Degrees Offered
The Graduate Program in Physics resides in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. The program offers the Ph.D. degree in Physics, the M.A. degree in Physics, the M.S. degree with concentration in Instrumentation in Physics, and the M.Sc. degree in Quantum Information Science and Technology. It also facilitates the Master of Arts in Teaching, offered by the School of Professional Development.
Students in the Ph.D. program gain a solid background in the breadth of physics and astronomy, and demonstrate their ability to carry out research and overcome new challenges in a specific area of interest. These students often go on to traditional research positions at universities and national labs as well as to industrial labs. Other careers pursued by PhD graduates might include medical physics, analysis in technological and financial settings, and data science.
The Master of Arts in Physics (M.A.) degree is an extremely flexible degree that can afford students opportunities to take advanced courses, pursue research, and gain important skills for either further study or employment. The degree may be awarded either as a terminal degree or as a degree for students enrolled in the Ph.D. program en route to the Ph.D. degree.
Our Master of Science program in Instrumentation (MSI) prepares students with undergraduate degrees in physical science, mathematics, or engineering to enter modern technological enterprises such as research labs, industries, hospitals, etc. as professional physicists with expertise in instrumentation. The program offers both coursework and an original instrumentation project in one of our cutting-edge research labs.
The M.Sc. in Quantum Information Science and Technology prepares students for the rapidly growing field of quantum information science and technology through a mix of specialized coursework and a research component that may be completed on campus, at Brookhaven National Laboratory, or through an internship with an industrial partner. Applicants need not be physics majors, only hold an undergraduate degree in science or engineering.
The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is formally offered by the School of Professional Development and is not officially part of the Physics Graduate Program, though students in this degree program can take Physics courses and teach Physics Labs as part of their training. This degree prepares students with a BA degree in a physical science or engineering for the New York State certification as a secondary school teacher.