INFORMATION FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

Transcription

1 University of Massachusetts Lowell College of Science Department of Physics and Applied Physics INFORMATION FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS Physics Graduate Programs: Descriptions, Policies, and Regulations August 2012 Prof. Robert H. Giles Department Chair Olney Hall OLN-136C Prof. James J. Egan Physics Graduate Coordinator Olney Science Center OLN Prof. Clayton S. French Radiological Sciences Coordinator Olney Science Center OLN Prof. Erno Sajo Medical Physics Coordinator Olney Science Center OLN

2 UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL GRADUATE PROGRAMS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND APPLIED PHYSICS CONTENTS Page I. Introduction II. The Physics Graduate Committee and the Graduate Advisor System 4 A. Academic Advisor B. Research Supervisor III. BS/MS Programs IV. Requirements for Advanced Degrees A. Common Requirements B. Master of Science Degree C. Doctor of Philosophy Degree V. Teaching and Research Assistantships VI. Summer Research Positions VII. Credit for Graduate Courses Taken at Other Schools and Waivers..21 VIII. Dissertation and Thesis IX. Research Supervisors Outside the Physics Faculty X. Appeals Procedure XI. Research Proposal Format XII Suggested Course Sequence for the Ph.D. in the Physics Concentration 25 2

3 I. INTRODUCTION Welcome to graduate study in Physics at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Do not lose this document; it contains information important to you. It describes the requirements for advanced degrees, the regulations governing how these requirements may be satisfied, and the role of the graduate faculty in advising and assisting you in meeting these requirements. The requirements are not merely formal stipulations. The purpose they serve is the purpose of graduate study: That you should become a competent independent scientist having a clear understanding of physics, capable of pursuing independent investigation in the subject, and capable of teaching others what you have learned. This goal is almost never completely reached in graduate school, but you should at least be well on your way with an M.S. degree, and nearly there with a Ph.D. degree. The same criterion is the basis of our individual decisions when we vote on awarding you an advanced degree, because this award signifies that we consider you to be our colleague. If changes are made in the graduate program or its regulations, they are done only to realize its purpose more fully. Since we, the members of the faculty, will participate in your graduate training, you are encouraged to make our acquaintance and to seek our help and advice early in your graduate career. To assist you in this, the graduate advisory system described in the following pages is your formal, but not your only, connection with the faculty. The Physics Faculty August

4 II. THE PHYSICS GRADUATE COMMITTEE AND THE GRADUATE ADVISORY SYSTEM Overall supervision of the physics graduate program is provided by the Physics Graduate Committee, whose members are elected from the Physics Faculty, serving for a term of three years and whose chairperson, is the Physics Graduate Coordinator. The members of the committee also serve as the academic advisors to physics graduate students. The graduate advisory system is designed to provide orientation and guidance to you when you enter graduate studies and to continue such guidance until you graduate. You will have an Academic Advisor and a Dissertation, Thesis or Project Research Supervisor. These may be different persons. You are under no obligation to select your Academic Advisor as your Research Supervisor. A. Academic Advisor 1. When you enter graduate school you will be interviewed by the Physics Graduate Coordinator or one of the program coordinators; you will then be assigned an Academic Advisor, usually chosen from the members of the Graduate Committee whose research area is close to that of your interest. 2. The Academic Advisor will advise you on all academic matters, including the selection of courses, Comprehensive Examination, and other departmental or graduate school requirements. He/she is your registration officer. You must obtain his/her approval of the selection of courses for which you wish to register in each semester, any subsequent change of registration, petition for transfer of credit, and any other academic petition. 3. The Academic Advisor will be available to you for consultation throughout the academic year. Your advisor will schedule at least one interview with you during each semester at the time of registration. 4. The Academic Advisor will help to familiarize you with the research interests of members of the Physics Graduate Faculty and will assist you in selecting a Research Supervisor. B. Research Supervisor 1. Your Research Supervisor will be responsible for guiding you in your research. His/her approval is required before you may register for Dissertation, Thesis, or Project Research: , , , , , , , ,746, If your Research Supervisor is to be absent from U. Mass. Lowell during a semester or summer period, you may not register for thesis research without his/her written consent, and this consent may be given only provided suitable supervision is arranged, as approved by the Graduate Committee. 4

5 III. BS/MS PROGRAMS Students currently enrolled as undergraduates in physics at the University of Massachusetts Lowell may elect to apply for admission to the BS/MS Program in Physics. Currently three BS/MS programs are available, Physics, Optical Science, and Radiological Science, Junior or senior full-time physics majors with a grade point average of 3.0 or above are eligible to apply for admission to the program. The application procedure and admission review process are the same as for any other graduate applicant, except that there is no application fee, and Graduate Record Examination scores are not required. Graduate courses taken by a baccalaureate degree student that are credited towards the Master s degree must have been obtained with a grade of B or better. Once the departmental credit requirements for the bachelor s degree have been met, up to twelve graduate credits (500 level or higher) in excess of the 120 credit baccalaureate degree may be used for the graduate degree. Credit. Project or Thesis requirements are the same as for all other Physics M.S. Programs. Course Requirements for the BS/MS Program in Physics/Optical Sciences Option (See Undergraduate Physics Program" booklet for complete course list) 1. Required Undergraduate Optics Courses Credit Hours Geometrical Optics Optics and Waves Electro-Optics 3 2. Required Graduate Courses Mathematical Methods of Physics I Graduate Seminar in Physics 1,1 or 0,0; every semester or once a seminar has been presented in Seminar in Solid State /Optics 1,1 or 0,0; every semester Physics Colloquium 1,1 or 0,0; every semester * Special Problems in Physics Flex credits * M.S. Research Project in Physics 3 *95.746, M.S. Thesis Research may be substituted for and Graduate Elective Courses Image processing Laser Physics and Applications Solid State Electronic and Optoelectronic Devices I Integrated Optics: Wave Guides and Lasers Nonlinear Optics ,06 Seminar in Solid State/Optics 1,1 or 0, Characterization of materials Automation Techniques 3 Requirements for BS/MS Program in Radiological Sciences See Undergraduate Program in Radiological Sciences under separate cover. 5

6 IV. REQUIREMENTS FOR ADVANCED DEGREES We offer graduate work leading to the degrees of Master of Science in Physics; Master of Science in Radiological Sciences and Protection; and Doctor of Philosophy. The requirements common to all three degrees are listed first, followed by the requirements specific to each one. A. Common requirements for M.S. and Ph.D. Degrees 1. Course Load. During your first year of full-time graduate study you should be enrolled in at least three lecture or lab courses, at least two of which are expected to be among those subjects acceptable for credit for a graduate degree in one of the programs offered by the Department of Physics and Applied Physics. For this purpose special problems, project, thesis or dissertation research, seminars and colloquium are not considered lecture or lab courses. Incoming students with prior graduate credits may register for research in their first year. To remain in good standing, you must maintain a cumulative grade point average of Colloquium. The Physics Department Colloquium is an important part of your graduate education. It is your introduction to current research in the various specialties of physics. Registration for Physics Colloquium is required every semester for all full-time graduate students except those in the Radiological Sciences (R.S.) Master s program. Physics Colloquium , 702 maybe taken for 1 credit or 0 credit. as elected by the student. 3. Seminar. Every full time student is required to register for at least one seminar every semester. Beginning full time graduate students must register for Graduate Seminar in Physics or Radiological Sciences Seminar. Once a Physics Program student has made a presentation in Graduate Student Seminar that student may register for one of the other seminars in lieu of Graduate Student Seminar, Seminar courses carry either 0 or 1 credit as selected by the student at the time of registration. 4. Progress Report. If you are registered for Dissertation or Thesis Research, in any semester, you must submit a brief progress report (approximately one typewritten page) directly to the Research Supervisor for approval and to the Physics Graduate Coordinator (or the Coordinator of the Radiological Science program in the case of R.S. Master s degree candidates) before the last day to withdraw from classes for that semester, unless you submit a completed dissertation or thesis during that semester. Failure to do so will result in a grade of NC (no credit) for that semester. 6

7 B. Master of Science Degree 1. M.S. Degree in Physics (a) Thesis or Project: Candidates for the M.S. degree may elect to do either an M.S. Thesis or an M.S. Project. An M.S. Thesis involves an original investigation (though more limited in scope than that for a Ph.D. Dissertation) or construction of a major piece of apparatus. A suitable M.S. Project could be, for example, a critical review of some topic or construction of a minor piece of apparatus. An M.S. Project carries only 3 credits and must be completed in one semester. Alternatively, you may substitute satisfactory performance on the Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination in lieu of a project or thesis for the purpose of getting an en route master s degree. (b) At least 30 credit hours are required for the M.S. degree. At most 3 credit hours of colloquium or seminar courses may be applied to the 30 credit minimum. If a thesis is elected (course number ), at least 6 and at most 12 credit hours are allowed for it, and at least 18 hours of approved other courses must be taken. If a project is elected (course number ), no more than 3 hours credit is allowed for it, and at least 27 hours of approved other courses must be taken. If satisfactory performance on the Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam is elected, a maximum of 6 research credits may be applied toward the M.S. degree. (c) Course requirements for the M.S. degree in Physics: Course Credits Mathematical Methods of Physics I Graduate Seminar in Physics* 1,1 or 0, Physics Colloquium** 1,1 or 0,0; Four Elective Courses 12 Electives may be chosen in consultation with the academic supervisor and research supervisor from the list of physics courses acceptable for graduate credit. Some graduate courses offered by other departments are also acceptable for graduate credit in physics, but only if these have been approved by the Physics Graduate Committee. All students are expected to have completed as part of their undergraduate studies a two-semester course in electromagnetic theory (95.553/54 or equivalent) and a twosemester course in introductory quantum mechanics (95.535/536 or equivalent). If you take any of these four courses you cannot count them among the four Physics electives indicated above but they may be used to satisfy the overall 30 credit requirement. * All full time candidates are required to register for at least one Physics Seminar every semester, in addition to Colloquium , 702, every semester. After attending for one year, a student may elect to take one of the following instead: /704, /706, , , , or ** Registration for Physics Colloquium is required for all full time students. 7

8 2. M.S. Degree in Physics: Optical Sciences Option This program is a terminal Master s Program designed to provide the necessary preparation for students wishing to specialize in such rapidly expanding fields as electro-optical phenomena, lasers, applications of optics to telecommunication and information processing, fiber optics, and other optical materials and devices. The concentration is intended for students who have completed a bachelor s degree program in Physics, Engineering, or other sciences. It is offered in co-operation with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering which offers an allied option in opto-electronics. The Optical Sciences option emphasizes laboratory research providing the student valuable hands-on experience with optical systems devices. Two course sequences are available: (1) for students with a B.S. in Physics, and (2) for students with a B.S. in Engineering or another scientific discipline. Course requirements for the Optical Science Option: (a) For students with Physics B.S. Course Credits Electro-Optics Solid State Electronic and Optoelectronic Devices Mathematical Methods of Physics I 3 Seminar and Colloquium (every semester) 1or 0; (b) For students with B.S. in other Sciences or Engineering* Course Credits Introductory Quantum Mechanics I Electro-Optics Solid State Electronic and Optoelectronic Devices Mathematical Methods of Physics I 1 or 0 Seminar and Colloquium (every semester) 3 * Assuming adequate preparation in mathematics and electromagnetism. Students who have not already taken an intermediate level course in electromagnetism should take and

9 (c) Electives must be chosen from the following list of courses: Course Credits Introductory Quantum Mechanics II Physical Optics and Waves Laser Physics and Applications Image Processing Solid State Physics Integrated Optics: Waveguides and Lasers Electro-Optics & Integrated Optics Optical Information Processing 3 Other graduate courses in the Physics or ECE Departments may be accepted as electives with permission of the Physics Department academic advisor. 3. M.S. Degree in Radiological Sciences and Protection (a) Candidates for the M.S. degree in Radiological Sciences and Protection may select from three program paths: Path 1. 9 credits allowed for an M.S. Thesis Path 2. 3 credits allowed for an M.S. Project Path 3. Satisfactory performance on the Radiological Sciences version of the Physics Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam. The Project consists of a scholarly investigation with library research and may also include some laboratory investigation. The Thesis consists of the reporting of the results of research, either experimental or theoretical, leading to a comprehensive, publishable paper. (b) Radiological Sciences Master s Degree Comprehensive Examination. M.S. degree candidates in Radiological Sciences and Protection who choose to do a Graduate Project rather than a Thesis are required to pass a written comprehensive examination. This examination may be waived for a student who can document that he/she has passed Part I of the American Board of Health Physics Certification Examination. (c) Course requirements for the M.S. in Radiological Science and Protection Course Credits Nuclear Instrumentation Radiation Safety and Control I/II External Dosimetry and Shielding Internal Dosimetry and Bioassay Radiation Biology Graduate Seminar in Radiological Sciences and Protection 0 or1 (d) There are two additional options within the Radiological Science and Protection degree program: (i) Professional Science Master s (PSM) Option; (ii) Medical Physics Option. Requirements for the PSM Option can be obtained from the Radiological Sciences Coordinator. Requirements for the Medical Physics Option are listed below in Section 4. 9

10 4. M.S. Degree in Medical Physics, an Option of Radiological Sciences This program is a terminal Master of Science degree program. It is offered as an Option in the Radiological Sciences Program designed for individuals who seek the MS degree and wish to be educated in therapeutic and imaging medical physics. The curriculum requires 29 hours of didactic courses on the UML campus, 5 hours of clinical courses, and a thesis of publishable quality. The Program curriculum, which is consistent with the intent of AAPM Report No. 197 Academic Program Recommendations for Graduate Degrees in Medical Physics, provides a wellbalanced learning opportunity that includes education in fundamental radiation sciences, medical physics and dosimetry, and it entails laboratory work and clinical training. The MS program duration is designed to be two years plus one summer semester, although the typical academic plan may be different due to elective courses and the length of thesis research. Applicants are expected to have an undergraduate major in physics, engineering, or a similar technical field, and have completed a course in anatomy. Students with other undergraduate degrees may be accepted if the prerequisite coursework is satisfied, typically equivalent to a minor in physics. Applicants with minor deficiencies, such as lacking an anatomy course, may be admitted with the provision of satisfying the prerequisite during the first year of graduate study. (a) Required Didactic Courses Radiation Safety and Control I (3) Nuclear Instrumentation (3) External Dosimetry and Shielding (3) Radiation Biology (3) Radiation Therapy Physics (3) Introduction to Medical Imaging (3) Advanced Medical Imaging Physics (3) Radiation Interactions and Transport (3) Monte Carlo Simulation of Radiation Transport (3) Advanced Radiation Therapy Physics (3) IB 520 Ethical Issues in Biomedical Research (1) /712 Radiological Sciences Seminar (0-1)* * Students enroll in /712 for all semesters of their studies. Only one of them can be taken for credit, in which they usually present their thesis work as public seminar. (b) Required Clinical Rotations Two clinical rotations, which typically take place during the Fall and Spring semesters of the second year, are required. Each rotation consists of spending an average of ½ day in the cooperating clinic under the supervision of clinical medical physicists. Because they are considered laboratory courses, clinical internships carry 1 credit hour, each Graduate Medical Physics Internship (1) Advanced Medical Physics Internship (1) (c) Elective Courses Radiation Safety and Control II (4) Special Topics in Radiation Sciences (1 3) 10

11 Internal Radiation Dosimetry & Bioassay (3) Mathematical Methods in Radiological Sciences (3) Numerical Methods in Radiological Sciences (3) MCNP for Radiological Sciences (3) Sectional Human Anatomy (3) Sectional Human Anatomy Lab (1) (d) Required Thesis Research A thesis, whose quality is sufficient for publication in an appropriate peer-reviewed scientific journal, is required. The MS thesis is considered complete upon (1) the student s delivery of a public seminar (usually within the frame of ), (2) the student s passing an oral examination on the thesis by members of the Thesis Committee and other interested faculty (thesis defense), and (3) the final written version having been approved and signed by all members of the student s Thesis Committee. The Thesis Committee may require that at least one paper reporting on part or the entire thesis be submitted for publication in a refereed scientific journal prior to final approval of the thesis Thesis Research (3+3) Entering students may petition to waive some course requirements if they have taken similar courses in their prior education (e.g., students transferring from other programs). 5. Grades Below B No more than 6 credits of B -, C +, or C will be allowed in courses submitted in fulfillment of the M.S. degree course requirements. A grade of C - is unacceptable for graduate credit. 6. Research Although no schedule is imposed, if you enter the M.S. program without undergraduate deficiencies, you should have a Research Supervisor and have started investigation of a proposed research topic by the end of your first year. The choice of a research topic is often accomplished by matching your interests with topics suggested by a prospective supervisor or with research projects presently in progress. After obtaining a Research Supervisor, a student in a Physics Program or electing the Thesis Option in the R.S. program must submit to the Graduate Committee (or Coordinator of the R.S. Graduate Program) for approval ten copies of a typewritten proposal, which shall be a brief description of the research problem you propose to investigate for your Thesis, or a description of the Project you wish to undertake (See p. 24 for the format of the Proposal). This proposal must bear the signature of the member of the faculty who has agreed to supervise the work. A student in the R.S. Program who elects the Project Option must obtain the approval of the Research Supervisor for the Project Proposal. A Master s thesis proposal must be approved by the Graduate Committee at least one semesters prior to the awarding of the degree. A Master s Project proposal must be submitted before the last day to add a course in the semester in which master s Project Research is undertaken. An M.S. project must be completed and defended in one semester. After completing the research, you must submit to the Physics Department four copies of a typewritten thesis or project report in the format specified by the UML Thesis and Dissertation Guide 11

12 which is available online at Thesis students must then pass an oral defense conducted by a Thesis Committee (see Sec. VIII, p. 22). This examination will be based on, but not necessarily restricted to, the subject of your thesis. A student submitting a Physics M.S. Project Report must pass an oral defense of the Project, which will be based on, but not necessarily restricted to, the subject of the Project. A committee of three members of the Physics Faculty will be appointed by the Physics Graduate Coordinator to administer these examinations. A student in the Radiological Science Program electing the Project Option must, in addition to submitting the Project Report make a presentation of the project research in the Radiological Sciences Seminar, and pass a Radiological Sciences comprehensive examination. Refer to the on-line Graduate Catalog for details of this latter requirement. 7. Time Limit All requirements for the M.S. degree must be completed within five years after entrance into the graduate program. If all M.S. requirements have not been met by a student registered in the M.S. program after five years have elapsed, his/her subsequent registration in that program will not be permitted without special permission. M.S. candidates must maintain continuous matriculation. Students who do not register for a semester must apply for readmission to the Graduate Admission Office. 12

13 C. Doctor of Philosophy Degree 1. Physics and Applied Physics Areas of Study (1) Solid State/Photonics/Optics (2) Nuclear Physics (3) Materials Physics (4) Atomic and Molecular Physics (5) Radiation Effects (6) Terrahertz Applications (7) Nanoscience and Laser Applications (8)Advanced Biophotonics (9) Computational Nanomaterials (10) Physics/Radiological Science Option a. Radiological Health Physics b. Medical Physics (11) Physics/Energy Engineering Option* (12) Physics/Applied Mechanics Option* (13) Physics/Atmospheric Science Option* 2. Minimum Credit Requirements At least 60 credits beyond the bachelor s degree are required for the Ph.D., of which a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 24 must be for Dissertation Research (96.756); 33 credits of which must be lecture or lab (i.e. non-research or project, seminar, or colloquium) courses. Research credits accepted in fulfillment of M.S. requirements may not be applied toward the Ph.D. degree requirements, however lecture and lab courses used for the M.S. may be counted toward the Ph.D. No more than 3 credits of Colloquium or Seminar can be applied toward the 60 credit minimum. 3. Course Requirements for the Physics Concentration (See p.22 for suggested sequence) Course Credits Mathematical Methods of Physics I, II 3, Classical Mechanics Quantum Mechanics I, II 3, Electromagnetic Theory I, II 3,3 Electives Twelve credits of graduate lecture or lab courses 12 at least one of which must be a 600-level course Advanced Project in Physics** 3, Graduate Seminar in Physics*** 1,1 or 0, Physics Colloquium**** 1,1 or 0, Doctoral Dissertation in Physics 15 minimum * Interdisciplinary programs with the Department of Chemical Engineering, the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and the Department of Environmental, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, respectively, ** This requirement is waived for students who have completed a Master s thesis at UML. Students who have carried out master s thesis work at another institution may obtain a waiver by making a presentation of their M.S. research to a committee of three Physics faculty members *** See footnote * on p. 7. **** Registration for Physics Colloquium is required for all full time students who may register for 1 or 0 credits 13

14 4. Course Requirements for All Applied Physics Options in Section C1 (10) - (13) (a) Every student in the Applied Physics Options (Radiological Science, Applied Mechanics, Energy Engineering and Atmospheric Science) must satisfy the following course requirements: Course Credits Mechanics Electromagnetism I, II 3, Introductory Quantum Mechanics I Mathematical Methods of Physics I 3 (b) Six credits from among the following courses, or their equivalents, as appropriate for each particular area of concentration. Course Credits Classical Mechanics Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics Quantum Mechanics I, II 3, Advanced Quantum Mechanics I Electromagnetic Theory I, II 3, & 652 Nuclear Physics I, II 3,3 Required for students in Radiological Sciences Health Physics (d.4) (c) Advanced Projects in Physics*, or the equivalent 3,3 in the department appropriate to the student s chosen area of study. (d) Course Requirements Peculiar to Each Option (d.1) Physics/Energy Engineering In addition to the general requirements in 4. (a), (b), and (c) above, students in this area must take Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II Mathematical Methods of Physics II 3 plus at least seven additional courses from among Physics, Energy Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering offerings at the graduate level. These seven courses should include required courses appropriate to the field of study. * This requirement is waived for students who have completed a Master s thesis at UML. Students who have carried out master s thesis work at another institution may obtain a waiver by making a presentation of their M.S. research to a committee of three Physics faculty members 14

15 (d.2) Physics/Applied Mechanics In addition to the general requirements, students in this area must take Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II Mathematical Methods of Physics II 3 plus at least two graduate courses from the Mechanical Engineering Department, the courses to be determined by the student s academic and research advisors. (d.3) Physics/Atmospheric Sciences In addition to the general requirements, students in this area must take 9 credits of the following core courses: Solar Terrestrial Relations Atmospheric Structure and Dynamics Fluid Mechanics Electromagnetic Theory I 3 plus at least nine credits from among the following courses: Boundary Layer meteorology Advanced Synoptic Meteorology Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere Introduction to Space Physics Energy and the Environment Physical Chemistry for Environmental Studies Statistical Thermodynamics Mathematical Methods of Physics II Classical mechanics Electromagnetic Theory II Space Physics 3 (d.4) Physics/Radiological Science Health Physics In addition to the general requirements, students in this area must take Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II Mathematical Methods of Physics II Nuclear Physics I and II 3,3 plus at least twelve credits from among the following graduate level Radiological Sciences and Protection courses, assuming that the core courses for the Master of Science degree in Radiological Sciences and Protection (see 3. (c), page 9) have already been completed: 15

16 Course Credits Environmental Monitoring and Surveillance Radiochemistry Accelerator Health Physics Introduction to Radiation Therapy Physics Math Methods in Rad Sciences Numerical Methods of Rad Sciences MCNP for Radiological Sciences Introduction to Medical Imaging Advanced Medical Imaging Medical Physics Radiation Transport and Interactions Monte Carlo Simulation of Radiation Transport 3 (d.5) Physics/Radiological Science Medical Physics In addition to the general requirements in C.4. (a), (b), and (c) above, students in this area must take the core Medical Physics courses for the MS degree, in B.4 (a), and the following two courses: Introduction to Quantum Mechanics II Mathematical Methods of Physics II 3 Plus at least nine credits from among Physics, Radiological Sciences, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Therapy courses at the graduate level assuming that the core courses for the Master of Science degree in Medical Physics have already been completed: Nuclear Physics I and II 3, Radiation Safety and Control II Special Topics in Radiation Sciences Internal Radiation Dosimetry & Bioassay Radiochemistry Mathematical Methods in Radiological Sciences Numerical Methods in Radiological Sciences MCNP for Radiological Sciences Digital Signal Processing Medical Diagnostic Imaging Biomedical Instrumentation 3 IB 512 Medical Image Processing 3 IB 516 Principles of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging 3 IB 517 Embedded System Design in Medical Systems Applied Mathematics for Life Sciences (Online) Sectional Human Anatomy Sectional Human Anatomy Lab 1 5. Grades below B No more than 9 credits of B -, C +. or C will be allowed in courses submitted in fulfillment of the Ph.D. degree course requirements. A grade of C - is not acceptable for graduate credit. 16

17 6. Comprehensive Exam (a) Ph.D. Candidates for all Physics and Applied Physics programs must take the Physics Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination, which consists of both written and oral parts. Those in the Physics Concentration (as opposed to one of the Options) are required to take the exam in their first year unless they are registered for one of the intermediate level remedial undergraduate/graduate courses ( , ) taken in preparation for the Comprehensive Examination. Since the Comprehensive examination is given in January students who need to take Mechanics, , or Statistical Thermodynamics, , should do so in the fall semester of their first year so they can take the Comprehensive Examination on schedule in January of their first academic year on campus. Students who are taking the remedial courses in the second semester of their first year are required to take the Comprehensive examination in their second year. Students in The Radiological Sciences Option of the Ph.D. program are required to take the Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam in their second year of graduate study. Those who do not take the exam at the proper time may lose their TA support and will be permitted to take the exam only once, and that one attempt must be the next time the exam is offered. (b) Written Exam The Written Part of the exam has three sections: Sec. I. Classical Mechanics with elementary level Thermodynamics Sec. II. Electricity and Magnetism with elementary level Optics Sec. III. Modern Physics and Quantum Mechanics with Statistical Mechanics (except Energy Engineering, Atmospheric and Radiological Science students) Sec. III Energy Engineering (Usually the same as Quantum Mechanics but may include additional problems dealing with Energy Engineering topics). Sec. III Atmospheric Sciences (Topics in Atmospheric Sciences) Sec. III Radiological Sciences Health Physics (based upon Radiation Safety and Control I and II, Radiation Biology, and Nuclear Instrumentation). Sec. III Radiological Sciences Medical Physics (based on Radiation Safety and Control I, Radiation Biology, Nuclear Instrumentation, and Introduction to Medical Imaging.) The level of the questions in mechanics, statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and electromagnetism is advanced undergraduate, i.e. equivalent to our junior/senior-level physics courses, , , and The written part is given at the beginning of the second semester, one day per section (usually with a two-day interval between sections). Students must answer multiplechoice questions plus work a number of problems on each section. The Graduate Physics Association has a collection of Comprehensive Exams on file. You may obtain a copy of these exams from the Secretary of the Graduate Physics Association. Please return your copy of the previous examination questions to the Secretary when you are finished preparing for the exam. The results of the written part of the exam are reviewed by the Graduate Committee. The Graduate Committee decides whether a student shall be eligible to take the oral part of the Comprehensive Exam. Students who are determined to be ineligible to 17

18 take the oral exam may appeal the decision of the Graduate Committee to the Physics Faculty through the Graduate Coordinator within one week of the student s receiving notice of the decision of the Graduate Committee. The appellant may submit written material in support of his/her appeal but may not address the Physics Faculty in person. The decision of the Physics Faculty regarding the appeal is final. (c) Oral Exam Students who have been recommended by the Physics Graduate Committee to continue beyond the written part of the Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam will take the oral part. The material in the oral covers the three areas of the written part of the exam. The Graduate Coordinator shall appoint the oral examination committees. Students should consult with their academic advisor who will provide them with an indication of how they performed on the individual parts of the written exam without revealing to the students the numerical score on any problem or the overall numerical score. The numerical scores are strictly confidential and will not be available to the student. Oral examinations must be completed by the last Monday in February. (d) Oral examination committees will submit a report to the Physics Graduate Committee, which, after deliberation, will submit a recommendation to the entire Physics Faculty on whether a student passes or fails the exam. The final decision on passing or failing shall be made at the March Physics Faculty meeting on the first Wednesday in March. (e) Students who fail the Comprehensive Exam may be permitted by the Physics Faculty to take the exam a second time in the following year. Students are not permitted to take the exam a third time. A student who fails the Comprehensive Exam twice may be eligible for an M.S. degree if he/she satisfies the requirements for that degree. A student s performance on the Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination, even though insufficient to warrant candidacy for a Ph.D. degree, may be deemed to be sufficient by the Physics Graduate Committee for the student to qualify for a non-thesis Master s degree provided the required coursework for the M.S. is satisfied. (f) A student may not register for Ph.D. Dissertation Research before passing the Comprehensive Exam. 7. Graduate Research Admission Examination Each Ph.D. student must demonstrate the ability to carry out graduate-level research before embarking on Ph.D. dissertation research. This requirement can be satisfied in the following ways: (a) Doctoral candidates must write an M.S. Thesis or pass two semesters of Advanced Projects in Physics, unless this has been waived because the student has already completed a master s thesis at another university (see (d) below). (b) Students must register for M.S. Thesis Research or Advanced Projects no later than the semester immediately following the passing of the Comprehensive Examination. (c) To receive a satisfactory mark in Advanced Projects, a student must: 18

19 (1) Submit a written Progress Report to the Project Supervisor at the end of the first semester of work on the Project. (2) Submit a final written Advanced Project Report to the Project Supervisor on completion of the Project. (3) Make an oral presentation of the Advanced Project before a committee of three Physics Faculty members no later than the beginning of the semester following enrollment in Advanced Projects II, (d) The Advanced Research Project may be waived for a student who has completed a thesis to earn an M.S. in physics or a related discipline, but such a student must then make an oral presentation of the M.S. thesis work to a three-member committee of the Physics Faculty or a committee consisting of two Physics faculty and one from another department in the case of a student in one of the joint applied physics programs. To obtain this waiver a written request should be made to the Physics Graduate Coordinator. (e) The M.S. Thesis or Advanced Project (or presentation of previous M.S. Thesis work carried out elsewhere) must be completed before the student may register for Ph.D. Dissertation Research. (f) The M.S. Thesis defense (or Advanced Project oral defense, or oral presentation of previous M.S. work) constitutes the Graduate Research Admission Examination. 19

20 8. Ph.D. Dissertation Research (see also Sections VII and VIII below) A student who enters the Ph. D. program without academic deficiencies, (e.g.. if the student was an undergraduate physics major and had taken the proper courses upon which the Comprehensive Examination is based) must have a Dissertation Supervisor and have begun investigation of a proposed dissertation topic by the end of the second year of graduate study. After passing the Comprehensive Examination (early in the second semester of the first year in graduate school) and completing the M.S. thesis defense or oral presentation of the Advanced Research Project (usually by the beginning of the fourth semester in graduate school) the student must identify a Dissertation Supervisor, and submit to the Graduate Committee for approval ten copies of a dissertation proposal, which shall be a brief description of the research problem to be investigated. (See Section XI p.24 for the format of a dissertation proposal). This must be accompanied by the Research Supervisor s written approval. Students may not register for Dissertation Research until the Comprehensive Examination has been passed. A student may register once for Ph.D. Dissertation Research without having submitted a proposal; however the student must submit a dissertation proposal by the last day to drop a course in that semester. Otherwise the student must drop Dissertation Research. If the student does not submit a proposal and does not drop the course the grade recorded shall be NC, no credit. Students may not register for Dissertation Research in subsequent semesters until the dissertation proposal has been approved. 9. Residence Requirement The equivalent of at least one academic year of full-time graduate work must be spent at the University. The requirement for a year in residence may be satisfied only by the student s physical presence on campus for two consecutive semesters. This may be either a fall-spring sequence, or a spring-fall sequence. It cannot be satisfied by a summer session and a semester of the regular school year. Students in the Ph.D. program must maintain continuous matriculation. Students who do not register for a semester or more are required to re-apply for admission to the Graduate Admissions Office. 10. Time Limit All requirements for the Ph.D. degree must be completed within eight years after entrance into the graduate program. 11. No M.S. Requirement for Entrance into the Ph.D. Program A student who wishes to enter the Ph.D. program is not required to have an M.S. degree before enrollment. However a two semester Advanced Project or a Master s Thesis must be completed before registering for Doctoral Dissertation,

21 V. TEACHING AND RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS (TA/RA) Teaching and Research Assistantships are awarded by the Physics Department in accordance with the provisions of the Contract between the University and the Graduate Employee Association (GEO). Please refer to the Contract for specific provisions. University regulations do not allow the Physics Department to award TA s or RA s to students whose cumulative graduate grade point average is below 3.0, or to students who have an F or U on their graduate record. VI. SUMMER RESEARCH POSITIONS Principal Investigators in the Department of Physics award summer research positions to students who were full-time students during the previous academic year. Priority is given to more advanced students when making these awards. VII. CREDIT FOR GRADUATE COURSES TAKEN AT OTHER SCHOOLS AND COURSE WAIVERS Transfer Credit. Requests for transfer of credit for courses taken at other schools in the United States should be made on an Academic Petition form (available on-line and in the Registrar s Office) submitted with supporting documentation to the Physics Graduate Coordinator (or appropriate Program Coordinator), who will forward it to the instructor(s) in the equivalent U. Mass. Lowell course(s). Up to 12 credits may be transferred into the M.S. program and up to 24 credits may be transferred into the Ph.D. program. Transfer credit is not granted unless there is an equivalent U. Mass. Lowell course. The instructor to whom the petition is referred will review it. He/she may wish to meet with the student and to require further evidence that the student s knowledge of the subject meets the standard demanded of students in his/her course. On the basis of this review the instructor determines whether transfer credit is to be granted or not. The decision of the instructor is final. The academic petition form requesting transfer credit must be filed with the Registrar s Office within the first semester of matriculation. Course Waivers. Students may also apply for a course waiver using a course waiver form obtained from the Graduate Coordinator. Course waivers merely remove the requirement that the student take a certain course; they do not grant credit for the course so a substitute course must be taken in order to obtain graduate credit. The procedure for approval is the same as that for course transfer. The decision of the instructor of the waived course is final. 21

22 VIII. DISSERTATION AND THESIS When you are ready to engage in thesis or dissertation research (course numbers and respectively with credits from 1 to 9 selected at the time of registration), you must first obtain the consent in the form of an ISIS permission number of a member of the Physics Faculty (or a member of the faculty of another department with which Physics has a joint program) to supervise the research. You must submit, during the first semester in which you are registered in or , to the Physics Graduate Coordinator (or the Coordinator of the Radiological Sciences Graduate Program in the case of R.S. Master s Proposals) ten copies of a printed proposal (see Section XI p.24 below for the proposal format), which shall be a brief description of the research problem you propose to study and your methods of investigation. This proposal must bear the written approval of the proposed supervisor. You may register for Thesis or Dissertation Research Credit once before submitting a research proposal. However the proposal must be submitted to the Physics Graduate Coordinator (or appropriate Program Coordinator) by the last day to drop a course in this first semester of registration, otherwise you must drop Thesis or Dissertation Research. You may not register for subsequent semesters unless your proposal has been approved. If the proposal is for a Ph.D. dissertation, you must also have passed the Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination and the Graduate Research Admission Oral Exam before you can register for Dissertation Research. However you may begin research before satisfying these requirements by registering for (Special Problems in Physics). Note however that cannot be substituted for credit in or Upon completion of your research, you must prepare four copies of a printed thesis or dissertation, written in conformity with the regulations of the University of Massachusetts Lowell Thesis Guide (available online at For the accepted style specifically of a physics dissertation, thesis or project report, please consult the AIP Style manual available at In the few cases where the AIP Style manual and the UML Dissertation and Thesis Guide are in disagreement the latter document takes precedence. Once the written thesis or dissertation is complete the Graduate Coordinator (or program coordinator) will schedule a defense/oral examination to be conducted by your Thesis or Dissertation Committee, composed of your Supervisor as chair, and at least two readers who are members of the Physics Faculty. All members of a Ph.D. Dissertation Committee must have earned doctoral degrees. This oral examination will be based on, but not necessarily restricted to, the subject of your research. Upon completion of the oral examination, the recommendation of the Thesis or Dissertation Committee will determine whether the thesis or dissertation is acceptable or not. If it is not acceptable the Committee may make recommendations on how to amend it to make it acceptable. After these recommendations have been carried out, an amended thesis or dissertation may be submitted and, if so stipulated, a new oral examination will be scheduled. 22

23 IX. DISSERTATION, THESIS OR PROJECT SUPERVISORS OUTSIDE THE PHYSICS FACULTY Any research proposed to be supervised by someone who is not either a member of the Physics Department Faculty or a member of the faculty of a department participating in a joint Ph.D. program with the Physics Department must also have a member of the Physics Department faculty as a co-supervisor. The research proposal must include a description of the part to be played by the physics co-supervisor and have the consent of both co-supervisors. This requirement is not to be construed as relaxing any other project, thesis, or dissertation requirements. X. APPEALS PROCEDURE If you wish to appeal a decision of your Supervisor or Thesis/Dissertation Committee, you may file a written petition with the Physics Graduate Coordinator who will present it to the Physics Graduate Committee for consideration. If you are not satisfied with the decision of the Graduate Committee, you may carry the appeal further to the Chair of the Physics Department. 23

24 XI. DISSERTATION, THESIS, OR PROJECT PROPOSAL FORMAT The length of the dissertation, thesis, or project proposal is restricted to a total of 10 pages or less including cover page and references. Note, the proposal is not a mini-thesis. It should be written in anticipation of work to be carried out after the proposal is approved. 1. Title, Area of Specialization, Date, Name of Student, Name of Research Supervisor(s). 2. Signatures of Student and Supervisor(s). 3. Abstract (1 paragraph). 4. Problem to be investigated stated clearly and briefly. 5. Background of problem including major contributions from other investigators with references to the literature. References to be listed at the end. 6. Methods of Investigation (a) Theoretical State the general approach and cite the most important equations if any are known. Discuss advantages and/or improvements over previous work. (b) Experimental State the general experimental techniques to be used and the major equipment needed. Discuss advantages and/or improvements over previous work. 7. Expected results stated and discussed as to their significance in the solution of the problem and in the general context of their contribution to the advancement of the area of physics under investigation. 8. References - supply citations for the most significant previous work. Please Note 1. Define all terminology and symbols appearing in equations which are not in general use outside the area of specialization (i.e. it is not necessary to define h as Planck s constant). 2. Include neatly made drawings and/or graphs that clarify the physical situation, definitions, or data analysis. 3. Style of text and figures, punctuation, abbreviations, spelling, and units should conform to those specified in the American Institute of Physics Style Manual, Fourth Edition, 1990, available online ( 4. The format for references is that required by the Graduate School for theses and dissertations, and differs slightly from the format in the AIP Style Manual in that titles of journal articles and full pagination must be included. 24