UD Physics & Astronomy

Enrolment: In order to remain in good standing in the DPA graduate program, each full-time Master's candidate must take at least six credit hours of 600 or 800 level PHYS courses during each semester, maintaining in these PHYS credit hours a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better, until he/she has fulfilled the course requirements for the Master's degree. Ph.D. candidates must continue taking six or more credit hours of 600 or 800 level PHYS course work in each semester until they have passed the written part of the Ph. D. Candidacy Exam, maintaining in these PHYS credit hours a GPA of 3.0 or better. Courses designated as pass/fail and courses in research or in thesis/dissertation do not satisfy the six PHYS credit hour per semester course requirement and are not considered in computing the required grade point average.

In addition the following rules apply:

Approval of the Graduate Review Committee is required if more than six classroom credit hours are from departments other than Physics and Astronomy, or if any credit hours are in a discipline unrelated to Physics.
First year students will register for PHYS 600/800 courses only.
All full-time first-year graduate students who have not yet passed the written part of the candidacy exam are required to take for credit in their first year at least 5 classroom PHYS courses at the 600- or 800-level.

Advisement: The Director of the Graduate Program functions as the initial advisor for the first year students. Students are encouraged to select a research advisor early, and must formally identify one (subject to possible change later) by May 15 to be eligible for financial support during summer. They are assisted in their choice of research area and research advisor by a one credit pass/fail course, PHYS 600, in which members of the faculty presents brief, informal descriptions of their research programs. Students are also encouraged to broaden their awareness of current research by attending the DPA colloquia and graduate student research talks.

Progress towards a graduate degree: A reasonable goal for a well-prepared graduate student is the completion of an M.S. degree within two years from the time of first entering graduate school, and the completion of a Ph.D. degree within four to five years if the student enters with an MS or six to seven years when entering with a BS. In order to extend support beyond the time limits of five respectively seven years, the Graduate Student Review Committee would have to take positive action. It is in the student's interest to complete a degree as soon as possible insofar as is consistent with work of good quality. Thus every effort is made to encourage a student and his or her advisor to design a degree program which can be completed within these time limits. In the event that extensions of support are needed, a student and his or her advisor should submit a written request to the Graduate Review Committee as soon as the need for extra time becomes clear.
Students who fail to pass the written part of the candidacy exam within 1 ½ years may request transfer to the MS program, as may those who fail to pass the oral part.
The Graduate Review Committee meets immediately after the end of Spring semester to examine the time table for all students. The committee reviews their status regarding progress and financial support, and thereupon provides written reports to the students, their research advisers and to the Director of the Graduate Program.

Good Academic Standing: To be considered in good academic standing, a student must maintain a minimum cumulative graduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale each semester. To be eligible for an advanced degree, a student’s cumulative grade point average shall be at least a 3.00. A grade below a C- will not be counted toward the course requirements for a degree but is calculated in the student’s cumulative grade point average.

Arbitration: In those instances in which difficulties arise in communications between a student, the advisor, and/or the Graduate Review Committee, informal consultation with the Director of the Graduate Program may be helpful. Should this avenue fail to restore healthy communication, the matter may be considered by the entire Graduate Studies Committee.

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