College of Science
Department of Physics
In addition to the general requirements, a total of 60 credits is required - 30 credits of coursework and 30 credits of research.
A student entering the PhD Prgram with an MS Degree requires a total of 30 credits.
Degree Verification
A bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or a similarly recognized international university is required for admission to and completion of a graduate program.
Overall Graduate GPA at least 3.0 and no grades of C- or lower;
Graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for degree-program courses. Grades of C- or lower will not be accepted for a graduate degree.
Course Number Acceptability
The Program of Study for a master’s degree or a doctoral degree, if the student has a master’s degree, must include at least 15 semester credits at the level of 6000 or above.
For a doctoral degree, if the student does not have a master’s degree, the Program of Study must include at least 30 credits at the level of 6000 or above.
Credits in the following areas are not acceptable in a degree program: foreign languages (unless included in an approved Program of Study), continuing graduate advisement, individual home study, military science, and courses numbered below 3000.
Matriculation Start Semester
A doctorate must be completed within eight years of entering the degree program. Additional time may be requested by the student’s committee and submitted to the Vice Provost of Graduate Studies for review.
Coursework Validity
Coursework over eight years old at the time of degree completion may not be used for a graduate degree unless it is revalidated.
USU Residency Requirement
At least 33 semester credits for a doctoral (Ph.D.) degree must be taken from Utah State University and be part of an approved Program of Study. At least three semesters, two of which must be consecutive, of full-time registration in residence at Utah State University, is required.
Dissertation Research Credits 7970
A minimum of 12 dissertation credits (7970) is required if the student has a master’s degree, and a minimum of 18 is required if the student has a bachelor’s degree.
All graduate students must complete the online CITI -Responsible Conduct in Research (RCR) This should be completed in the first semester.
Doctoral forms: approval of academic forms required for doctoral students by the School of Graduate Studies.
- Supervisory Committee
- Program of Study
- Application for Candidacy
- Appointment for Examination
- Record of Examination
- SGS and library review and approval
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