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APLPH-MS - Applied Physics (MS)

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Applied PhysicsApplied PhysicsMS - Master of Science

Program Overview

The Department of Applied Physics offers qualified students with backgrounds in physics or engineering the opportunity to do graduate coursework and research in the physics relevant to technical applications and natural phenomena. These areas include accelerator physics, biophysics, condensed matter physics, quantum electronics and photonics, quantum optics and quantum information, ultrafast and non-equilibrium properties of materials, and synchrotron radiation and its applications.

Faculty members and various members of other departments such as Biology, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Physics, the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, and faculty of the Medical School engaged in related research fields supervise student research.

Research activities are carried out in laboratories including the Geballe Laboratory for Advanced Materials (GLAM), the Edward L. Ginzton Laboratory (GINZTON),  the Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory (HEPL), the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, the Center for Probing the Nanoscale, and the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Science (SIMES).

Admissions Information

Information on how to apply for graduate study at Stanford is available on the university’s  Graduate Admissions website. Application information specific to the Applied Physics Graduate Program can be found on our website.

Minimum Units in the Program

45

Minimum University Units

45
Completion requirement

See Graduate Degrees for the university’s basic requirements for the master’s degree. The minimum requirement for the degree is 45 units, of which at least 39 units must be from graduate-level courses in applied physics, engineering, mathematics, and physics.

  • Courses in Physics and Mathematics to overcome deficiencies, if any, in undergraduate preparation

  • Basic graduate courses (letter grade required)

  • A final overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) is for courses used to fulfill degree requirements

There are no department or university examinations. There is no thesis component. If a student is admitted to the MS program but later wishes to change to the PhD program, the student must re-apply through the admissions portal.

Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 2074471
  • 2079081
  • 1226772
  • 1227121
  • 2174381
Earn at least 3 credits from the following:
  • 2124041
  • 1227151
Complete exactly 2 course(s) and earn exactly 6 credit(s) from the following:
  • 2124061
  • 2132551
  • 2184353
  • 1038701
  • 1405231
  • 1227181
  • 1227191
  • 2002642
  • 1227471
  • 1227481
  • 1227491
Fulfill ANY of the following requirements:

Complete 33 units of additional advanced courses in science and/or engineering. It may be any combination of course Directed Studies in Applied Physics​, any one-unit course, and regular courses. At least 18 of these 33 units must be taken for a letter grade. 15 of these 18 units must be at the 200-level or above. Only six units below the 200-level are permitted without approval by the Applied Physics Graduate Study Committee.

OR
Complete ALL of the following Courses:
  • 1094281
OR
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
  • 1095141
  • 1095191
  • 1243111
  • 1040691
  • 1046951

The courses listed above are just some of the one-unit seminar options students can choose from. The academic advisor may approve other one-unit seminar courses.

OR
Complete ANY of the following Courses:
  • 1038701
  • 1405231
  • 1039041
  • 1038721
  • 1038731
  • 1040131
  • 2078521
  • 1094901