Duke Physics

Curriculum 2010

A new Graduate Curriculum was adopted by the faculty in October 2009. The new requirements apply to students entering the PhD program in August 2010 or later.

Core Graduate Courses

The normal course sequence is: (Each course carries 3 credit units unless otherwise noted.)

Sequence A

1st year		2nd year
Fall Semester	Spring Semester	Fall Semester
Mathematical Methods	Electrodynamics	Graduate Advanced Physics
Classical Mechanics	Quantum Mechanics	Elective
Statistical Mechanics	Elective
Physics Research Seminar (1 unit)

or

Sequence B

1st year		2nd year
Fall Semester	Spring Semester	Fall Semester
Mathematical Methods	Electrodynamics	Graduate Advanced Physics
Classical Mechanics	Quantum Mechanics	Statistical Mechanics
[Intermediate course]	Elective	Elective
Physics Research Seminar (1 unit)

The Classical Mechanics course could be delayed to the second year in special circumstances.

Electives

• Students must complete at least 6 units of graduate physics elective courses. (Mini-courses carry one unit). These courses can be delayed from the times indicated in the tables above if the DGS or the student's advisor approves.
• Specific research groups may have written policies of courses students should take if they intend to work in their group.

A single course may be used to satisfy both of the above conditions.

Placements & Exams

• During the orientation period, incoming students will be expected to take Assessment Exams unless the requirement is waived by the DGS. Incoming students with a solid undergraduate background usually will take the core graduate courses immediately.
• Students may also petition the DGS if they feel they have the appropriate background to be exempt from any core graduate courses.
• Each student is expected to take the Preliminary Examination as early as possible after choosing to work with a faculty Advisor towards a PhD, and no later than the end of the sixth semester.

Annuals

• Each student is required to submit an Annual Report to the DGS after the first year. The report is due each year on March 31.
• Each student is required to present a scientific Research Talk at least once per year after the first year. The title and abstract of the talk should appear in the Annual Report.