The students enrolled in the Physics PhD program must obtain a passing grade in all 3 subject areas listed below in order to successfully complete the written part of the qualifying exam. An oral exam follows for a student who passes the written part of the qualifying exam.

1st PACKAGE (3 hour exam) Topics (all at undergraduate level):

  1. Physical estimates,
  2. Classical mechanics,
  3. Electromagnetism,
  4. Quantum mechanics.

2nd PACKAGE (3 hour exam) Topics (all at graduate level):

  1. Classical mechanics,
  2. Electromagnetism,
  3. Mathematical physics.

3rd PACKAGE (3 hour exam) Topics (all at graduate level):

  1. Quantum mechanics,
  2. Statistical mechanics.

In addition, the student chooses one question on one of the following topics (all at graduate level):

  1. Astrophysics
  2. Condensed matter physics
  3. Theoretical physics (particle physics, gravitation, string theory, group theory)
  4. or other special topics.