1. Overview of Physics Graduate Program
Joe Kapusta
22 August 2016

2. Anticipation

4. Outline Cast of characters Academic adviser versus research adviser
Available resources when times get tough
Foci of your life in physics
Research
Courses
Teaching
Other
Where to find information and help
Expectations year by year
Statistics
Summary

5. Cast of Characters You Your peers and senior students (150+).
Mentor TAs
Grad Phi, WIPA
Professors (50+)
Research and academic advisers
Teachers of classes you take
Boss of classes you teach
Amanda Hawkinson (Specialist for graduate program)
Ron Poling (Head)
Julie Murphy (Assistant to the Head)
Lucy Fortson (Associate Head)
Ginny Olson (Administrator - financial)
Brian Andersson (demonstration room)
Sean Albiston (lab services coordinator)
Jeremy Mans (Director of Undergraduate Studies)
Jennifer Kroschel (Assistant to the Head for student programs)
Kristina Cibuzar (Specialist for undergraduate program)

6. Academic Adviser
Your academic adviser has been assigned and need not be your research adviser for your MS or PhD.
Talk to him/her whenever you have questions about life in the department.
They are eager to help you solve any problems so that you stay on track to your MS or PhD.

7. Academic Adviser Meet with your adviser at least once per month!
I oftentimes hear that:
My students never show up after the first meeting.
My adviser is never available.
If you want a 2nd or independent opinion don’t hesitate to talk to me.
We will discuss this more in the afternoon.

8. Research Adviser
Must be a member of the Physics Graduate Faculty, meaning they could be a:
Regular faculty member in Physics
Member of FTPI (Fine Theoretical Physics Institute)
Member of MIfA (Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics)
Member of another department within CSE (College of Science and Engineering)

9. If you are experiencing problems...
Course work
Course level is not right
Professor is not helpful
His/her teaching style does not match with your learning style
Need better study habits
Teaching
Takes too much time
Teaching seminar is not helping
Trouble with students
Trouble with professor
Research
Conflict with adviser
Personal
Health
Emotional
Financial
Social

10. … you can talk to: Classmates
Other TA in the same section or other sections
Academic adviser
Any Professor
DGS
Mentor TA
Counselor

11. Mental Health
Approximately 20% of the population suffer from anxiety, depression, or other emotional disorders. (How many professors have suffered or still are suffering from it?)
It’s not unique to you, and getting professional help (counselor) is a common practice in the US.
U of MN offers professional services to help you better manage your situation.
Professionals can help you through counseling, medication, or both.

12. Helpful resources outside physics
There are many resources available outside the department
Ombudsman’s Office (conflict resolution)
UCCS (counseling & consulting)
Disability Services
Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
Boynton Health Center
Council of Graduate Students
Many of these offices coordinate with one another. If you are not sure which is the most appropriate, visit one and they will tell you which is the best place to get help.

13. Graduate School Tips and Timeline
Take courses & begin research (first 2-3 years)
Teach discussion and lab sessions
(~ 2 years)
Pass Graduate Written Exam (GWE)
Given in August and January
Should pass by beginning of 2nd year
Focus on research (3rd year on)
Form study groups with at least one native English speaker and one non-US citizen.
Stay sane, have fun, connect with people

14. The 1st year may be the most challenging
Course work (graduate E&M, a bonding experience…)
GWE (unfortunately not everyone passes)
Tomorrow and day after/August 23 & 24 (optional)
January 2017 (required if haven’t passed yet)
August 2017 (required if haven’t passed yet)
Look for research adviser
Sell your strengths to secure a summer research position (grades, score on GWE)
Summer support is usually available through TA positions, research grants, fellowships
Do research in summer 2017

15. Courses
Typical case
Took quantum mechanics, classical mechanics, electrodynamics, and thermodynamics/statistical mechanics as undergrad
Fall: 5001 (quantum), 5011 (classical), 5201 (thermal)
Spring: (quantum), 5012 (classical), 4xxx (intro to xxxx)
5072 (physics education) is required to make sure you keep up with your teaching preparation
5980 (intro to research seminar) broad overview of research in the
the School, spring semester includes 2 ethics in research lectures
If you did not take the above as an undergrad, consider
4001 (classical mechanics), 4002 (electrodynamics), 4101 (quantum), 4201 (thermal), 4303 (electrodynamics and waves).
Could delay your research and PhD by one year
If you feel you have mastered most of the materials for the 500 level courses, consider taking advanced quantum (8001), and other 8000-level courses of your interest.

16. Courses to Consider in the First Year
Computational Methods in the Physical Sciences
Relativity, Cosmology, and the Universe
Mathematical Methods for Physics
5001/2 Quantum Mechanics
5011/2 Classical Physics (mechanics, E&M)
Thermal and Statistical Physics
Best Practices in College Physics Teaching
Introduction to Research Seminar
Introduction to Solid State Physics
Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics
Introduction to Biopolymer Physics
Introduction to Plasma Physics
These intro courses may be taken by grads or undergrads

17. More on Courses Goal: minimum GPA of core courses (5000 level) of 3.5.
You can register for up to 14 credits every semester
Since you need 40 course credits to obtain PhD, to finish them in 2 years, you should take at least 10 credits.
More than 10 will allow you to finish earlier
Or you can take other interesting courses
Statistics, biochemistry, neuroscience, philosophy
Various engineering or math courses

18. Please be back in 10 minutes.
Intermission
Please be back in 10 minutes.

19. GWE
Given twice per year, in August and January. You have three opportunities to take it.
It covers undergraduate physics in a comprehensive manner and at a level of sophistication expected of graduate students.
If you have complete mastery of junior and senior undergraduate level mechanics, electrodynamics, thermal and quantum physics, and are fully prepared, you should be able to pass it.
Passing score is about 50%.
Should you take it tomorrow and Wednesday

20. Should You Take the GWE this Week?
Should take it if
You have spent the summer preparing for it
You plan to start doing research right away, or have a master’s degree, or have taken most of the required courses already
Should not it take if
You don’t think you can take the shock of a poor performance
If you are confident that you will pass, there is no need to hurry though it may be nice to get over with it
If you pass it with flying colors, congratulations, but still take coursework seriously
Research advisers check on how well you did
If you think you have a small chance to pass, it would be better if you study for a few months so that your level of understanding is significantly deeper than the bare minimum, and then pass the January one
Often doing TA work is good training for GWE
It helps to prepare with other students
Past GWEs are available on our web site

21. Research What fields are available here?
How to find your field of interest
When and how should you start
Look for research adviser in the spring of 2017
Try out research in the summer of 2017
Continue during the following year at your own pace and level if you like it.
If you do really well in the summer, you may get an RA during the year!
Otherwise find another adviser next spring 2018.
Have final research adviser during the 2nd summer (2018).
Pass Preliminary Oral Exam, complete all coursework and 24 thesis credits to be ABD status.

22. We Care About You!
We want our students to be successful in doing research and to move on to a rewarding career.
It makes us feel good
We really care about you
We want you to succeed
It boosts our own reputation
We get paid for doing this

23. Our Fields of Research
Astrophysics and cosmology: theory and experiment
Biophysics: experiment
Condensed matter physics: theory and experiment
Elementary particle physics: theory and experiment
Nuclear physics: theory
Physics education
Space physics: theory and experiment

24. Look Where You Want to Be, Not Where You Are

25. Tate Laboratory of Physics
A Tale of Two Buildings
Tate Laboratory of Physics
Physics and Nanotechnology

26. How to find a research adviser
Talk to professors, senior graduate students, and postdocs
Introduction to research seminar 5980
Physics journal club 5970
Read the journals (PRL, PRA-E, PLA-B, RMP, Nature, Science)
Preprint archive (arXiv.org)

27. Where to find information: www.physics.umn.edu
Under “Physics Intranet” look at
Advice from the DGS
Physics Graduate Handbook

28. Annual Progress Report
Done every spring – due March 15.
What have you done so far?
What can you and the department do to improve what you have not done as well as you wanted?
Opportunity for you to check your own progress and discuss it with your adviser (academic or research)
Opportunity for us to detect if anything unusual is happening to you
This is obviously a minimal check. It would be better if you check your own progress more often and check with me whenever you have questions
In addition, you will be asked to come up with a summer research plan
With a reasonable research plan, many of you will get fellowships over the summer

29. Next summer I hope you will say:
I have talked to many professors, graduate students, and postdocs
I have a research position supported by a grant
I did well in courses (GPA > 3.5) and have ~24 credits
I passed the GWE in January, or at least have confidence in passing this August

30. Individuals are different
Depending on where you are now, you may want to be more or less ambitious
Your undergrad preparation level is somewhat less complete than others
You already have a Master’s degree and have taken many courses similar to our 5000-level classes

31. 2nd year Take the rest of the required courses (40 credits total)
8000-level courses (8 credits)
Take seminars in your field of research
Do some research if previous summer worked out well
Look for a new adviser if previous summer adviser did not work out
If you have an advanced background, this may be your first-year agenda

32. Masters Degree
For whatever reason, if the PhD is not for you, should obtain a Master’s by the end of your 2nd year.
Need an adviser
Plan A requires a thesis
Plan B requires either a project or 3 papers
Plan C requires GPA of 3.3 and pass GWE

33. Masters Degree
If you don’t pass the GWE by August 2017, prepare to obtain a Master’s degree as a back-up
Need an adviser
Plan A requires a thesis
Plan B requires either a project or 3 papers
With this preparation you can petition for a 3rd/4th try on the GWE

34. Please be back in 10 minutes.
Intermission
Please be back in 10 minutes.

35. By 2nd summer Passed GWE (at least taken once for MS)
Finished taking courses (except a few seminars)
Some of the theory students may be taking more classes in the 3rd year
Started serious research (finished or almost finished, if MS)
Getting ready to take Oral Exam
File “Degree Program” form – list all courses you have taken and plan to take
Demonstrate that you are ready to do research
Annual survey will check these milestones

36. 3rd year and later Preliminary Oral Exam Do research
Other things to do while doing your research
Thesis defense of other students
Seminars and colloquia
Conferences and workshops
Informal conversation with people in the department, related departments, visitors
Read literature
Thesis proposal
Write papers and thesis

37. Annual survey of progress
Filing of proper forms
Degree Program: within 6 months of starting research
Thesis Proposal: within 6 months of preliminary oral exam to pin down what you have to do to finish your thesis research.
Scheduled and passed preliminary oral exam in a timely manner?
Is your expectation of what needs to be done the same as your adviser’s? If not, talk it over to come to some consensus.

38. ABD (All But Dissertation): Who cares?
Your research adviser!
After passing the preliminary oral examination and taking 24 thesis credits, you will be ABD, which incurs a much smaller overhead cost for your adviser.
He/she is more willing to give you an RA position.
You may be able to get more helium with that savings.
While you take thesis credits, you have 4 extra credits you can take on other classes.
Seminar (2 are required for PhD)
Teaching class (GRAD 8101/02)
Courses taken after ABD may cost you real money

39. MS Requirements Requirements M.S. (Plan A) M.S. (Plan B) M.S. (Plan C)
Total Credits Required (not including thesis credits) 20 30
Thesis Credits Required 10
Major Courses Required
14 credits, including either 5001/2 or 5011/2
5001/2, 5011/2, and 5201
Minor or Supporting Program Credits*
6 credits
Minimum GPA
2.8
3.3
Graduate Written Exam
Take Once
Must Pass
Preliminary Oral Exam NA
File Degree Program
After 10 credits
File Thesis Title/Proposal
Register thesis title when distributed to reviewers
Time Limits
Not more than 7 years
Transfer credits
Not more than 40% of program
Preliminary and Final Oral Committee
3 members: 2 from major field, 1 from minor or related fields
Thesis reviewers
All members of oral committee

40. PhD Requirements Requirements PhD
Total Credits Required (not including thesis credits) 40
Thesis Credits Required 24
Major Courses Required
5001/2, 5011/2, 5201, and 5072 for TAs
Minor or Supporting Program Credits*
12 credits
Minimum GPA
3.3 in the required courses
Graduate Written Exam
Pass by Fall 2nd year
Preliminary Oral Exam
Pass by end of 3rd year
File Degree Program
Before taking the Preliminary Oral Exam
File Thesis Title/Proposal
File thesis proposal after passing Preliminary Oral Exam
Time Limits
Not more than 5 years after completing Preliminary Oral Exam
Transfer credits
No limit, must be approved by DGS
Preliminary and Final Oral Committee
4 members: 3 from major field (advisor plus an experimentalist and a theorist in the same subfield of physics) and 1 with an appointment outside physics.
Thesis reviewers
3 reviewers, including committee member from outside physics. Thesis must be approved one week before defense

41. Social Aspects
Grad  () graduate student organization. Provides good peer support to all students.
Social events
Conduit of useful information that professors and DGS are not aware of (or students don’t want us to know!)
WIPA (Women in Physics/Astro)
SPS – equivalent organization for undergraduates
Sport teams
Soccer, softball, broomball, ping-pong, badminton
Any other ideas to make the atmosphere of the department even better are welcomed.

42. Time to Graduation Median length of time to graduate = 5.7 years
Time to graduate depends on external factors such as
scope of project
funding approval
as well as on factors you have a control over such as
how hard you work
how organized you are

43. Racing to the checked flag / finish line.

44. After graduation Nationwide initial employment of physics PhDs
Academic
58%
Government
19%
Private sector
Other 4%

45. After graduation Nationwide starting salaries of physics PhDs
Academic
$40-57K
Government
$55-102K
Private sector
$74-101K

46. After graduation Nationwide statistics for physics PhDs
Physics Today, August 2013
Number of degrees
1600
Number of faculty hires
My personal philosophy is to achieve all that you can,
be the best that you can, follow your own path, and don’t
be obliged to fit into somebody else’s mold of who you
should be or what you should accomplish. If we don’t
enjoy our profession, what is the point?

47. Summary You will be busy with
Taking courses
Teaching undergraduates
Doing research
Socializing
Try to be balanced, seek help when you need it, and enjoy life!

49. Getting advice and feedback from your adviser.

50. Academic Adviser
Your academic adviser has been assigned and need not be your research adviser for your MS or PhD.
Talk to him/her whenever you have questions about life in the department.
They are eager to help you solve any problems and stay on track to your MS or PhD.

51. Academic Adviser Meet with your adviser at least once per month!
I often hear that
My students never show up after the first meeting.
My adviser is never available.
If you want a 2nd or independent opinion don’t hesitate to talk to me.

52. Academic Adviser Meet with your adviser tomorrow afternoon.
Make an appointment with him/her immediately if you have not already done so.
Topics to cover:
Establish a good rapport.
Which classes are appropriate.
Good ways to find a research adviser to work with next summer.
Give him/her a copy of your letter which says what your goals are for the coming year and what you expect from your adviser.
You should meet with your adviser at least once per month to talk about
How you have been doing.
What classes to take in the spring.
If for any reason you cannot find your adviser when you need to, please see Amanda or Jennifer or me.

53. When talking to your adviser
Discuss what it means to be a good physicist.
What does it mean when someone says “thinking like a physicist”.
Discuss the importance of “problem solving” in his/her professional life as well as how to live productively as a person.

54. Tomorrow afternoon
After meeting with your adviser, register for classes and enter information for TA assignment!

55. Would anyone like to discuss their first year goals and what they expect from their adviser before writing their reports?