APLPH-PHD - Applied Physics (PhD)

Students who completed graduate coursework at another institution are encouraged to transfer course units in the winter quarter of their first year of doctoral study. The Director of Graduate Studies will evaluate the transfer of units on a course-by-course basis. Graduate work accepted for transfer of residency does not automatically exempt a student from having to complete a course requirement for the degree.

The Department of Applied Physics is committed to providing academic advising that supports graduate students’ scholarly and professional development. When most effective, this advising relationship entails collaborative and sustained engagement by both the advisor and the advisee. As a best practice, advising expectations should be periodically discussed and reviewed to ensure mutual understanding. Both the advisor and the advisee are expected to maintain professionalism and integrity.

In addition, the Faculty Candidacy Chair also known as the Director of Graduate Studies, Professor Tony Heinz, is available for consultation during the academic year by email and office hours. The Applied Physics student services office is also essential to the advising team. Staff in the office inform students and advisors about university and department requirements, procedures, and opportunities, and maintain the official records of advising assignments and approvals. 

Graduate students are active contributors to the advising relationship, proactively seeking academic and professional guidance and taking responsibility for informing themselves of policies and degree requirements for their graduate program.

The graduate study committee assigns academic advisors to incoming first-year students based on their study interests. Faculty academic advisors guide students in critical areas such as selecting courses, designing and conducting research, developing teaching pedagogy, navigating policies and degree requirements, and exploring academic opportunities and professional pathways. Each program, designed by the student in consultation with the academic advisor, should represent a strong and cohesive program reflecting the student's major field of interest. Based on the research interest, students and research advisors mutually agree to work on the research together and establish a collaborative relationship. When the research advisor is from outside the Applied Physics department, the student must also identify a co-advisor from the departmental primary faculty to guide departmental requirements and opportunities.