Phone: 703-993-1280
Web: www.physics.gmu.edu
Professors: Aharonov, Becker*, Blaisten-Barojas*, Dworzecka, Ehrlich (chair), Ellsworth, Kafatos, Lieb, Mishin, Satija, Summers, Trefil (Robinson Professor)
Associate professors: Barreto, Ceperley, Rubin, Satyapal, Sauer, So, Wallin*
Assistant professors: Cressman, Opher, Rosenberg, Tian, Tollaksen*, Weigel*, Weingartner, Zhang*
Term associate professor: Oerter
Term assistant professors: Geller, Goldman, Iacoletti, Jazaeri, Wyczalkowski
Term instructors: Ericson, Ewell
Emeriti: Ceperley, Evans, Mielczarek
Research faculty: Gliozzi, Meier, Poland, Richards
*These guest faculty hold primary appointments in other departments.
The Physics and Astronomy Department offers all course work designated ASTR and PHYS in the Course Descriptions chapter of this catalog.
BS-ASTR
The BS in astronomy prepares students for graduate school or one of the many careers in research or teaching positions, or employment in industry, business, or education fields where analytical skills and a scientific background are advantageous. Students who are considering a double major in the fields of mathematics, science, computer science, and engineering should talk to the undergraduate coordinator. Note that at least 18 credits used to fulfill an astronomy BS cannot be used to fulfill another major or minor. Some course substitutions are allowed for double majors, but these must be approved in writing in advance.
In addition to satisfying the university-wide general education requirements for the BS degree, students must complete a total of 39 credits in physics and astronomy and 17 credits in mathematics with a minimum GPA of 2.00. Through the course work below, astronomy majors satisfy the university-wide requirements in natural science and quantitative reasoning. Also, by taking ASTR 402, they satisfy the university’s writing-intensive requirement.
In meeting the above requirements, students may choose an area of emphasis. Students who wish to complete an emphasis should plan a program of study in consultation with their advisors. Some emphases listed below require more than 9 credits in the last category above.
This emphasis prepares students for careers in research, teaching, or science journalism. Students must take BIOL 213, 305, and 506 (The Origin of Life), and complete a senior project (ASTR 408) or internship (ASTR 409).
This emphasis prepares students planning for computation and information-related jobs in industry and government labs. Students must take 9 credits of the following: ASTR 401; PHYS 251 or 510; and MATH 446 or 447. In addition, they should complete a senior project (ASTR 408) or internship (ASTR 409).
This emphasis prepares students for graduate study in observational or theoretical astronomy. Student must take two courses from ASTR 530 or 535, and MATH 446. They should complete a senior project (ASTR 408) or internship (ASTR 409) in the specialty that they intend to pursue in graduate school.
(excluding general education courses)
| First Semester | Credits |
|---|---|
| MATH 113 Calculus I | 4 |
| ENGL 101 Composition | 3 |
| ASTR 103 Astronomy | 3 |
| PHYS 122 Relativity | 1 |
| PHYS 123 Inside the Quantum World | 1 |
| Second Semester | |
| MATH 114 Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 160 University Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 161 University Physics I Lab | 1 |
| Third Semester | |
| ASTR 302 Foundations of Cosmology | 3 |
| PHYS 260 University Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 261 University Physics II Lab | 1 |
| MATH 213 Calculus III | 3 |
| Fourth Semester | |
| ASTR 301 Astrobiology | 3 |
| PHYS 262 University Physics III | 3 |
| PHYS 263 University Physics III Lab | 1 |
| MATH 214 Elementary Differential Equations | 3 |
| Fifth Semester | |
| ASTR 328 Introduction to Astrophysics | 3 |
| PHYS 305 Electromagnetic Theory | 3 |
| ENGL 302 Advanced Composition | 3 |
| Sixth Semester | |
| MATH 313 Introduction to Applied Mathematics | 3 |
| PHYS 307 Thermodynamics | 3 |
| PHYS 308 Modern Physics | 3 |
| Seventh Semester | |
| MATH 446 Numerical Analysis I | 3 |
| ASTR 401 Computation in Astronomy | 3 |
| ASTR 403 Planetary Sciences | 3 |
| ASTR 490 Astronomy seminar | 3 |
| Eighth Semester | |
| MATH 447 Numerical Analysis II | 3 |
| ASTR 404 Galactic Astronomy | 3 |
| ASTR 408 Senior Project | 3 |
| ASTR 428 Relativity and Cosmology | 3 |
BA-ASTR
The BA in astronomy prepares students for a career in industry, business, science education, and science writing, where analytical skills and scientific background are necessary. This degree is not suitable for students who intend to pursue a graduate degree in astronomy.
Students in the fields of mathematics, science, computer science, and engineering who are considering a double major should discuss this option with the undergraduate coordinator. Some course substitutions are allowed for such majors, but they must be approved in writing in advance.
In addition to satisfying university-wide general education requirements for the BA degree, students must complete a minimum of 26 credits in physics and astronomy and 6 credits in mathematics, with a minimum GPA of 2.00. Through the course work below, astronomy majors satisfy university-wide requirements in natural science and quantitative reasoning. ASTR 402 also satisfies the university’s writing-intensive requirement.
Electives (15 credits, at least 3 credits in upper-level courses) drawn from the following list (or with permission of the department and course instructor) from advanced ASTR, PHYS, or MATH courses: ASTR 390, 403, 408; PHYS 121, 122, 123, 124; CS 112; BIOL 103, 104, 213; CHEM 101, 102, 103, 104, 155, 156, 201, 202, 211; GEOL 101, 102
Note: Students who take the 10-credit physics sequence and one of the 8-credit math sequences can count the additional 6 credits beyond required minimum credits toward elective credit in the major.
The minor requires completion of a physics prerequisite and 15 credits in astronomy, with a minimum GPA of 2.00. Eight credits of course work must be unique to the minor. The physics prerequisite consists of one of the two sequences: PHYS 243, 244, 245, 246, or PHYS 160, 161, 260, 261, 262, 263. After the introductory physics sequence, students are required to take ASTR 111, 112, 113, and 114, and two astronomy courses chosen from ASTR 301, 302, 328, 402, 403, 404, 428, and 530.
For policies governing all minors, see the Academic Policies chapter of this catalog.
BS-PHYS
The BS in physics prepares students for graduate school and careers in business or industry. Students in the fields of mathematics, science, and engineering who are considering a double major in physics should discuss this option with the undergraduate coordinator. Note that at least 18 credits used to fulfill a physics BS cannot be used to fulfill another major or minor. Some course substitutions are allowed for double majors, but these should be discussed in advance.
In addition to satisfying the university-wide general education requirements for the BS degree, students must complete a total of 45 credits in the major and 20 in mathematics, with a minimum GPA of 2.00, distributed as follows. Through the course work below, physics majors satisfy the university-wide requirements in natural science and quantitative reasoning, and the intensive writing requirement by taking PHYS 407.
In meeting the requirement for 6 credits outside the core, students have the option of electing an emphasis. The courses required for each emphasis are listed below. Students who wish to complete an emphasis should plan a program of study in consultation with their advisor.
This emphasis is for students who wish to pursue a career in the semiconductor industry. To complete this emphasis, students should take the following courses: PHYS 512, and ECE 430 and ECE 431. In addition, students should complete a senior project (PHYS 408 or 409) or honors thesis (PHYS 405 and 406) in applied solid state physics.
This emphasis is for students who are planning to attend graduate school in astrophysics or pursue a career in industry. To complete this emphasis, students should select four courses from the following: PHYS 428; ASTR 328, 404, 530, 532, 535; and MATH 446. In addition, students should complete a senior project (PHYS 408) or honors thesis (PHYS 405 and 406) on an astrophysics problem.
This emphasis is for students who wish to pursue a career that applies computers to the solution of physical problems and data analysis. To complete this emphasis, students should take at least 9 credits from the following courses: PHYS 510, ECE 442, and MATH 446 and 447. In addition, they complete a senior project (PHYS 408) or honors thesis (PHYS 405 and 406) on a problem that involves using a computer for the solution of a physical problem.
This emphasis is for students who wish to pursue a career in industry, applying a strong background in electronics to physical problems. To complete this emphasis, students should take at least 9 credits from the following courses: ECE 301, 333, 430, 431, and 433. In addition, they should complete a senior project (PHYS 408) or honors thesis (PHYS 405 and 406) on an electronics problem.
Although any of the options listed here provide the successful student with a fully adequate background to enter graduate school, this emphasis is for students whose career goals definitely include graduate work in physics. To complete this emphasis, students should take at least 9 credits from the following courses: PHYS 510, 512, 540; and ASTR 530, and a senior project (PHYS 408) or honors thesis (PHYS 405 and 406) in the specialty that they intend to pursue in graduate school.
Physics majors generally have an excellent acceptance record in applying to medical, dental, or veterinary schools. Although there is no formal set of courses within physics that is uniquely suitable, students should meet with a physics advisor and a health sciences advisor for information about the university’s Medical Sciences Advisory Committee. For more information, call 703-993-1050.
Because schools in the health sciences vary both in their philosophies and specific requirements, it is wise for students to become aware of such information well in advance of applying for admission. Although specific requirements vary, most programs do require applicants to complete at least one year of biology. Other requirements generally include organic chemistry (CHEM 313, 314, 315, and 318 or 320).
This emphasis is intended for students wishing to pursue a career teaching high school physics. The goal of the program is to allow students to receive a license to teach physics in Virginia secondary schools within 120 credits. In addition to the standard requirements for the physics major, students should enroll in 3 credits of directed study in physics laboratory instruction under PHYS 390. The students must also take the following education courses: EDUC 422, 472, EDCI 472, 473, 491, EDRD 419, and pass the Praxis I and II exams to qualify for the teaching license. EDCI 472 also satisfies the social and behavioral science general education requirement, and EDCI 491 satisfies the synthesis general education requirement.
(excluding general education courses)
| First Semester | Credits |
|---|---|
| MATH 113 Calculus I | 4 |
| ENGL 101 Composition | 3 |
| CHEM 211 or BIOL 213 | 3 |
| PHYS 122 Relativity | 1 |
| PHYS 123 Inside the Quantum World | 1 |
| Second Semester | |
| MATH 114 Calculus II | 4 |
| PHYS 160 University Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 161 University Physics I Lab | 1 |
| CS 112 Computer Science I | 4 |
| Third Semester | |
| PHYS 251 Introduction to Computer Techniques | 3 |
| PHYS 260 University Physics II | 3 |
| PHYS 261 University Physics II Lab | 1 |
| MATH 213 Calculus III | 3 |
| Fourth Semester | |
| PHYS 262 University Physics III | 3 |
| PHYS 263 University Physics III Lab | 1 |
| MATH 214 Elementary Differential Equations | 3 |
| Fifth Semester | |
| PHYS 303 Classical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 305 Electromagnetic Theory | 3 |
| PHYS/MATH elective | |
| MATH 313 Introduction to Applied Mathematics | 3 |
| ENGL 302 Advanced Composition | 3 |
| Sixth Semester | |
| PHYS 306 Wave Motion and Electromagnetic Radiation | 3 |
| PHYS 307 Thermodynamics | 3 |
| PHYS 308 Modern Physics | 3 |
| MATH 314 Introduction to Applied Mathematics 3 | |
| Seventh Semester | |
| PHYS 402 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 407 Senior Lab in Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 416 Special Topics in Modern Physics | 1 |
| PHYS 510 Computational Physics | 3 |
| Eighth Semester | |
| PHYS 408 Senior Project | 3 |
| PHYS 512 Solid State Physics and Applications | 3 |
| PHYS 540 Nuclear and Particle Physics | 3 |
Physics majors who have maintained an overall GPA of at least 3.50 in physics courses and a GPA of 3.50 in all courses taken at Mason may apply to the departmental honors program when they complete the first semester of their junior year. To graduate with honors in physics, a student is required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 in physics courses and successfully complete PHYS 405 and 406 with a GPA of at least 3.50 and a grade of at least A- in PHYS 406.
Normally, students who intend to major in physics should take the physics introductory sequence (PHYS 160, 161, 260, 261, 262, and 263). Students who decide to major in physics after completing PHYS 243, 244, 245, and 246 may do so but only with written permission of the Physics and Astronomy Department. Those students are required to take at least 4 additional credits in approved physics courses.
PHYS 243, 244, 245, and 246 are recommended for biology, geology, and premedical students, and mathematics students who seek a BA degree. PHYS 101, 102, 103, and 104 are intended for nonscience majors. PHYS 160, 161, 260, 261 or 265, 262, and 263 constitute a calculus-based sequence in general physics to be taken by physics and engineering majors, and chemistry, computer science, and mathematics students who are pursuing a BS degree. Students may receive credit for only one of the following three sequences: PHYS 243, 244, 245, 246; PHYS 103, 104; or PHYS 160, 161, 260, 261, 262, 263.
The minor requires 18 credits with a minimum GPA of 2.00, including PHYS 160, 161, 260, 261, 262, and 263, and any two courses from PHYS 303, 306, 307, 308, 402, 428, and 305 or 513.
Eight credits of course work must be unique to the minor. For policies governing all minors, see the Academic Policies chapter of this catalog.
This program allows academically strong undergraduates with a commitment to research to obtain BS and MS degrees by successfully completing 144 credits within five academic years plus summers their last two years. On completion, students are exceptionally well prepared for entry into a professional school or a PhD program in physics or a related discipline. Well-prepared students are encouraged to apply to this program after they complete 90 credits. Admitted students take selected graduate courses during their senior year (when they have successfully completed prerequisites) and are able to use up to 6 graduate credits in partial satisfaction of requirements for the undergraduate degree. On completion of that degree and with satisfactory performance (3.00) in the graduate courses, students are given advanced standing in the master’s program and complete an additional 24 credits to receive the master’s degree. All other master’s degree requirements must be met. See the department for further details.
The department offers many opportunities for undergraduate students to get involved with research. Students should consult with faculty working on research of interest to them, based on their examination of the Physics Department web site.
Students who wish to become teachers should consult the College of Education and Human Development chapter and attend an information session early in their undergraduate career. For more information, call 703-993-2078, e-mail gacline2@gmu.edu, or go to gse.gmu.edu.
MS-PHAE
This degree contains elements of traditional physics programs and the application of physics to a diversity of critical societal problems. The program is divided into three areas of emphases. The standard emphasis is intended for students who may wish to pursue further graduate study in physics leading to a PhD degree in preparation for a career in basic research. The applied physics emphasis is intended for those who wish to apply the techniques and subject areas of physics to multifaceted problems encountered in the workplace, particularly in physics, engineering, computational science, and other related areas. The engineering physics emphasis allows students to select a larger number of courses from electrical engineering or nanotechnology, and other areas.
Many courses are offered during late afternoon or evening hours to allow students with full-time employment to attend easily. Students employed at area high-technology organizations may take up to 6 credits (out of 30) for work done on the job under the guidance of a faculty member. This employment-related research may be conducted under an optional 3-credit research project or an optional 6-credit master’s thesis. Master’s students who are not employed full time may apply for financial aid or a limited number of research assistantships.
Individuals holding a baccalaureate degree in physics or a related field from an accredited institution and who earned a GPA of 3.00 (out of 4.00) in their last 60 credits are invited to apply for admission. If the baccalaureate degree is in a field other than physics, applicants should have taken several courses beyond the introductory physics courses, such as junior-level classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, or electronics. Applicants may be required to make up one or two deficiencies, based on a graduate physics advisor’s assessment, and still be permitted to enroll in the program. Three letters of recommendation must be submitted, preferably from former professors. The general GRE and the GRE subject test in physics are recommended for applicants who received their baccalaureate degrees within the past five years. Those with less recent bachelor’s degrees may present a statement of their work experience in lieu of the GRE.
Candidates for the degree must successfully complete 30 credits in the categories shown below:
A sample list of courses for various emphases:
(pending SCHEV approval)
PHD-PHYS
A PhD in physics is pending approval by the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia. If approved, the program would begin in fall 2008. Answers to frequently asked questions about the new program and its relation to the existing PhD in physical sciences can be found on the department web site: physics.gmu.edu. All doctoral students accepted into the physics PhD program take a common core of four courses. By working with the Dissertation Committee, a student may choose to specialize in an emphasis area such as astrophysics, biophysics, nonlinear physics, planetary sciences, material physics, space weather physics, or others according to his or her particular interests. By the end of their first year, all students will pair with a faculty advisor who will guide them toward candidacy.
Those holding a baccalaureate degree in physics or astronomy from an accredited institution, who earned a GPA of 3.00 (out of 4.00) in their last 60 credits, and received acceptable scores on the GRE-GEN are invited to apply for admission. Three letters of recommendation must be submitted, preferably from former professors. The GRE subject test in physics is recommended for all interested applicants who received their baccalaureate degrees within the past five years. A degree-seeking graduate applicant with a baccalaureate degree who has not met all admission requirements may be offered provisional admission if sufficient evidence is presented to suggest the applicant has the ability to pursue graduate work. For more details concerning admission requirements to George Mason University, please refer to the Graduate Admission Policies and Admission of International Students sections of this catalog.
All students in the physics PhD program must earn a minimum of 72 graduate credits. Of these, 48 are required course work and preliminary research credits, and 24 are doctoral dissertation proposal (PHYS/ASTR 998) and doctoral dissertation research (PHYS/ASTR 999) credits. For students entering the doctoral program with previous graduate work, the 48 credits of course work may be reduced by a maximum of 30 credits. The required 48 credits of course work are divided among core courses, physics and astronomy elective courses, general elective courses, and a seminar requirement. The 12 credits of core courses include PHYS 684, 685, 705, and 711. Note that doctoral candidacy (qualifying) examinations will be given on the topics covered in these core courses. The remaining 36 credits includes 3 credits of PHYS 703, a 1-credit seminar that is repeated three times, 6 credits of physics or astronomy specialty courses, and 27 credits of general electives, which may be chosen from physics and astronomy, or other related disciplines. These elective courses may include research credits (PHYS/ASTR 796, PHYS/ASTR 798) in preparation for the Doctoral Dissertation. These research courses may be repeated with the approval of the student’s advisor or Dissertation Committee in order to be applied toward the degree requirements.
Qualifying examinations. All students must successfully pass the qualifying examinations for the four core courses. The qualifying exam is offered twice per year and is divided into four sections corresponding to the four topics in the core courses (Quantum Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, Classical Mechanics, and Statistical Mechanics). Grades of “Pass” or “Unsatisfactory” will be given individually for the four separate sections of the exam. If students receive a grade of “Unsatisfactory” in a given section of the exam, they will be allowed to retake that section a maximum of two times. Students can choose to take a particular section or a combination of sections at one sitting, but they must successfully pass all sections by the end of their third year. Students entering the program with equivalent courses taken at another institution can satisfy the core requirement by taking the qualifying exam directly. There is a written and an oral component for each section of the qualifying exam. A student must satisfactorily pass both components of the exam. The oral component may be waived by unanimous consent of the Qualifying Examination Committee for exceptional performance on the written component. At the beginning of each academic year, the program director will appoint members to the Qualifying Examination Committee (typically from faculty who most recently taught the core courses), and the committee is responsible for the creation and grading of the qualifying exam to be offered in that year.
Advancement to candidacy. After the successful completion of the qualifying examination, a Dissertation Committee should be formed as soon as possible. This committee consists of a graduate faculty member (see the Graduate Faculty section in the catalog) from the Department of Physics and Astronomy and at least two other members of the graduate faculty, one of whom must be from outside the student’s department or degree program. The composition of the committee must be approved by the program director. Qualified individuals who are not members of the graduate faculty (i.e., faculty at another university) may serve on a dissertation committee with the approval of the program director and the associate dean for graduate programs. The Dissertation Committee is responsible for directing students in their chosen field of research. The Dissertation Committee should work with the student to select specialty courses and electives to form a cohesive program of study. Preliminary research credits (PHYS/ASTR 796 and PHYS/ASTR 798) can be taken as a part of the electives to prepare for the student’s dissertation. Advancement to candidacy implies that a doctoral student has demonstrated both breadth and depth of knowledge in the field of study and is capable of conducting research on the boundaries of knowledge. Before doctoral students may be advanced to candidacy by the dean, they will need to have had completed all required course work, passed the qualifying examinations, and been recommended by the Dissertation Committee. A doctoral student has six years from the time of first enrollment as a degree-seeking student to advance to candidacy.
Doctoral dissertation. After advancing to candidacy, doctoral candidates will work with the Dissertation Committee to formalize their preliminary research into a doctoral dissertation. The dissertation research should represent a significant contribution to its scientific field and should be deemed publishable in refereed scientific journals. A total of 24 credits in the following two courses must be taken: PHYS 998 or ASTR 998 Dissertation Proposal (0 to 12 credit hours), and PHYS 999 or ASTR 999 Doctoral Dissertation (12 to 24 credit hours). Note that before the student may enroll in PHYS/ASTR 999, the dissertation proposal must be approved by the Dissertation Committee and evidence of its approval sent to the dean for approval. Before that time, the student may enroll in PHYS/ASTR 998 (Dissertation Proposal). Students working on their Doctoral Dissertation (999) must register for a minimum of 3 credits of 999 per semester (excluding summers) until they have completed the 12-credit minimum requirement for 999, after which they must register for 1 credit of 999 until the dissertation is completed and accepted. The dissertation must be defended in a public forum before the Dissertation Committee and other interested faculty. After the candidate successfully defends the dissertation, the Dissertation Committee recommends to the Graduate Faculty of George Mason University the awarding to the candidate the degree of doctor of philosophy in physics. Students have five years from the time of advancement to candidacy to graduate.
PHD-PSCI
This interdisciplinary doctoral program is offered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The degree focuses on preparing scientists to perform research either in the separate disciplines listed above or as members of interdisciplinary science teams, primarily involving astronomy, biophysical sciences, chemistry, and physics. The main emphasis is on theoretical, experimental, or laboratory research. The program is not intended to produce graduates who are scientific generalists; however, the areas of specialization often cut across traditional disciplines, as in the research fields mentioned above.
The degree is built on a foundation of several interdisciplinary courses that expose students to fundamental research problems in modern science and provide them with an introduction to each of the general physical areas that compose the degree (physics, chemistry, biochemistry and biophysics, and astronomy). The program curriculum, however, has been designed to provide enough flexibility to accommodate students seeking a fully interdisciplinary program, as well as those with interests more closely aligned with one of the traditional physical sciences disciplines. Students who are seeking a program with a heavy emphasis on computational methods may alternatively consider the doctoral program in computational sciences. This program includes concentrations in computational physics and in space sciences and computational astrophysics. See the Department of Computational and Data Sciences chapter for degree and admission requirements.
The physical sciences PhD program is intended for students who have completed an undergraduate program of study in one of the physical sciences, have taken math to the level of differential equations, and are computer literate.
Applicants are expected to have a BS degree with a minimum GPA of 3.00 and acceptable GRE and TOEFL scores. The undergraduate degree should be in a scientific field, such as physics, chemistry, astronomy, mathematics, or engineering. Applicants with insufficient undergraduate records may be accepted provisionally and required to successfully complete selected remedial courses, some of which may not be applicable to the 48-credit total for the PhD course work requirement.
Interested students should submit a completed Mason graduate application, three letters of recommendation, official reports of GRE and TOEFL scores, and a goals statement reflecting their general research interests and career plans. Mason’s Educational Testing Service code is 5827.
All students in the 72-credit physical sciences PhD program are required to take 48 credits of course work and 24 credits of dissertation research. For students entering the doctoral program with previous graduate work, the 48 credits of course work may be reduced by a maximum of 30 credits. Of the 48 credits of course work, 9 credits will consist of core courses to be taken by all students in the program, and at least 15 credits will be selected as part of a student’s contract with a three-member faculty committee (explained below). At least five of the contract core courses will be selected from the list presented below. Thus, the program consists of
A three-member predissertation faculty committee will be formed by the student as soon as possible after admission but not later than after completion of the 9-credit core. The composition of the student’s committee must be approved by the program director. At this point, the student is expected to have selected a rather broad area of future research interest; typically, the area may not yet be specific enough to define an actual dissertation project.
Because students entering the program will have diverse backgrounds and goals and the program is explicitly designed to accommodate students preparing for a range of fields of research, it is not possible to have a completely standardized set of degree requirements. Instead, the student and his or her committee will decide on a set of at least five courses (15 credits) that will best meet the student’s goals and future research direction. This portion of the program will be set up in the form of a contract between the student and the committee. The contract will include courses that the student should take and books and articles that should be read. Fifteen of the contract credits must be chosen from the following list; however, no more than three classes can be taken in any one area, unless the student obtains special permission from the program director. Furthermore, no more than two classes at the 500 level can be selected.
Students can choose their elective classes more widely, but these courses need to be approved by the faculty committee to be applied toward satisfaction of the degree requirements. As an example, a student planning to pursue interdisciplinary research in the general area of bioinorganic chemistry would form a committee headed by a bioinorganic scientist and would have a contract that probably required taking at least these five courses:
The contract is an interactive document agreed to between the student and the committee. It can be revised, but any revisions must be approved by the program director. For purposes of the written preliminary exam, the scope of the contract will be narrowed to cover particular courses, books, and such as the committee sees fit. The final contract must be signed by the student and all committee members.
Students are encouraged to undertake research under close faculty supervision in a number of potential areas, including the following examples: