M.A. IN PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF PHYSICS
The Departments of Physics and Philosophy offer a joint program in the Philosophical Foundations of Physics. The program is designed to meet the needs of an increasing population of gifted students who are intrigued by and want to participate in the growing scholarly interest in the relationship between the philosophy of science and the foundations of physics. The program will draw on the diverse strengths of Columbia University and the surrounding metropolitan area in Physics, the Foundations of Physics, the Philosophy of Physics, and the Philosophy of Science. For details about this program's admissions requirements, contact the Director of Graduate Studies.
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M.A. DEGREE
This degree is prerequisite to the M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees, unless a student has been awarded two Residence Units of advanced standing.
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Points of E credit: 30, at least 24 within the department. No credit is granted for work completed at other universities.
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Required courses: 15 points of physics courses numbered 6000 or higher, with an overall performance satisfactory to the Graduate Committee. The courses are chosen in consultation with the adviser, to ensure knowledge of classical and quantum physics. Alternatively, students who have passed the M.Phil. qualifying examinations may present 30 points of examination credit, with at least 24 points within the department but with no restriction as to level.
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Residence Units: 2 (minimum). Any student who fails to complete the requirements for the MA degree within four consecutive terms (not counting summer terms) must obtain permission from the department chair in order to continue work in the fifth term.
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Language: none.
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Examination: none.
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Essay: none.
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M.Phil. DEGREE
This
degree is prerequisite to the Ph.D. degree.
TYPICAL LENGTH OF PROGRAM: three years - including the time spent for the
MA degree.
PROGRAM OF STUDY: an individual
program of courses is planned for each student with the approval of his or her
faculty adviser taking into consideration the level of the student’s previous
work. The course requirement for the M.Phil. degree is met by passing, with a
satisfactory grade, courses in the following fields:
I. All five of the following core
courses:
Electromagnetic Theory (PHYS G6092)
Quantum
Mechanics I and II (PHYS G6037, G6038)
Statistical
Mechanics (G6036)
and one of the following:
Quantum Field Theory (PHYS G6047)
or
Classical
Waves (PHYS G6094) - NEW
II. Two field-specific courses chosen from the list below with the assistance of a faculty advisor
Normally, both courses will be in the same field. Note that some courses are listed both here and in (I) above. In case of overlap, one course may fill both
requirements but does not count twice toward the total number of courses
required for the M.Phil.
Astrophysics I (PHYS G6011)
Astrophysics II
(PHYS G6012)
Physical Cosmology (PHYS G6013)
Condensed Matter Physics I (PHYS G6082)
Condensed Matter Physics II (PHYS G6083)
Quantum Field Theory I (PHYS G6046)
Particle Physics I
(PHYS G8069
General Relativity (PHYS G8040)
Classical Theory
of Waves (PHYS G6094)
Students
who have previously mastered the equivalent material in G6092 and/or G6037-G6038 may elect to fulfill these requirements through course examination alone.
Placement examinations to exempt out of
these courses are offered at the beginning of the fall term.
Students who have previously mastered the
equivalent material in G6092-G6093 and/or G6037-G6038 may elect to fulfill
these requirements through course examination alone. Placement examinations
will be offered at the beginning of the fall semester.
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Language: none.
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Examinations: Qualifying Examinations on material at the level of advanced undergraduate
courses are given annually in January and are taken after one term of
residence.
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Residence
Units: 6 full-time - including the
two earned for the M.A..degree.
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Teaching Experience: teaching is not a formal requirement but is the principal
method of support for the first and second-year graduate students who are
appointed as Teaching Fellows in Science. Most assignments will be to teach small laboratory sections
or problem sessions in elementary courses. In general, this program concentrates on teaching in the
first two years while the student is taking graduate courses. The maximum
teaching assignment for a Faculty Fellow is approximately five contact
hours per week for four terms.
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Ph.D DEGREE
PHYSICS:
The quality and diversity of intellectual life at Columbia have long attracted talented, imaginative faculty members and graduate students. Approximately twenty prospective Ph.D. students are admitted to the Physics Department each year. All students in good standing are supported financially with remission of tuition and living stipends. Eighty percent of entering students receive Ph.D. degrees; the others receive master's degrees.
The relatively small number of graduate students ensures close contact between students and faculty and among students. The international diversity of the students contributes to the intellectual excitement of graduate student life.
Prerequisite: the M.A. and M.Phil. degrees.
Length of program: typically, two years of course work and three or four additional years of research.
The requirements for the Ph.D. degree, except for the dissertation, are given above as M.Phil. requirements.After completing all requirements for the M.Phil. degree, the student must prepare and successfully defend a dissertation. The defense includes a final departmental examination on the dissertation and on the general area of student's field of research.
CHEMICAL PHYSICS
Students may earn the Ph.D. degree in chemical physics by registering under, and being subject to the rules of, the Subcommittee on Chemical Physics. However, for all other purposes, these students are in the Department of Chemistry.
SPACE PHYSICS
Students may receive training and undertake research or problems in space physics leading to the Ph.D. degree in the Department of Physics (see Atmospheric and Planetary Science).
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