PROGRAMS

Undergraduate Program
Minor Program
Graduate Program: MS PhD
Degree Requirements (Registrar's Office)

Undergraduate Program (More)

The Department of Physics offers courses at the undergraduate level leading to a BS degree in physics. The program for the physics major includes the following courses:

PHYS 101 and PHYS 101L (or equivalent for Freshman students who intend to major in Physics), PHYS 210, PHYS 210L, PHYS 212, PHYS 217, PHYS 220, PHYS 221L, PHYS 222, PHYS 226, PHYS 235, PHYS 236, and PHYS 257L. Moreover two elective courses must be selected from PHYS 223, PHYS 228/228L, PHYS 231, PHYS 232, PHYS 248, and PHYS 249. Also required are the following courses in mathematics: MATH 101, MATH 102, CMPS 200, MATH 201, MATH 202, and MATH 212.

Physics majors must obtain a cumulative average of at least 70 in the physics courses normally taken in the sophomore year (PHYS 210, PHYS 210L, PHYS 212) and a cumulative average of at least 70 in MATH 201 and 202 before they are allowed to proceed to junior level courses. Students who wish to transfer to physics must fulfill the above mentioned criteria.

Minor Program in Physics

The minor in Physics requires 17 credits: PHYS 210, PHYS 211, PHYS 212, PHYS 221L (or PHYS 210L and PHYS 211L) and six more credits in physics selected from the following: PHYS 217, PHYS 220, PHYS 223, PHYS 222, PHYS 231, PHYS 235, and PHYS 236.

PHYS 101, PHYS 101L, PHYS 210, PHYS 210L, PHYS 211, PHYS 211L, and PHYS 212 are introductory courses for students of chemistry or engineering.

PHYS 103, PHYS 204, PHYS 204L, PHYS 205, and PHYS 205L are introductory courses for students of nursing, public health, biology, petroleum studies, and for students wishing to enter the Medical School and who are not physics or chemistry majors.

PHYS 204, PHYS 204L, PHYS 205 and PHYS 205L are not equivalent totally or in part to PHYS 210, PHYS 210L, PHYS 211, PHYS 211L, PHYS 212, or PHYS 212L. Students shall receive credit for courses in only one of the preceding two sets.

Graduate Program

MS in Physics (More)

The department provides facilities for graduate work leading to the MS degree. The research activities of the department include material science, condensed matter physics, molecular physics, paramagnetic resonance, non-linear dynamics, astrophysics, high energy physics, superstring theory, and quantum gravity.

The MS program requires the completion of 21 credits of courses and a thesis. The courses consist of four core courses: PHYS 301, PHYS 302, PHYS 303, and PHYS 305, and nine credits of physics graduate electives. After completion of the four core courses, the student must pass a Master's Comprehensive exam. The student must then select a thesis adviser who will present a thesis proposal to the physics faculty for approval. The MS degree is granted after the student defends his/her thesis successfully.

PhD in Theoretical Physics (More)

The PhD program is intended to produce competent intended to produce competent independent researchers who are able to make original contributions to physical sciences. The program prepares students for careers in research, teaching, or industry and thus provides qualified scientists for Lebanon and the region. It serves the AUB mission of promoting research and participating in the advancement of knowledge.

Upon completion admission into the program, a graduate student is assigned an academic adviser who evaluates his/her academic background, designs a curriculum to meet the student's research interests and career goals, and sdvises if undergraduate courses are needed to rectify deficiencies. All of the duties of the academic adviser will be transferred to the thesis adviser chosen by the student and approved by the department. The thesis adviser must be chosen within 3 semesters from the admission to the program.

The PhD program requires the completion of at least 39 credits hours of course work for students admitted on the accelerated track (BS holders) and a minimum of 18 credit hours of course work for students admitted on the regular track (MS holders).

The required courses for students admitted on the accelerated track are: PHYS 301, 302, 303, 305, 306 and 307 (18 credits), and at least 21 credits beyond the core program, out of which one course must be in the concentration area, while the others can be taken as electives. Students may take relevant courses outside the department provided they secure departmental approval.

The required courses for students admitted on the regular track are: PHYS 306 and 307 (6 credits), and at least 12 credits beyond the core program, out of which one course must be in the concentration area, while the others can be taken as electives. Students may take relevant courses outside the department provided they secure departmental approval.