Preliminary Examination 

Satisfactory performance on the preliminary examination, to be taken at the beginning of the student's second year. The examination is given once each academic year at the beginning of the fall quarter. A make-up exam is offered at the beginning of the winter quarter. The examination consists of: 

a.) A four-hour written paper that covers topics in Mechanics and Statistical and Thermal Physics at the undergraduate level; and Quantum Mechanics and Electromagnetism at the graduate level.

b.) An oral exam covering the above material and various other areas of general physics. 

Following the examination, the department reviews each student's entire academic performance to recommend a pass at the Ph.D. level, a pass at the M.A./M.S. level, or a fail. The examination may be repeated once in the winter quarter following the initial attempt. 

Coursework 

Satisfactory completion of the courses listed below. Each course must be passed with a grade of B- or better and the student must maintain an average for all courses of B or better. 

Core courses:

In addition, at least three elective graduate lecture courses must be completed. The program for each student must be approved by the graduate committee and by the student's research advisor. Such a program may entail more than the minimum number of courses, and may also involve a mixture of courses in addition to those listed below. 

Elective courses: 

a.) Nuclear and Particle Physics
Phys 230A, 230B, 230C	Advanced Quantum Mechanics
Phys 225A, 225B	Elementary Particles

b.) Condensed Matter, Surface and Optical Physics
Phys 240A, 240B, 240C	Condensed Matter Physics
Phys 209A, 209B	Introduction to Quantum Electronics
Phys 242	Physics at Surfaces and Interfaces

c.) Astrophysics
Phys 211A	Radiative Processes in Astrophysics
Phys 211B	Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics
Phys 208	General Relativity

Additional astrophysics courses may be taken at other UC campuses through the Intercampus Exchange Program. 

d.) Environmental Physics 

     Courses chosen from Condensed Matter, Surface and Optical Physics as well as: 

SWSC 203	Surface Chemistry of Soils
SWSC 207	Advanced Soil Physics
SWSC 213	Soil Mineralogy
SWSC 221	Transport and Fate of Inorganic Contaminants in Soil-Water Systems
SWSC 222	Transport and Fate of Organic Contaminants in Soil-Water Systems
ENTX 215	Toxicants in Aqueous Media
ENTX 244/Chem 244	Airborne Toxic Chemicals or other approved graduate level courses in related fields.

e.) Additional elective courses include:
Phys 207	Continuum Mechanics
Math 241	Mathematical Physics: Classical Mechanics
Math 242	Mathematics Physics: Quantum Mechanics

Oral Examination 

Satisfactory performance on an oral examination in the general area of the student's proposed research. 

This examination is conducted by a doctoral committee, charged with general supervision of the student's research. It is normally taken during the academic year following that in which the preliminary examination requirement has been successfully completed. A student who fails this examination on the first attempt may, at the discretion of the committee, be permitted to take it a second time. 

Doctoral Thesis

Satisfactory completion of a dissertation containing a review of existing knowledge relevant to the candidate's original research, and the results of the candidate's original research. This research must be of sufficiently high quality to constitute a contribution to knowledge in the subject area.

Oral Examination 

Satisfactory performance on a final oral examination conducted by the candidate's doctoral committee.