TRACK DESCRIPTION
The Planetary Sciences track in the Physics MS program is designed to prepare students to be competitive in the global planetary sciences research community.
UCF has rapidly grown to become a center for research and teaching in the planetary sciences. Our goal is to create a vibrant planetary science research environment that can attract top students, researchers, and faculty and contribute significantly to the exploration of space. The Planetary Sciences track in the Physics MS program is designed to prepare students to be competitive in the global planetary sciences research community.
CURRICULUM
| The Planetary Sciences track in the Physics MS program requires a minimum 33 hours of graduate course work as directed by the student’s supervisory committee. This must include at least 15 credit hours of required courses, 6 hours of thesis preparation with the remainder being elective courses and directed research chosen in consultation with the supervisory committee. At least half of the total credits must be at the 6000 level. No more than 6 hours of independent study may be credited toward the master's degree. The master's degree in Planetary Sciences includes a thesis and its defense. There is no nonthesis master's degree in the Planetary Sciences track. |
| Total Credit Hours Required: |
| 33
Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree |
Required Courses—15
Credit Hours
The core is designed to give students a broad foundation
in the planetary sciences and a rapid training in the data analysis techniques
that will be necessary for a successful research and publications. Students
choose 5 out of the 6 core courses listed below:
- PHY 5524 Statistical Physics (3 credit hours)
- PHY 6246 Classical Mechanics (3
credit hours)
- PHZ 5156 Computational Physics (3 credit hours) or AST 5765C Advanced Astronomical Data Analysis (3 credit hours)
- AST 5154 Advanced Planetary Geophysics (3 credit hours)
- AST 5263 Advanced Observational Astronomy (3 credit hours)
- AST 5165 Planetary Atmospheres (3 credit hours)
Elective Courses—12 Credit
Hours
- AST 6938 Planetary Astronomy Seminar (3 credit hours)
- AST 6112 Origins of Solar Systems (3 credit hours)
- AST 5334 Extrasolar Planets and Brown Dwarfs (3 credit hours)
- PHY 5937 Astrobiology (3 credit hours)
- AST 5145 Advanced Asteroids, Comets, and
Meteorites (3 credit hours)
Other Electives
- PHZ 5505 Plasma Physics (3 credit hours)
- PHY 5346 Electrodynamics I (3
credit hours)
- PHY 6347 Electrodynamics II (3 credit hours)
- PHY 5606 Quantum Mechanics I (3 credit hours)
- PHY 6624 Quantum Mechanics II (3 credit hours)
- OSE 5041 Introduction to Wave Optics (3
credit hours)
- EEL 5820 Image Processing (3 credit hours)
- OSE 5312 Fundamentals of Optical Science (3 credit hours)
Thesis—6
Credit Hours
- PHY 6971 Thesis (6 credit hours)
Supervisory Committee
Within the first half-semester of admission
to the planetary sciences graduate track, each student must select, by mutual
agreement, a faculty adviser and two other faculty members to serve on his or
her Supervisory Committee. One of the faculty members who is not the adviser
must be from an area in the department other than Planetary Sciences. UCF
faculty and self-funded research scientists are eligible to serve on
supervisory committees. Changes in the membership of a Supervisory Committee
must be approved by the Planetary Sciences Graduate Committee. The adviser is
expected to meet regularly with the student. The full committee shall meet with
the student at least once per semester to review and make recommendations
regarding the student's academic progress.
Master's Defense
The written thesis and oral defense is the final requirement for the
master's degree. The thesis is a journal-level research paper. The oral defense
is two parts: (1) A public presentation of the research contained in the
paper; and (2) private questioning on the detail of the presented research as
well as the topics covered in the student’s preparation and course work. The
written and oral components will be administrated by the student’s Supervisory
Committee.
Independent Learning
A thesis is required in this program.
Application Requirements
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline.
In addition to the general
UCF graduate application requirements, applicants to this program must
provide:
- One official transcript (in a sealed envelope)
from each college/university attended.
- A bachelor's degree in physics,
astronomy, geology, geophysics, geochemistry, atmospheric sciences, or
planetary sciences.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Statement
of goals.
- Résumé.
- Applicants applying to this program who have
attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a
course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential
evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
Applicants interested in being considered for assistantship and
fellowship opportunities should apply directly to the Physics PhD program.
Additional courses may also be required to correct any course deficiencies
for those applicants without full preparation in physics and astronomy.
Students entering the Physics graduate program with regular status are normally
expected to have completed course work generally required for a bachelor's
degree in physics, including mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermal and
statistical physics, and quantum mechanics. Students should contact the
graduate program director for further information.
Current students in
the existing Physics graduate program wishing to switch to the Planetary
Sciences track must submit a letter to the Planetary Science Graduate Committee
addressed to Dr. Dan Britt. The letter should include the request to join the
planetary sciences track, the students degree goal (Masters), the name of the
students planetary sciences adviser, and a brief description of their expected
area of research. Upon departmental approval, a Graduate Status Change Form
will be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.
Meeting minimum
UCF admission criteria does not guarantee program admission. Final admission is
based on evaluation of the applicant's abilities, past performance,
recommendations, match of this program and faculty expertise to the applicant's
career/academic goals, and the applicant's potential for completing the
degree.
Application Deadlines
| Planetary Sciences |
*Fall Priority
|
Fall
|
Spring
|
Summer
|
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|
Domestic Applicants
| Jan 15 | Jun 15 | Nov 1 | - |
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|
International Applicants
| Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Jul 1 | - |
|---|
|
International Transfer Applicants
| Jan 15 | Mar 1 | Sep 1 | - |
|---|
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*Applicants who plan to enroll full time in a degree program and who wish to be considered for university fellowships or assistantships should apply by the Fall Priority date.
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FINANCIALS
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies
Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The
Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowships
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student’s graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.