Applied Physics, Master of Science

This plan provides a strong core of applied physics as well as essential research skills, and prepares you for technical employment in high-technology industries, research institutes, or college teaching, as well as for further professional study in various fields of applied physics. This plan can be interdisciplinary, integrating a broad range of subject areas to enhance your opportunities for research, teaching, or careers in the private sector. There is a thesis option in General Physics and a specialization option in Teaching College Physics.

To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.

You must additionally complete:
- All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
- All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
- All work toward the master's degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.
Read the full policy here.

In addition to University Requirements:

Complete individual plan requirements.

Minimum Units for Completion	30
Additional Admission Requirements	Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
Fieldwork Experience/Internship	Optional
Thesis	Thesis may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Comprehensive Exam	Comprehensive Exam may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Research	Individualized research may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option.
Progression Plan Link	View Program of Study

Purpose Statement

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers a two-year master's degree that provides a strong core of applied physics as well as essential research skills, and prepares students for employment in high-technology industries, research institutes, or further academic study in physics. The program is designed to train students in laboratory skills, providing them with computational and computer modeling expertise, developing their competencies in the use and design of modern instrumentation, and providing them with a basic foundation in physics. There are both thesis and coursework options available. These plans can be interdisciplinary, integrating a broad range of subject areas to enhance opportunities in research or the private sector.

Student Learning Outcomes
Students will achieve the following learning outcomes:

Enhanced Understanding and Application of the Laws of Physics with a special emphasis on experimentation and computational methods. Areas of enhancement:
- spectroscopy
- optics
- computational methods
- microscopic structure of matter
- statistical physics
- instrumentation
Written and Oral Communication Skills: clearly communicate and defend original ideas and research in verbal, written, and visual formats to scientific and non-scientific audiences.
Problem Solving Skills:
- interpret experimental data and derive useful information from that data
- solve physical problems via numerical computation
- utilize specialized instrumentation to perform experimentation on physical systems
- apply knowledge of physical theory to design appropriate experiments
General Physics Thesis Track: Design, pursue, and complete an original research project that contributes to the field of physics. Through the thesis experience students will:
- design with the guidance of a thesis advisor an original and significant research project
- conduct a literature review of the topic
- apply appropriate theories of physics and laboratory tools to the research project
- analyze, interpret, and explain findings of the research project
- synthesize and present the relevance of the project in both technical and non-technical terms
- write a thesis
- clearly present and defend the research project in front of a community of physics faculty and peers
General Physics Coursework Track: Through this coursework students will demonstrate a deeper mastery in their chosen areas of study, including:
- computational, optical, and materials physics.
- a range of experimental laboratory techniques
- computational methods in physics

Graduate Admission Information

The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.

Admission requirements include the following:
- Transcripts.
- Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.
Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.

Ready to apply? Begin your application now.
International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.

Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

- Personal Statement or Essay

- Three Letters of Recommendation

Master's Requirements

This Master’s degree requires 30 units distributed as follows:
- Applied Physics Coursework: 18 units
- Thesis Requirement or Coursework Option - Select one: 12 units
  - Coursework Option
  - Thesis Requirement
Take the following 30 units:

Applied Physics Coursework (18 units)
- PHY 530, PHY 540, PHY 545, PHY 550, PHY 560, PHY 581
- Additional PHY, APMS coursework selected in consultation with your advisor.

Thesis Requirement or Coursework Option - Select one (12 units)

- Coursework Option (12 units)
  - Electives in any science, mathematics, engineering, or other field that's appropriate to your career goals, with your advisor's approval.
  - At least 6 units must be formal, letter-graded coursework. Up to 6 units may be at the 400-level. (12 units)
  - Comprehensive oral exam.
  - Students selecting the coursework option must complete 24 units of formal letter-graded coursework.
  - Please be aware that university Graduate Assistants must be enrolled for a minimum of nine hours each semester.

- - Students completing a non-thesis, coursework, project, or track option must complete 24 units of formal letter-graded coursework.

- Thesis Option (12 units)
  - PHY 685 (3 - 6 units)
    - You may take more than 3 units of PHY 685 but only 6 units will count toward your degree.
  - PHY 699 (3 - 6 units)
    - You must enroll in PHY 699 each semester while performing thesis work but only 6 units will count toward your degree.
  - Electives in any science, mathematics, engineering, or other field that's appropriate to your career goals, with your advisor's approval. These must be formal, letter-graded coursework. Up to 6 units may be at the 400-level. (6 units)
  - Students selecting the thesis option are required to complete 18 units of formal letter-graded coursework. No 400-level coursework may apply toward this requirement.
  - Please be aware that university Graduate Assistants must be enrolled for a minimum of nine hours each semester.

- - Students selecting a thesis option are required to complete 18 units of formal letter-graded coursework.

If you pursue the Master of Science in Applied Physics degree at NAU, you will not be able to pursue the Master of Science in Materials Science/Master of Science in Applied Physics and Materials Science degree. Only one of the two degrees will be awarded.

Additional Information

Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.