updated: 6/11/2025, AG

• Students must complete 36 credits of work at the 400-level or above.
• Of the 36 credits, at least 18 credits must be at the 500-level or above.
• Of the 36 credits, at least 18 credits must be numerically graded (not credit/no-credit).
• Students must take at least 3 of 4 core courses (see below).
• Up to two elective courses may be taken in other Departments, with prior approval of the MS program faculty coordinator.
• In addition to coursework, a supervised independent study/research project is required (see below).
• A written report and a final oral presentation and exam on the study/research project are required (see below).
• Students must maintain satisfactory performance and progress toward completion of their graduate degree. A minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA is required for a graduate degree and for every quarter of course work.
• All degree requirements must be completed within six years.

For more detailed information on MS degree requirements see UW Graduate School's Graduate Degree Requirements.

Core Courses

The program includes a sequence of four core courses. They provide essential background for more advanced study. Students are required to take at least three of the core courses, but are encouraged to enroll in all four. Three core courses are offered every year.

Phys 543 - Electromagnetic Theory (Autumn)
Phys 540 - Quantum Physics (Winter)
Phys 544 - Applications of Electromagnetic Theory (alternate Spring terms)
Phys 541 - Applications of Quantum Physics (alternate Spring terms)

Final Independent Study/Research Project

Each student must complete a final independent study project (capstone project) under the supervision of a Physics faculty member, usually working with the research group of that faculty member. We advise you to begin looking for a suitable mentor as soon as you start taking classes. You can browse research group websites on the Physics Department web page to identify faculty whose work is of interest to you, and contact the faculty member to discuss working with their group. Good capstone projects usually involve applying your skills and training to help researchers complete a well-defined task within their research project. Capstone projects need not be original research, but should involve experimentation, analysis, or instrumentation related to a problem of current interest. While working on their capstone project, students must enroll in Phys 600 for typically 3 to 9 credits per quarter, corresponding to at least 2 hours of effort per week per credit.

A written report, and a final oral presentation and oral exam on the study/research project are required:
Once the faculty mentor agrees that work is nearing completion, students should organize an exam committee and begin writing a report on their project . The final oral exam committee must consist of two faculty members, of whom at least one is a member of the UW Graduate Faculty. The final project report serves in place of a formal Master's thesis. There is no required format for the written report. Typically, it is formatted as a technical paper and ranges between 20-40 pages. Students will be helped with preparation and arrangements by their faculty supervisor.

Subject to pre-approval by the MS Faculty Coordinator, it is also possible to conduct a capstone project while working with an adjunct faculty member, or with a faculty member in another UW Department, or even at the student's place of employment. In all of the above cases, the topic must have physics content. While the adjunct/non-Physics faculty member or workplace supervisor will actually guide the project, the student must also identify a professor in the Physics Department, from a research area relavant to the capstone topic, who will act as the local advisor. The Physics advisor would need to approve the plan of work at the beginning of the project, verify that the work is completed at the end of the project, approve the written report, and be a member of the committee for the oral defense. Moreover, if you choose to perfom your capstone project at your workplace, there are two additional requirements: (i) the supervisor at your workplace should hold a Ph.D., and (ii) the topic must not involve proprietary or classified information. Your final report is required to be a public document.

Master's Degree Request

At least one month before the final exam date, the student must submit a Master's Degree Request,  and inform the MS program student advisor Catherine Provost of the planned exam date and the MS committee composition.  Students may reserve a room for their presentation and exam by contacting the Physics Department main office.

Students may apply for the MS degree only after all required courses and credits have been recorded, other than courses being taken the same quarter. Any Incomplete or X grades must be cleared before applying, unless the course is not needed to fulfill degree requirements.

For more detailed information on graduation procedures and dealines see UW Graduate School's Graduation Requirements.