Master's:
Option I (for both terminal degree students and those continuing in the Ph.D. program): 30 credit hours of coursework with a minimum of 15 credits in physics plus a thesis. Option II (for students wishing an interdisciplinary degree program): 36 credit hours of coursework including a minimum of 18 hours in physics and a minimum of nine hours in each of one or more minor subject areas and no thesis required. Option III (for students continuing in the PhD program only): 36 credit hours of coursework with a minimum of 18 hours in physics and no thesis required. There is no foreign language required for any option. Required examinations include: (1) Preliminary Examination on elementary physics, minimum grade of “B” required, and (b) a comprehensive examination (written and/or oral) covering the student's program of study.

Doctorate:
Ninety credit hours including research credits. A maximum of 45 credit hours can be transferred. A grade of “B” or better grade point average is required. There is no foreign language requirement. Twenty-seven credit hours and 18 consecutive months must be completed in residence. Required examinations include: (1) Preliminary Examination on elementary physics, minimum grade of 'B' required (2) comprehensive examination based on one week of intensive research on a topic approved by the supervisory committee, and (3) oral examination in defense of thesis.

Our building, Jorgensen Hall, includes 24,700 square feet of research space. The adjacent Voelte-Keegan Nanoscience Research Center provides an additional environmentally controlled 32,000 sq. ft. The student operated Ground State Café is open for business on our ground floor during Spring and Fall semesters. Faculty and students with new families successfully lobbied to include an 80-sq.-ft. nursing station. Nearby on-campus daycare is open to students. More than 20% of our graduate students, a culturally diverse group from 10 different countries, are women. Collaborations with University of Puerto Rico schools grew into a professional exchange program. Regular department activities include seminars, public lectures, and weekly colloquia; a fall ice cream social; an annual picnic; our spring recognition luncheon; and a holiday party complete with faculty/student skits. Outreach efforts include the “Saturday Science” program, the annual WoPhyS undergraduate research conference, Astronomy and Nanoscience Summer Camps, and the Cosmic Ray Observatory Project. A paid 8-week summer bridge program is offered to incoming domestic graduate students.