University of South Florida Physics Department: A Comprehensive Overview

The University of South Florida (USF) Physics Department offers a dynamic and comprehensive educational environment for both undergraduate and graduate students. With a strong emphasis on research and a commitment to student success, the department provides a wide range of opportunities for students to explore the fundamental principles of physics and prepare for diverse career paths.

Undergraduate Programs

The USF Physics Department offers both Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees in physics, along with a physics minor and an accelerated B.A./M.A.T. program. These programs are designed to provide students with a solid foundation in physics while allowing them to tailor their studies to their specific interests and career goals.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Physics

The B.A. in Physics offers students a flexible curriculum with ample room for electives and courses outside the major. This degree is well-suited for students who wish to combine their physics studies with other disciplines or pursue careers that require a broad educational background. It's important to consult the Physics BA Catalog link for the most up-to-date curriculum details, keeping in mind that students may be following different major catalogs.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Physics

The B.S. in Physics provides a more intensive and research-oriented curriculum. Undergraduate research is a significant component of the B.S. program, offering students hands-on experience in cutting-edge research areas. Many students who earn a B.S. in physics go on to pursue graduate studies in physics or related fields. For the most current curriculum information, refer to the Physics BS Catalog Link, remembering that catalog versions may vary among students.

Accelerated B.A./M.A.T. Program

This program is designed for students interested in becoming high school and/or middle school science teachers. It allows students to complete both a B.A. (in Science) and a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) in five years.

Physics Minor

The Physics minor offers students from other disciplines the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of fundamental physical concepts. Details about the Physics minor can be found in the university catalog.

Minor in Astronomy

The Astronomy minor is valuable for students majoring in various disciplines, providing insights into the solar system and beyond. It consists of 12 credit hours. The Astronomy Minor Catalog Link provides further information.

Graduate Programs

The Department of Physics at USF is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of knowledge in both pure and applied physics, fostering an intellectually stimulating atmosphere for its graduate students. With over 50 research faculty members, the department provides opportunities to conduct research in various fields such as astrophysics, condensed matter and materials physics, low temperature physics, high energy physics, and biological physics. The graduate program is built upon externally funded research, preparing students for scientific careers in academia, private industry, and government labs.

The mission of the Ph.D. Program in the Department of Physics is to prepare students for a wide range of careers in Physics and related fields by providing the fundamental knowledge and technical expertise necessary to advance their careers and to perform cutting-edge and internationally recognized research. The department is committed to designing a program of graduate study that is tailored to the experience and interests of the students. The department is home to over 140 graduate students.

Standard Schedule for a Graduate Student

The following table displays the standard schedule for a graduate student in our PhD program.

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Core Courses and Waivers

All students must pass each core course unless it is waived by the graduate coordinator. Some incoming students will be required to take the English class to be appointed as a TA. To meet the requirement of 9 credits, the student will typically take PHY 6346 (EM I) and PHY 6645 (QM I) in addition to the English class in their first semester and should plan to take PHY 6246 (CM) in the fall of their second year. Students may not feel prepared enough to take all three courses in one semester. Students who transferred from other universities, where they have already taken similar graduate level courses, may be eligible for waiver of a subset of the core courses if they fulfill certain conditions. A Graduate Course Transfer form along with official transcripts is needed. must be evaluated by World Education Services (WES).

Advanced Level Courses

Students are required to take at least three advanced level courses (3 credit courses at 6000-level or higher). Two of these courses must cover two different sub-fields of physics as defined by the first four columns in the table below. Note that not all courses are listed in the table. A third course can be from a third sub-field, from a different relevant discipline, or from an already covered sub-field but it must address a different aspect of that sub-field. In general, as the years go by, students register for fewer lecture courses. Their 9 credit hours in Fall and Spring and 6 credit hours in Summer are then filled either by seminar courses or by advanced research courses. First year students who have no advisor are recommended to fill any holes in their schedules the first two semesters with three, 1-credit seminar or colloquium courses.

Individual Development Plan (IDP)

An individual development plan (IDP) is an open-ended, student-driven document, created to help you to align your personal and professional goals with your academic expectations and responsibilities. As you pursue your graduate degree, developing and revising a comprehensive plan like the IDP will give you critical information for building the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary for your career, and to prepare you for meaningful personal or professional opportunities after graduation. The IDP is designed to complement the resources your own graduate program will provide, as well as your own mentoring model for student success. Complete the fillable IDP form (also available in Canvas) and get the signatures of yourself and the advisor.

Research Opportunities

The student should explore research opportunities within the department as early as possible. This is the responsibility of the student and requires that the student be pro-active. During year 2, the main point of contact for the student should slowly shift from the graduate coordinator to their research supervisor.

Supervisory Committee (SC)

The SC is chaired by the research supervisor of the student. Four members are required with two of the members part of the department. One of the other two members must be external to the department which excludes all affiliated members well. The fourth member can be from physics or any other department of the university. The Department of Physics encourages in-person attendance of all committee members at the Qualifying Exam and the Final Exam. The entire supervisory committee and student should be present simultaneously at the exam. The presentation, questions, and responses must be conducted in real time. Every PhD student in the Department of Physics is required to meet with the Supervisory Committee in the Spring semester of the 6th year unless the Final Exam is scheduled during the same semester. For example, a student who enrolled in Fall 2017 must hold this meeting in Spring 2023. The purpose of this meeting is to review the progress and to help the student finish the thesis in a reasonable time, by establishing a concrete plan.

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Qualifying Examinations and Candidacy

Doctoral Research (24 credit hours)Students need to complete at least 24 hours of doctoral research (PHY 7980). by completing the qualifying examinations (see below). the qualifying examinations in the preceding semester (watch the deadlines). and the Candidacy Exam. may submit the paperwork to advance to doctoral candidacy. Studies. and, if these are met, to certify that the student may proceed to the next step. the Current Details of the Credentials Certification (PDF).

Final Exam

The Final Exam also consists of two parts: the written and the oral part. If the final exam occurs after 5 years of passing the qualifying exam, the candidate needs to file a petition or redo the qualifying exam to have the final exam for the degree. The Department of Physics encourages in-person attendance of all committee members at the Qualifying Exam and the Final Exam. The entire supervisory committee and student should be present simultaneously at the exam. The presentation, questions, and responses must be conducted in real time.

Dissertation Proposal and Defense

Students must write a dissertation proposal and successfully defend that proposal to the supervisory committee. presentation to the supervisory committee. prior to the defense. Non-USF faculty must be approved by Graduate Studies to serve on the committee. Defense Chair: Must be external to the Physics Department. faculty) are considered Physics faculty for committee formation purposes.

Application for Degree

Submit an application for degree via ONE.UF for the term in which a degree is to be awarded. Meet the first submission deadline. Even if you are unable to graduate in the preferred semester, this allows you to âClear Prior.â For international students, the Clear Prior Final Clearance deadline is, for immigration purposes, the date the student completes the degree and is the date the grace period begins. It is your responsibility to monitor all graduate school and editorial office final semester deadlines, there are no exceptions if a deadline is missed. Update your contact information in my.ufl.edu.

Master's Degree en route to Ph.D.

Students in the Ph.D. hours used towards the Masterâs cannot be used towards the Ph.D. 30 hours while the Ph.D. requires 72. at least 102 total hours to complete both degrees. count towards the Comprehensive Exam for the Masterâs requirement. need to be done twice. completely different paper/presentation for the PhD Credential Check. hours. This includes a thesis defense just like a dissertation defense. would need to be organized to sit for the defense. need to be completely separate from the PhD dissertation. Follow this link for information on the Ph.D.

Industrial Practicum

PHZ 7940 - Industrial Practicum. first-hand experience in a non-academic research setting. problem. the duration of the practicum and the level of support provided by the host. needed. Travel should be budgeted within USF guidelines. There will be no funding provided for an online practicum. Funds for the industrial practicum are limited. as funds may run out in a given year.

Financial Information for Graduate Students

The figures in the Administrative Information Summary on the last page of your Letter of Appointment may require some explanation. An incoming graduate student in fall 2026 will be appointed as a teaching assistant at 0.50 FTE, at an annual rate of $29,000 for 12 months of teaching. The stipend is paid biweekly, with 26.1 biweekly pay periods in a year (26.1 pay periods x 14 days/pay period = 365 days). The fall letter of appointment covers the 9-month academic year (August to May), which has 19.5 pay periods. Therefore it indicates a total stipend amount of 19.5 x $1111.11 = $21,666.65 for the academic year. Under the terms of this letter of appointment, you will be registered for a minimum of 9 graduate credits. The tuition for your registered credits will be separately paid by the university. You will not need to pay tuition.

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