Applied Physics Master's Degree

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 and have completed courses such as Electrodynamics, Quantum Mechanics, and Applied Mathematics to be competitive for admission. 

GPA required: Minimum of 3.0 

GRE requirements: General test required 

Other application requirements: 3 recommendation letters, transcripts, resume, and a personal-professional statement are required. If you have not earned a degree from an undergraduate or graduate institution in which the instructional language was English, you may be required to take the TOEFL/IELTS. All application requirements in the Graduate Application must be completed as specified in the application. 

We accept applications on a rolling basis, which means there are no deadlines to apply.  Please submit your degree applications no later than 4 - 6 weeks before the semester you wish to enroll. 

For answers to your most common admissions questions, please review our FAQ page here.

Students must complete all core courses (described below) and selected electives (described below) for a total of 30 graduate points of academic work via CVN 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

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 (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
• MSAE E4090: Nanotechnology

2023–2024 Tuition & Fees

Please note that all tuition and fees are in U.S. dollars and are estimated. Tuition and most fees are prescribed by statute and are subject to change at the discretion of the Trustees.

CVN Credit Tuition: $2,462.00 per point (Credit Hour)
CVN Fee: $395 non-refundable fee per course
Transcript Fee: $105 non-refundable one-time fee
Tuition Deposit: $1,000 (More information on our Resources page)

Estimated cost of one nondegree course: $7,886.00
Estimated total cost of certification (four courses): $31,229.00

Estimated total cost of MS (ten courses): $77,915.00
*Estimated total cost of DES (ten courses plus a minimum of 12 research credits): $108,249.00

Graduate Admission Application Fee: $85 non-refundable one-time fee 
Certification Program Application Fee: $85 non-refundable one-time fee 

Late Registration Fee: $100 non-refundable fee

CVN Withdrawal Fee: $75, plus prorated tuition and all non-refundable fees
For example: A three-credit course would be $7,781 + transcript fee $105 (one-time) + CVN fee $395 = $7,886

*Assumes DES student enrolls in two six-credit research courses.

For Drop/Withdrawal fees and dates, refer to the Academic Calendar for the current term.

Please note: CVN no longer offers courses for audit.

Payment should be mailed to:

Attn: Shewanna House
Accounting & Business Management
Senior Student Services Rep
Payments & Deposits
210 Kent Hall, Mail Code 9205
1140 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10027

Before you mail your check or money order, please take careful note of the following requirements to ensure the timely processing of your payment: https://sfs.columbia.edu/content/pay-mail.