The students in this concentration receive instruction in fundamental areas of physics and gain experience and knowledge in a wide range of subjects related to Modern Optics. All candidates are required to complete a thesis including the defense (Plan A) or take an oral comprehensive examination as culminating experience (Plan B)
Admission Requirements
University Admission
Applicants must submit a complete graduate application by applying through the CSU Cal State Apply system at calstate.edu/apply and meet all the university admission requirements. Applicants apply separately to the department to obtain admission into the MS, Physics degree program. See the GAPE Graduate Admissions website and this Catalog for general information about graduate admissions at SJSU.
Applicants from countries in which the native language is not English must achieve a minimum English-language proficiency test score as indicated on the Graduate Program Test Requirements webpage at GAPE. For TOEFL Requirements, see the Policies and Procedures section, Graduate and Post-Baccalaureate Information .
Program Requirements for Admission to Classified Standing
Minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate Division are outlined in the Admissions section. Students can be admitted in either classified or conditionally classified standing. To be admitted to the MS, Physics degree program in Classified status, an applicant must possess a baccalaureate degree with a major in Physics and a grade point average of 3.0 or better in the last 60 units. Applicants must also have completed at least 24 semester units of upper division physics, or courses in related fields approved by the Physics Department graduate advisor.
Program Admission to Conditionally Classified Standing
Students may be admitted to conditionally classified standing if they meet minimum requirements for admission to the University but their preparation for advanced graduate work is considered inadequate to meet the course prerequisites or other departmental requirements. The conditions will include completing PHYS 105A , PHYS 110A , and PHYS 163 with a grade of “B” or better. Students may need to complete additional coursework to meet prerequisites for these classes. The program admissions notification will explain terms and requirements.
Requirements for Advancement to Candidacy
Matriculated graduate students must submit a Petition for Advancement to Graduate Candidacy a minimum of one semester prior to graduating. General university requirements for advancement to candidacy for the MS degree are detailed in the Graduate Policies and Procedures section.
Students also must fulfill Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) before advancing to candidacy. Information about GWAR requirements can be found at Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR). Graduate courses that meet GWAR requirements include.
Requirements for Graduation
University Graduation Requirements
Students must complete all residency, curriculum, unit, GPA, and culminating experience requirements as outlined in the Graduation Requirements section of the Graduate Policies and Procedures .
Course Requirements
To meet the requirements for the MS, Physics, a student must complete 30 units (and satisfy the program GWAR requirement) with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. The student must complete one of two culminating experience options: Plan A (Thesis) or the Plan B (Project). Note: The Plan A (Thesis) option requires Graduate Studies approval of the completed thesis.
In consultation with the department graduate coordinator, the candidate will develop and pursue a plan of study. The candidate must successfully complete all requirements of the selected plan including the course work and the culminating experience.
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement
At SJSU, students must pass the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR). For information on the GWAR, please see http://info.sjsu.edu/gcw.html.
Culminating Experience
Students in the MS, Physics program choose a Plan A (Thesis) or Plan B (Project) option as their culminating experience.
Plan A (Thesis)
The student who opts to complete a Master’s thesis is responsible for securing the commitment of a full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty member who agrees to serve as thesis committee chair. The student must also secure the commitments of two additional university faculty members, one of whom must be a full-time tenure or tenuretrack faculty member, to serve as the student’s thesis committee. The student must write a thesis proposal and have it approved by the thesis committee and pass at the PHYS 298 - Research before enrolling in the PHYS 299 - Master’s Thesis . The thesis must meet university requirements as stipulated in this catalog and in the SJSU Master’s Thesis and Doctoral Dissertation Guidelines. It will be written under the guidance of the candidate’s thesis committee chair with the assistance of the thesis committee.
Plan B (Project)
Students opting to complete a master’s project will take the PHYS 298 - Research (3 units) and an additional elective for a total of 6 units. The project shall be one of the following:
- A written project or journal paper describing the research project.
- A presentation of the research topic at a department seminar with a written description of the project presented to the student’s committee (both written and an oral presentation).
- Authorship in a peer reviewed journal and presentation of the results to the student’s committee.
