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Graduate work is offered leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in a program designed to satisfy the needs of students with differing career plans. There are sufficient courses and research experience to meet the requirements of those who seek either degree. A low student/faculty ratio allows close contact with the faculty.
If you have a forms-capable browser, you may apply online for graduate study in physics.
Alternatively, you may contact us using electronic mail at: gradphy@wfu.edu.
Applicants for admission are considered from undergraduates in their senior year and from graduates of accredited colleges or universities. All applicants are required to submit scores on the aptitude test of the Graduate Record Examination. The advanced test in physics or undergraduate field of study is recommended but not required. Students may enroll at the beginning of the fall or spring semester or either summer term. Applicants seeking financial assistance for the academic year beginning in August should submit applications for admission, applications for financial assistance, and all supporting documents before January 15. For application forms for admission and requirements for admission and degrees, click here . Note that all necessary forms, including recommendation forms, can be printed from that web site. If you need further assistance, please write or call:
Graduate Program
Director
Department of Physics
Wake Forest University
P. O. Box 7507
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27109-7507
(336) 758-5337
FAX: (336) 758-6142
E-mail: gradphy@wfu.edu
Most students admitted to graduate study in physics receive financial assistance. For Fall 2005, teaching or research assistantships are $16,000 for 10 months. All students receive a supplement of $1500-$2500 for summer research. Thus the total annual assistantship support is $17,500 for teaching assistantships and $18,500 for research assistantships. In addition, all physics graduate students receive a a full tuition scholarship. In addition, upon matriculation each student receives a new IBM thinkpad computer with a full load of general and scientific software - see below.
Exceptional entering students may be awarded a Graduate Dean's Fellowships at $19,000 per year (12 months) for the first two years, plus a tuition scholarship.
Teaching assistants are expected to do about 12 hours of work per week each academic term, consisting of introductory laboratory preparation/instruction and paper grading.
You may request financial aid on the graduate application form. You may request
application forms for admission and financial aid via mail, email, or telephone.
However, we recommend applicants print the forms from the Graduate School website:graduate school.
Entering graduate students are expected to have a sound knowledge of undergraduate mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, and atomic and nuclear physics. Provision is made for beginning graduate students to make up deficiencies in these areas. The course of study for each student is planned in conference with the graduate adviser on the basis of an analysis of the student's background and experience. Detailed statements of the requirements for the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, including descriptions of the comprehensive examinations, can be found in the Degree Requirements page and are contained in the graduate bulletin.
Housing on the Reynolda Campus is limited to a few apartments available for married students. However, there are a number of commercial apartment complexes within walking distance of the campus, and many smaller nearby apartments and rental houses are available to students. Many of these housing opportunities are advertised in the Residence Life and Housing website.
601, 602. Physics Seminar. (0,0) Discussion of contemporary research, usually with visiting scientists. Attendance required of junior and senior physics majors.
604. Physics of Medical Imaging. (3). Physical principles of x-ray computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasonic imaging. P-Physics 113, 114 as well as Math 111-112 or permission of instructor.
607. Biophysics. (3) An introduction to the structure, dynamic behavior, and function of DNA and proteins, and a survey of membrane biophysics. The physical principles of structure determination by X-ray, NMR, and optical methods will be emphasized. P--Physics 113, 114 as well as Biology 112 or 214 or permission of instructor.
610. Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology. (3) Topics covered include galactic structure, models for galaxies and galaxy formation, the large scale structure of the universe, the big bang model of the universe, physical processes such as nucleosynthesis in the early universe, and observational cosmology. P-Physics 114,141.
612. Introduction to Stellar Astronomy. (3) The physics of stellar atmospheres and interiors. Topics covered will include radiation transfer, absorption and emission of radiation, formation of spectra, models for stellar interiors, nuclear fusion reactions and stellar evolution. Methods of measuring distance to stars and interpretation of stellar spectra will also be included. P-Physics 114,141, Mathematics 601.
620. Physics of Biological Macromolecules. (3) The physics of biologically important molecules, especially proteins and nucleic acids. Topics covered include the physical basis of biomolecular structure , the energetics and statistical mechanics of biomolecular dynamics, and the electrostatics and solvation of biomolecules. This course is designed to be accessible to students with biochemistry, chemistry, or physics backgrounds. P-Physics 651 or Chemistry 641, or Biology 214 and Physics 113 and 114, or permission of instructor.
623. Computational Molecular Biophysics Laboratory. (1) Application of techniques in molecular modeling, including energy minimization, molecular dynamics simulation, and conformational analysis, to biological macromolecules. C--Physics 620 or permission of instructor.
625. Biophysical Methods Laboratory. (1) Laboratory involves experiments using various biophysical techniques such as electron paramagnetic resonance, atomic force microscopy, stopped-flow absorption spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and gel elctrophoresis. C-Physics 607 or permission of the instructor.
627. Bioinformatics. (3) An introduction to bioinformatics and computing techniques using various biophysical techniques essential to current biomedical research. Topics include genome and protein sequence and protein structure databases, algorithms for bioinformatics research, and computer architecture and environmental considerations. P-Introductory courses in biology, chemistry, and molecular biology or biochemistry or permission of instructor. Also listed at Computer Science 685.
637. Analytical Mechanics. (1.5) The Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of mechanics with applications. This course is taught in the first half of the fall semester. P-Physics 162, Mathematics 251.
639, 640. Electricity and Magnetism. (1.5,3) Electrostatics, magnetostatics, dielectric and magnetic materials, Maxwell's equations and applications to radiation, relativistic formulation. The first half course is taught in the second half of the fall semester, following Physics 637. The other course is taught in the spring semester. These should be taken in sequence. P-Physics 114, Mathematics 251 and 601.
643, 644. Quantum Physics. (3,3) Application of the elementary principles of quantum mechanics to atomic, molecular, solid state, and nuclear physics. P-Physics 141.
645. Advanced Physics Laboratory. (1) The laboratory associated with Physics 643, 644.
651. Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics. (3) Introduction to classical and statistical thermodynamics and distribution functions.
652. Physical Optics and Optical Design. (4) Interaction of light with materials; diffraction and coherent optics; ray trace methods of optical design. Lab--three hours.
654. Introduction to Solid State Physics. (3) A survey of the structure, composition, physical properties, and technological applications of condensed matter. P-Physics 643.
661. Biophysics Seminar. (1). Seminal and current publications in biophysics are studied. Each week a member of the class makes an oral presentation on a chosen publication and leads the ensuing discussion. Does not fulfill minimum course requirements for Master's and PhD degrees.
663. Condensed Matter Seminar. (1). Seminal and current publications in condensed matter physics are studied. Each week a member of the class makes an oral presentation on a chosen publication and leads the ensuing discussion. Does not fulfill minimum course requirements for Master's and PhD degrees.
681, 682. Research. (1-3,1-3) Library, conference, and laboratory work performed on an individual basis.
711. Classical Mechanics. (3) A study of variational principles and Lagrange's equations, the rigid body equations of motion, the Hamilton equations of motion and canonical transformations, Hamilton-Jacobi theory, and applications to continuous systems and fields.
712. Electromagnetism. (3) A study of Maxwell's equations, boundary value problems for the electromagnetic field, and radiation; the ponderomotive equation for the charged particle.
715. Nonlinear Optics and Quantum Electronics. (4) Nonlinear phenomena in laser spectroscopy, the quantum nature of optical processes in matter, and topics in laser physics. Lab--three hours.
731. Elementary Particle Physics. (3) Fundamentals of contemporary elementary particle physics.
741, 742. Quantum Mechanics. (3,3) The study of the foundations of modern quantum theory, with an emphasis on the meaning of the wave equation, operators, eigenfunctions, eigenvalues, commutators, matrix mechanics, spin, and scattering.
743. Advance Quantum Mechanics. (3) Advanced topics in quantum mechanics, including an introduction to relativistic quantum theory, quantum electrodynamics, and many particle treatments.
744. Introduction to Quantum Field Theory. (3) An introduction to relativistic quantum field theory, including canonical quantization, path integral techniques, perturbation theory, and renormalization.
745. Group Theory. (3) Group theory and its applications to the quantum mechanics of atoms, molecules, and solids.
752. Solid State Physics. (3) An introductory course including the structure of perfect crystalline solids, their thermal electronic properties, the free electron and band theory of metals, imperfect crystals, transport properties, and semiconductors.
754. Surface Science. (3) Experimental and theoretical methods for the study of surfaces and interfaces. Lab--1.5 hours.
756. Seminar on Defects in the Solid State. (2) The generation and interactions of point and line defects such as color centers, vacancies, and dislocations treated.
765. Gravitational and Particle Theory Seminar. (1) Topics in general relativity, particle physics, and astrophysics are studied. Each week a faculty member or member of the class makes an oral presentation on a chosen topic and leads the ensuing discussion. Does not fulfill minimum course requirements for Master's and PhD degrees.
770. Statistical Mechanics. (3) An introduction to probability theory and to the physics of systems containing large numbers of particles from the classical as well as the quantum point of view.
780. Theory of General Relativity. (3) A study of the covariant formulation of physical laws in mechanics and electromagnetism.
785. Topics of Theoretical Physics. (3) Selected topics of current interest in theoretical physics not included in other courses.
787. Advanced Topics in Physics. (1-3) Lectures on advanced topics in physics that depend on the subspecialty of the instructor. Topics range form medical physics to speical topics in biophysics, condensed matter physics, or quantum optics.
791, 792. Thesis Research. (1-9)
793. Summer Research. This is a course for summer research by continuing graduate students working with their adviser.
891, 892. Dissertation Research. (Hours open)
visit our current courses page.
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