Catalog

Master of Science in Engineering Physics
Graduate Minor in Physics

Department of Physics and Astronomy
College of Arts and Sciences

Leon H. Ginsberg, Interim Chair
GinsbergLH@appstate.edu

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

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

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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 graduate school; official GRE general exam scores.

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

Location: On Campus

Course Requirements for the Master of Science in Engineering Physics with a Concentration in Systems and Laboratory Automation (113B)

Required Courses
  • PHY 5002: Applied Physics Literature (1)
  • PHY 5010: Applied Physics Colloquium (1)
  • PHY 5430: Digital Systems (4)
  • PHY 5435: Laboratory Automation (4)
  • PHY 5510: Physics of Transducers (4)
  • PHY 5550: Directed Research in Applied Physics (1-3)

15 to 17

Thesis Option (CHOOSE ONE)

With Thesis

  • PHY 5999: Thesis (6)
  • 3 s.h. of graduate PHY electives
  • 4-6 s.h. of graduate electives

OR
Without Thesis

  • 12 s.h. of graduate PHY electives
  • 7-9 s.h. of graduate electives

13 to 15
(thesis)
OR
19 to 21

Total Semester Hours Required for the Master of Science in Engineering Physics with a Concentration in Systems and Laboratory Automation (113B)

30
(thesis)
OR
36

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 graduate school; official GRE general exam scores.

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

Location: On Campus

Course Requirements for the Master of Science in Engineering Physics with a Professional Science Master’s Concentration in Instrumentation and Automation (113C)

Required Courses
  • PHY 5002: Applied Physics Literature (1)
  • PHY 5010: Applied Physics Colloquium (1)
  • PHY 5020: Computational Methods in Physics and Engineering (3)
  • PHY 5330: Digital Electronics (3)
  • PHY 5510: Physics of Transducers (4)
  • PHY 5635: Advanced Microprocessor Interfacing and Robotics (4)
  • PHY 5735: Microcontrollers (3)
  • PHY 5900: Internship (3)
  • Choose one of the following courses:
    • PHY 5435: Laboratory Automation (4)
    • PHY 5520: Data Transmission and Signal Processing (3)

25 or 26

Professional Core
  • 9 s.h. of graduate courses from Business chosen in consultation with the PSM advisor
  • 3 s.h. of graduate courses from the Department of English on Technical Writing

12

Total Semester Hours Required for the Master of Science in Engineering Physics with a Professional Science Master’s Concentration in Instrumentation and Automation (113C)

37 or 38

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

 

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