General Information
The department offers the Master of Science in Physics. This program serves students who seek advanced knowledge in physics: for application in physics related industries, for preparation to continue graduate work elsewhere towards the doctoral degree, for qualification for teaching credentials for which a master's degree is required. The choice of electives in the master's program may emphasize either physics, astrophysics, or astronomy. Before beginning course work toward the M.S., the candidate must prepare a plan of study in consultation with the Graduate Advisor.

Admission to Program
Applicants for admission to the master's program should have a bachelor's degree in physics or related subject with a 3.0 grade point average in physics and mathematics courses. Those with undergraduate degrees in other subjects, or requiring remedial work may also be admitted.  Such applicants should contact the Graduate Coordinator or Department Chair to discuss possible admission to conditionally classified status. Check the main admission page for application procedures.

Group I: Core courses (15 units)

PHYS 701 Classical Mechanics (3)
PHYS 704 Electricity & Magnetism I (3)
PHYS 706 Quantum Mechanics (3)
PHYS 775 Statistical Physics (3)
PHYS 785 Theoretical Physics (3)

Group II: Graduate physics electives (6 units)

Elective graduate physics courses with numbers in the range from PHYS 700 to 785. (Note that PHYS 897, 898, and 899 do not count in this category.)

Group III: General electives (9 units)

Advanced upper-division or graduate courses in physics or appropriately related subjects, selected after advisement and approval by the Graduate Coordinator. (Note that up to 6 units of PHYS 897, 898, and 899 count in this category.) Generally these will be courses numbered 400 and above.

Group IV: Thesis and/or oral examination

PHYS 898: Master's Thesis (3) and Oral Defense of Thesis
(units will be included in Group III)
or
Master's Comprehensive Oral Examination

Total Units: 30

Examinations:

Before taking graduate courses (numbered 700 and above) you must take the Physics Major Field Test and achieve a score of 50th percentile or better.  With the approval of the graduate coordinator, you may take graduate courses during your first semester at SFSU, prior to taking the MFT.  The graduate coordinator will advise you on a program of study to remedy any deficiencies in your undergraduate preparation revealed by the MFT. If you do not score high enough on your first attempt, you must achieve a core of 55th percentile or better on subseqent attempts.

The Oral Defense of Thesis is delivered to the Advisory Student's Committee and emphasizes questions from the committee on subjects related to the thesis topic. The Master's Comprehensive Oral Examination is delivered to the Student's Advisory Committee and covers all areas of theoretical and experimental physics deemed appropriate by the committee. The Oral Defense of Thesis or Master's Comprehensive Oral Examination may be repeated once, at the discretion of the committee, upon petition by the student.

Typical graduate student programs In truth, there is no such thing as a "typical" graduate student program. Diversity is the rule. So every graduate student takes a placement test upon arrival and must see the graduate coordinator before beginning his or her studies in order to work out a suitable program. Also, you should come by for repeat visits every semester, and whenever considering any major shifts in your planned program. The programs below, or samples, are intended to give you some idea how yours might look.

An idealized graduate program for someone who does not need any remedial work before beginning graduate level courses and whose financial situation permits a 9-unit load might be:

For someone who has the same preparation but who can take only 6 units: