Physics, MS
Advance your understanding of the laws and mechanics that govern the universe with our Master of Science in physics. Designed for students who want to deepen their expertise, this program offers advanced training alongside faculty mentors who are actively pushing the research frontier in their fields. By directly engaging in high-level research and other hands-on opportunities, students pursuing an MS in physics from UT are set up to succeed in academia, industry, and more.
Program Overview
An MS in physics is ideal for research-focused students eager to push scientific boundaries and gain advanced skills in experimental investigation.
You’ll have the opportunity to conduct and learn about research areas such as condensed matter physics, high energy and particle physics, nuclear/astrophysics, quantum materials, quantum technologies, biophysics, and soft matter physics.
Our degree also offers thesis and non-thesis options, giving students the flexibility to choose the best path that fits their academic or career interests. Plus, you can earn an interdisciplinary graduate minor in computational science alongside your master’s, providing you with advanced knowledge in mathematics, chemistry, statistics, and more.
Thesis and Non-Thesis Options
The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers both thesis and non-thesis options so that students can tailor their coursework to their career aspirations. If you’re interested in pursuing doctoral study or becoming a professor at leading higher education institutions, our thesis option would be a great fit. This option requires students to conduct research in the form of a thesis and pass an oral exam.
For those interested in pursuing career opportunities after graduation, the department offers two non-thesis options: a coursework only with a comprehensive exam option or a project option. The coursework and comprehensive exam option requires students to take their choice of courses and pass an exam, while the project option has students complete a project and a written report.
Interdisciplinary Graduate Minor in Computational Science (IGMCS)
While UT’s master’s program in physics does not have formal concentrations, any student pursuing a master’s or PhD with a major in physics can receive a minor in computational science. Students can take courses in related fields such as mathematics, materials science and engineering, chemistry, anthropology, statistics, and many more.
Why Study Physics?
At UT, our graduate students have ample opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge research and engage with faculty on groundbreaking projects.
You’ll have access to faculty with joint appointments in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory—one of the largest government labs in the country—and you’ll have opportunities to work in spaces such as the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, Fermilab, the Spallation Neutron Source, RIKEN in Japan, and our university-based labs such as the Institute for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (IAMM) or the Center for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (CAMM).
Plus, with faculty who are members of UT’s Quantum Materials for Future Technologies (QMFT) Research Cluster and fellows in the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Physical Society, you’ll be able to push the boundaries of your research, while also collaborating across disciplines and forming unexpected connections.
What Can You Do with a MS in Physics After Graduation?
Studying physics at UT equips you with an innovative, advanced set of skills that prepares you for a multitude of careers in the field. Physics graduates often go into engineering, working in roles such as development engineer, optical engineer, or systems engineer.
In technology, you could become an IT consultant, data analyst, or programmer. Science education is another option: you could become a research assistant, lab technician, astrophysicist, and more.
Geophysics, medical physics, particle physics, and biophysics are other common career paths. Our alumni can be successful in many professions, bringing their knowledge into science careers and beyond.
Featured Courses
PHYS 431 Electricity and Magnetism I
This course covers modular programming in an object-oriented programming language, including string and vector manipulation, file I/O, bit operators, Boolean algebra, pointers, simple sorting and binary search, plus introductions to recursion and templates.
PHYS 551 Statistical Mechanics
In this course, students will learn calculus-based study of basic physics concepts, including vectors, kinematics, Newton’s laws, forces, work-energy, and impulse-momentum. They will also engage in an introduction to team work, introduction to the engineering disciplines, and an examination of engineering principles and design issues. Oral and written presentation skills will also be covered.
PHYS 571 Mathematical Methods in Physics I
This course is an introduction to stars and the physical principles governing stellar structure and stellar evolution. Topics include equations of state for stars, hydrostatic equilibrium, energy production and energy transport in stars, the birth of stars, extrasolar planets, main sequence stars, solar neutrinos and neutrino oscillations, red giants and post main sequence evolution, pulsating variable stars, white dwarfs, neutron stars and pulsars, accretion in binary star systems, novae, X-ray bursts, supernovae, and more.
PHYS 605 Laser Spectroscopy
In this course, students will receive an introduction to the general theory of relativity and its application to issues of current interest in astronomy and astrophysics. Topics include a review of special relativity, the equivalence principle and principle of general covariance, the mathematics (tensor calculus) of general relativity, the geometry of spacetime, motion of particles and light in flat and curved spacetime, spherical and rotating black holes, neutron stars and pulsars, gamma-ray bursts, quasars, and more.
Complementary Majors, Minors, and Certificates
Looking to enhance your degree? Consider these programs as a complement to your primary major.
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