Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Master of Science in Physics
Rochester Institute of Technology, USA
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
About: Rochester Institute of Technology's Master of Science in Physics offers research and professional options with advanced study in electrodynamics, quantum and classical mechanics and statistical physics, plus sub-areas aligned to your interests. You’ll work with faculty to build an individualized academic plan. Programme offers flexible paths for applied or fundamental physics, supporting career development or graduate study.
Career Outcomes: Graduates are highly employable across sectors including aerospace, defense, government, research, internet and software, scientific and technical consulting and higher education. Typical roles include research scientist, R&D engineer, data scientist and physics educator; employers value analytical, experimental and computational skills.
RIT’s master's degree in physics offers both research and professional option, and provides advanced knowledge in core areas of physics, including electrodynamics, quantum, and classical mechanics, and statistical physics, as well as one or more sub-areas of physics that correspond to your individual interests and career aspirations. You’ll work with program faculty to develop a tailored individual academic plan that supports your individual career aspirations.
The MS program in physics is designed to provide flexible options that can be tailored to the specific career goals and disciplinary interests of students seeking graduate training in fundamental and/or applied areas of physics. The program is suitable as either a means to further career development or as preparation for further graduate study. Nationally, MS Physics graduates are highly employable across all economic sectors, spanning a wide variety of exciting opportunities within the private sector (especially in engineering and computer/information technology), in government labs and agencies, and in the university level and secondary education.
The program focuses on providing advanced knowledge in core areas of physics. This includes electrodynamics, quantum and classical mechanics, and statistical physics, as well as one or more sub-areas of physics that correspond to each students' individual interests and career aspirations. Students work with the program director to develop a tailored individual academic plan that includes coursework that supports these goals. Sub-areas may include modern and quantum optics; lasers; computational physics; solid-state, materials, and device physics; soft matter and biological physics; radiation scattering spectroscopy; relativity and gravitation; and nanoscale physics. The program also includes professional skills in organization and leadership, managing research teams, promoting innovation or sustainable technologies, entrepreneurship and intellectual property, finance and accounting, data science, scientific visualization, electronics, STEM pedagogy, and education research, public policy, and communication skills.
Options
The program offers options in research or professional physics. The research option is research-focused and is intended to leverage each student's acquired physics knowledge in support of furthering the student's research training. Students will conduct research and produce a thesis as part of their studies. The professional option is designed to supplement advanced physics knowledge with a portfolio of electives in professional skills that can be tailored to each student's career goals. Students complete a graduate project.
Physics (research option), MS degree, typical course sequence
First Year
- PHYS-601 Graduate Physics Seminar I 1
- PHYS-602 Graduate Physics Seminar II 1
- Choose two of the following:
- PHYS-610 Mathematical Methods for Physics
- PHYS-611 Classical Electrodynamics I
- PHYS-614 Quantum Theory
- Choose one of the following:
- PHYS-630 Classical Mechanics
- PHYS-640 Statistical Physics
- Choose one of the following:
- PHYS-790 Graduate Research & Thesis
- Physics (or closely related) Elective
- Physics (or closely related) Electives
Second Year
- Choose one of the following:
- PHYS-610 Mathematical Methods for Physics
- PHYS-611 Classical Electrodynamics I
- PHYS-614 Quantum Theory
- PHYS-790 Graduate Research & Thesis
Physics (professional option), MS degree, typical course sequence
First Year
- PHYS-601 Graduate Physics Seminar I
- PHYS-602 Graduate Physics Seminar II
- Choose two of the following:
- PHYS-610 Mathematical Methods for Physics
- PHYS-611 Classical Electrodynamics I
- PHYS-614 Quantum Theory
- Choose one of the following:
- PHYS-630 Classical Mechanics
- PHYS-640 Statistical Physics
- Physics (or closely related) Elective
- Professional Electives
Second Year
- PHYS-780 Graduate Physics Project
- Professional Elective
- Physics (or closely related) Elective
RIT awards more than $37 million in merit scholarships and assistantships to graduate students each year. Scholarship awards range from 5% of tuition all the way up to full tuition. Awards are based on an applicant's academic excellence. Many things are considered when awarding scholarships - undergraduate grades, graduate placement test scores, and your research and work experience all factor in.
Graduate assistantships are offered to full-time matriculated graduate students to serve as teaching, research, or administrative assistants. Graduate Assistants receive wages (determined by the department making the appointment) in exchange for work performed. Many graduate assistants also receive tuition remission (i.e., tuition support) in addition to receiving wages for assistantship duties.
Graduate students can be awarded both scholarships and assistantships. These funding opportunities are the same for both US and international applicants.
RIT awards more than $30 million in merit scholarships and assistantships to graduate students each year. Scholarship awards range from 10% - 40% of tuition. Our median scholarship amount is around 30% of tuition or $13,000. Awards are based on an applicant's academic excellence. Many things are considered when awarding scholarships - undergraduate grades, graduate placement test scores, and your research and work experience all factor in.
Graduate assistantships are offered to full-time matriculated graduate students to serve as teaching, research, or administrative assistants. Graduate Assistants receive wages (determined by the department making the appointment) in exchange for work performed. Many graduate assistants also receive tuition remission (i.e., tuition support) in addition to receiving wages for assistantship duties.
Graduate students can be awarded both scholarships and assistantships. These funding opportunities are the same for both US and international applicants.
Optional Co-Op
Cooperative education is paid work assignments with corporations and organizations around the U.S. and abroad. Co-op allows students to spend one or more semesters employed in a full-time, paid position related to their academic program before they graduate. Many students use co-op earnings to help finance their education.
Work-Study
Graduate students studying full-time may apply to work part-time on campus. RIT has more than 9,000 jobs available yearly, and students typically work 10 – 20 hours per week. International students studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa may work up to 20 hours per week on campus and 40 hours during break periods.
Industries
- Aerospace
- Government (Local, State, Federal)
- Scientific and Technical Consulting
- Higher Education
- Defense
- Internet and Software
- Research
- Other Industries
Most of our programs offer "rolling" application review - there is no specific deadline for applications; applications will be accepted and reviewed throughout the year.