Visiting Graduate Student Weekend

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Visiting Graduate Student Weekend

• Prof. Kathie Newman
• Director of Graduate Studies

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Welcome!
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Agenda

• Degree Programs
• Courses
• Typical Life of a Graduate Student
• Hurdles
• Summer Opportunities
• Why is Notre Dame special?

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Degree Programs

• Masters Degree
• An option to earn along the way to earning a
  Ph.D.
• Doctor of Philosophy Degree

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Course Work Requirements

• Core Curriculum (12 courses, 36 credits)
• 9 required courses
• PHYS 70003 Methods of Theoretical Physics
• PHYS 70005 Theoretical Mechanics
• PHYS 70006 Electromagnetism
• PHYS 70007 Quantum Mechanics I
• PHYS 70008 Quantum Mechanics II
• PHYS 71010 Methods of Experimental Physics
• PHYS 80001 Electrodynamics
• PHYS 80002 Statistical Thermodynamics
• PHYS 80003 Quantum Mechanics III
• Electives (take three of the following)
• PHYS 70201 Astrophysics
• PHYS 80301 Atomic Physics I or PHYS 80303
  Quantum Optics
• PHYS 80701 Nuclear Physics I
• PHYS 80501 Solid State I
• PHYS 80601 Elementary Particles I

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First Year Schedule

• Fall Semester
• Methods of Theoretical Physics
• Theoretical Mechanics
• Quantum Mechanics I
• Total 9 credits

• Spring Semester
• Methods of Experimental Physics
• Quantum Mechanics II
• EM I
• Research Seminar
• Total 12 credits

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Second Year Schedule

• Fall Semester
• EM II
• Quantum Mechanics III
• First required elective
• Research Seminar
• Total 12 credits

• Spring Semester
• Statistical Mechanics
• Second required elective
• Third required elective
• Research Seminar
• Total 12 credits

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Typical Life of a Graduate Student

• First Year
• Courses
• Teaching Assistant Duties
• Two to three duties, averaging 12-16 hours/week
• Qualifier Exam
• You must take this exam every time it is offered,
  until you pass both sections.
• You have a total of four opportunities to pass
  the exam.
• Research
• Research orientation meetings are offered in the
  first semester
• First semester, you will choose a research area
  and find a research advisor
• Start research in your second semester
• Summer
• Research with your advisor!

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Second Year

• Courses
• Teaching Assistant Duties
• Two to three duties, averaging 12-14 hours/week
• Qualifier Exam
• You must take this exam every time it is offered,
  until you pass both sections.
• You have a total of four opportunities to pass
  the exam.
• Research
• You will have a research area and research
  advisor.

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Third Year

• Courses
• Complete core curriculum, if havent already
• Take physics elective classes in areas of
  interest
• Support
• You will be either a teaching assistant (paid by
  the department) or a research assistant (paid by
  a research group).
• Research
• Research becomes your primary responsibility.
• Candidacy Exam
• When you are ready, the department and Graduate
  School will invite you to take the written and
  oral candidacy exams.
• Ideal timing end of your third year.
• Masters Degree
• An option after candidacy

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Fourth Year

• Support
• You will be either a teaching assistant (paid by
  the department) or a research assistant (paid by
  a research group).
• Candidacy Exam
• The Graduate School requires that you take your
  candidacy exam by the end of your 4th year.
• Research
• You will have a well-defined research problem.
• Professional Development
• Set post-graduation goals (job, teaching,
  post-doc)
• Identify skills required (write papers, attend
  conferences, teach, write proposals)

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Fifth Year

• Support
• You will be either a teaching assistant (paid by
  the department) or a research assistant (paid by
  a research group)
• Research
• Writing the Thesis
• The Ph.D. Defense

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Hurdles

• Courses
• Maintain 3.0 GPA
• Time Limits
• 2 years, qualifier
• 4 years, candidacy
• 6 years, TA
• 8 years, PhD

• Examinations
• Qualifying Exam
• Part I
• Part II
• Candidacy Exam
• Written
• Oral
• Defense of the Dissertation

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Summer Opportunities

• Qualifier preparation course
• http//www.nd.edu/newman/phys_qual_prep/home_qual
  _prep.htm
• Part I Monday, June 4 through Friday, June 29
• Part II Monday, July 9 through Friday, August 3
• Stipend support (for up to two months) available
  on first-come first-served basis
• Outcomes
• Represents a chance to pass the qualifier exam
  before starting graduate school
• Form working relationships with other students
• Practice in problem solving at the board (learn
  how to teach)
• Chance to look around and (if have time) form an
  association with a research group

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Why is Notre Dame Special?

• Ask a student
• Ask a member of our staff
• Ask a member of our faculty
• We hope to have you as a member of our community!