Admission Requirements

For regular admission to the graduate program, a bachelor’s degree in physics or closely related field (mathematics, chemistry, or engineering) with a minimum GPA of 3.0 is recommended. Other requirements are those of the Graduate School. Preference is given to applicants in the PhD program. Prospective students must submit a completed graduate school application form, transcripts of previous coursework, a statement of objectives, and three letters of recommendation. GRE exams are not required but can be submitted if available. Students from non-English speaking countries are required to show proficiency in English via the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE exams. See http://www.k-state.edu/grad/admissions/application-process/international/index.html#English-Proficiency-Requirements for more information. Applications for admission to the program in the fall semester should be completed by the early January deadline. See Application for Admission (k-state.edu).

Graduation Requirements

M.S. Degree Requirements

• 30 credit hours of coursework are required.
• For the research report option, students must write a report and enroll in 2 hours of credit in PHYS 899 .
• For the research thesis option, students must write a research thesis and enroll in 6 to 8 hours of credit in PHYS 899 .
• Students must select either the report option or the thesis option by the end of the second semester in the M.S. program. By the same deadline, the student must select a major professor and form a supervisory committee and file a program of study. If the degree option is not explicitly chosen in the program of study, it will default to the thesis option.
• There is no departmental qualifying exam for the M.S. degree.
• The student will present a copy of the thesis or report to each member of their supervisory committee, in advance of the student’s final oral exam for the M.S. degree, which will be conducted as outlined in the Graduate School Handbook.

Course Requirements

The program of study for the M.S. in physics program requires 30 total credit hours, selected from the following: