Home > Grad > Handbook > Ch4

The Master of Science (M.S.) degree in physics may be completed under one of two options called Plan A and Plan B. Plan A involves the writing of a Master's thesis. Plan B itself allows two options. One choice is to complete a so-called Plan B project. The second is to write three Plan B papers on three different topics. No matter which option you choose, you must have a faculty research advisor who agrees to supervise your work. A three member faculty committee will be appointed by the Director of Graduate Studies to certify that your thesis or project/papers is satisfactory and to give you a final oral examination.

For either Plan A or Plan B, you may choose to satisfy the minor requirements either by a designated minor or with six credits in "related fields." A designated minor must be in a graduate program outside of physics, and your degree program and committee must be approved by the DGS of that program. "Related fields" courses may be in physics or outside of physics in fields with some relevance to physics. Courses in physics for the related field may not be in the same sub-field (see Table 5.1) as your thesis, Plan B project or the majority of your Plan B papers. If you have taken both Physics 5001/2 and 5011/2, you may use one of these sequences to fulfill either the minor requirements. (The other one is, of course, specifically required.)

Plan A: M.S. Degree with Thesis

Residence Requirement: At least 60% of the course program must be completed at the University of Minnesota.

Filing of Program: After completing 10 credits; not later than 2^nd semester of registration.

Minimum Grade Point Average: 2.8

Minimum Credits: 20 credits total, including 14 in physics including either Physics 5001/2 or Physics 5011/2; 6 in and outside of physics (but not in major subfield) for a "related fields" minor; 6 in one field outside physics for designated minor. If you take both Physics 5001/2 and Physics 5011/12 one of these sequences may be counted as supporting field credits. All courses must be at the 4xxx, 5xxx or 8xxx level.

Foreign Language Requirement: No requirement. However, the advisor may require reading knowledge of a particular language if justified by the nature of the thesis.

Thesis Credits: 10 (Physics 8777) Plan A only.

Thesis: The thesis should represent approximately 10 to 15 weeks of full time effort. This time includes doing the necessary background reading, performing the research and writing the thesis. Common lengths for M.S. theses are 25 to 50 pages, although effective effort and not length alone is the appropriate standard. Theses must be written and bound according to the Graduate School regulations. In addition to the Graduate School's requirements, the student should provide one bound copy of the thesis for the advisor and one bound copy for the School of Physics and Astronomy.

Plan B: M.S. Without Thesis

Residence Requirement: At least 60% of the course program must be completed at the University of Minnesota.

Filing of Program: After completing 10 credits; not later than 2^nd semester of registration.

Minimum Grade Point Average: 2.8

Minimum Credits: Total of 30 credits, including at least 14 in physics including either Physics 5001/2 or Physics 5011/2; 6 in and outside physics (but not in major subfield) for "related fields" minor or 6 credits in one field for designated minor. If you take both Physics 5001/2 and Physics 5011/12 one of these sequences may be counted as related field credits. The remainder of these credits may be selected from the physics or other fields with the consent of the advisor. All courses must be at the 4xxx, 5xxx or 8xxx level.

Foreign Language Requirement: None

Plan B Project: The single Plan B project requires a nominal three weeks of full-time (40 hours per week) effort. You should first agree with your faculty research advisor on a plan for the project. Then, you should register for Physics 8500: Plan B Project. (The four credits for Physics 8500 do count toward the program requirement of 30 credits.) The single Plan B Project normally involves a small, self-contained research problem, which may or may not be publishable. The Project should be described in a written paper, but the format of the paper may be determined unilaterally by the advisor.

Examples of Plan B projects include carrying out a specific calculation, writing and documenting a computer program, analyzing a set of experimental data, designing and/or constructing experimental instrumentation and designing and/or constructing an undergraduate laboratory experiment.

Plan B Papers: The alternative to the Plan B project is the writing of one to three Plan B papers. The total effort should normally require three week's full-time work. The Plan B paper option does not require original research. The paper(s) must be related to three courses that the student has taken. The papers may be supervised either by your research advisor or by your advisor in conjunction with instructors from the three courses referenced. The format of each paper may be determined unilaterally by the supervising faculty member.

Combining the M.S. and the Ph.D.

Students who are working towards a Ph.D. degree have the option of obtaining an M.S. during the course of their studies. About one-quarter of Ph.D. students complete the M.S. With the exception of the thesis or Plan B project/papers and 8 thesis credits, all of the work used to satisfy the M.S. requirements may also be applied towards the Ph.D. degree requirements. The credit hours used for the M.S. may also be applied towards the Ph.D. credit requirements. In addition, the research you do for your M.S. thesis or Plan B project may form the basis for your Ph.D. research.

You should consult with your research advisor before deciding whether to complete the M.S. as part of your Ph.D. work. There are two clear advantages in doing so. One is that if for some reason you are unable to complete your Ph.D., you will have the M.S. degree. A second advantage is that preparing the M.S. thesis or project will give you an opportunity to practice integrating and reporting on research work that you have been doing. Such an experience may prove quite valuable in preparing your Ph.D. dissertation.