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Graduate Courses

Typical course sequence

Students with proper preparation during the undergraduate physics education will follow this standard sequence of courses.

  1. 1st Fall
    • PHYS 8101 (Quantum I) - 3 hours
    • PHYS 8201 (E&M I) - 3 hours
    • GRSC 7770, CRN: 21929 (Grad. TA seminar) - 3 hours --> mandatory course for all TAs
    • GRSC 7001, CRN: 55513 (GradFIRST seminar) - 1 hour --> mandatory course for 1st-year students
    • PHYS 8990 (research rotation) - 2 hours
    • PHYS 9000 (Research) - up to 7 hours
  2. 1st Spring
    • PHYS 8102 (Quantum II) - 3 hours
    • PHYS 8202 (E&M II) - 3 hours
    • PHYS 8011 (Mechanics) - 3 hours
    • PHYS 8990 (research rotation) - 2 hours
    • PHYS 9000 (Research) - up to 7 hours
  3. 2nd Fall
    • PHYS 8301 (Stat. Mechanics I) - 3 hours
    • PHYS 8950 (Phsyics seminar) - 2 hours --> mandatory for all students (except for MS-NT-seking ones) 
    • other electives
    • fill up to 18 hours with PHYS 9000
  4. 2nd Spring
    • PHYS 8302 (Stat. Mechanics II) - 3 hours --> not required but recommended
    • other electives
    • fill up to 18 hours with PHYS 9000
  5. subsequent semesters
    • other electives
    • fill up to 18 hours with PHYS 9000
  6. graduating semester
    • PHYS 9300 (Dissertation writing) - 3+ hours
    • any electives
    • fill up to 18 hours with PHYS 9000

For students with "weak" physics background, after consultation with the graduate coordinator, the squence of 6000-level physics can be taken before starting the above listed standard sequence. This "remedial" sequence contains courses:

  1. 1st Fall
    • PHYS 6101 (Mechanics I) - 3 hours
    • PHYS 6201 (E&M I) - 3 hours
    • PHYS 6701 (Intro Quantum) - 3 hours
    • GRSC 7770, CRN: 21929 (Grad. TA seminar) - 3 hours --> mandatory course for all TAs
    • GRSC 7001, CRN: 55513 (GradFIRST seminar) - 1 hour --> mandatory course for 1st-year students  
    • PHYS 8990 (research rotation) - 2 hours
    • PHYS 9000 (Research) - 6 hours
  2. 1st Spring
    • PHYS 6102 (Mechanics II) - 3 hours
    • PHYS 6202 (E&M II) - 3 hours
    • PHYS 6702 (Intro Quantum II) - 3 hours
    • PHYS 8990 (research rotation) - 2 hours, if necessary.
  3. 2nd Fall and on: Follow the standard 8000-level sequence

For international students from non-English speaking countries, check the UGA TA policy

  • TOEFL speaking score of 20-22: LLED7768 during the 1st Fall and LLED 7769 during the 1st Spring need to be taken before taking GRSC 7770.
  • TOEFL speaking score of 23-25: LLED 7769 needs to be taken during the 1st available semester followed by GRSC 7770

Grads