Master of Science in Applied Physics
Department:
Applied Physics/Applied Mathematics
Transcript Designation:
Master of Science in Applied Physics
Program Advisor:
Academic Questions: e-mail advisor@cvn.columbia.edu
About the MS in Applied Physics Program:
The program of study leading to the degree of Master of Science,
while emphasizing continued work in basic physics, permits many options in several
applied physics specialties. Students may focus on several applied physics fields such as plasma physics, laser physics, or solid-state physics.
Admission Requirements:
Degree required for admission: Students admitted to the program must possess an undergraduate degree in physics or a related field, such as one of the engineering sciences, from an accredited academic institution. Applicants should have a strong undergraduate record to be competitive for admission.
GPA required: Minimum of 3.0
GRE requirements: General test required
Other application requirements: Two recommendation letters, transcripts, resume, and a personal-professional
statement are required. TOEFL test scores are required of all students who received their bachelor's degree
in a country where English is not the official and spoken language. All application requirements in the Graduate
Application must be completed as specified in the application.
Degree Requirements:
Students must complete all core courses (described below) and selected electives (described below) for a total of
30 graduate points of academic work with an academic average of 2.5 or better. All degree requirements must be
completed within 5 years of the beginning of the first course credited toward the degree. This includes courses
taken in non-degree program.
Core Courses (12 Credits):
The core courses provide a student with a solid foundation in the fundamentals of Applied Physics.
The core courses contribute 12 points of graduate credit toward the degree. Students must complete four of
the following six classes:
APPH E4100: Quantum Physics of Matter
APPH E4110: Modern Optics
APPH E4112: Laser Physics
APPH E4200: Physics of Fluids
APPH E4300: Applied Electrodynamics
APPH E4301: Introduction to Plasma Physics
Elective Courses (18 Credits):
In addition to the required core courses, students must select six elective courses from those listed above or below for a total of 18 points of
graduate credit. These courses can be chosen from other Applied Physics classes or from related academic fields such as Applied Mathematics, Material Science and Engineering, and Electrical Engineering, subject to the approval of the faculty advisor. Some suggested elective courses include:
Applied Mathematics Elective Courses:
APMA E4001: Principles of Applied Mathematics
APMA E4101: Introduction to Nonlinear Dynamical Systems
APMA E4200: Partial Differential Equations I
APMA E4204: Functions of a Complex Variable
APMA E4300: Numerical Methods
APMA E6302: Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations
Applied Physics Elective Courses:
APPH E4090: Nanotechnology
APPH E4130: Physics of Solar Energy
Electrical Engineering Elective Courses:
ELEN E4301: Introduction to Semiconductor Devices
ELEN E4312: Analog Electronic Circuits
ELEN E4321: VLSI Circuits
ELEN E4401: Wave Transmission and Fiber Optics
ELEN E4815: Random Signals and Noise
ELEN E6318: Microwave Circuit Design
ELEN E6412: Lightwave Devices
ELEN E6488: Optical Interconnects and Interconnection Networks
ELEN E4944: Principles of Device Microfabrication
Other Elective Courses (Earth and Environmental Science, Mechanical Engineering, & Materials Science):
EEME E4601: Digital Control Systems
MECE E6100: Advanced Mechanics of Fluids
MECE E6700: Carbon Nanotubes
MSAE E4202: Thermodynamics and Reactions in Solids
MSAE E4206: Electronic and Magnetic Properties of Solids
MSAE E4215: Mechanical Behavior of Structural Materials
MSAE E4250: Ceramics and Composites
Transfer of credit:
Up to 6 credit hours (points) of acceptable graduate-level academic work from an accredited academic institution
earned prior to enrolling at Columbia may be transferred to Columbia, subject to departmental approval. Students
must request the transfer of credit while applying to the MS program. Credit will only be
considered for transfer if the grades earned were at least 3.0 on the 4.0 scale. An official college transcript
and copy of the class syllabus and/or course description from the school's bulletin must accompany the "Transfer
of Credit Request" form. Please note that courses already used towards completion of another degree program cannot
be re-used for transfer credit.