Research in Physics
(Page revised 23 January 2004)
The Physics Department provides the opportunity for all physics majors
to complete their undergraduate education by engaging
in a full year of research with an individual faculty member. Students have
two options:
- The Senior Project
(1-3 credits of Physics 451 and 1-3 credits of Physics 452)
- The Honors Thesis
(3 credits of Physics 495 and 3 credits of Physics 496)
- A QPA greater than 3.0 is required for honors.
- Honors students must take Physics 303 and 351, as well as either Physics 314 or 402.
The student is expected to spend at least 3 hour per week on research
for each registered credit hour. Research topics are generally chosen
within the
research programs in the Department.
All student research is overseen by the Research Coordinator, who is the Physics Department
faculty member assigned to
teach Physics 451/2 and Physics 495/6. Any questions concerning finding an advisor,
general requirements or procedures should be directed first to the Research
Coordinator.
The general structure of senior research is as follows:
- After talking with faculty members, the student selects a willing advisor
during the spring of the junior year.
- The student notifies the Research Coordinator of the project at this time.
- The student signs up for either 451/2 or 495/6 in the fall and spring of
the senior year. Exceptions to this pattern may be approved by the Research
Coordinator.
- The Research Coordinator is responsible for insuring that the
Departmental
Computing Requirements (programming ability, electronic literacy,
symbolic mathematics and electronic publishing) have been met.
- The student will present an interim research talk and paper in the last
week of classes of the fall semester.
- The student will defend orally the completed written thesis in the last week of
classes of the spring semester.
The Charles Center and the Department of Physics jointly set the
regulations
for Honors Theses. The Department of Physics set the
regulations for Senior Projects.
Dates to Remember
- 4 weeks before last day of classes in junior year
Initial Honors Thesis application turned in to Research Coordinator. Undergraduate
committee reviews applications
- 2 weeks before last day of classes in junior year
Final Honors Thesis application turned in to Research Coordinator, who forwards
it to the Charles Center.
- First Monday of classes in senior year
Final Honors Thesis application turned in the Research Coordinator for those who
were overseas during the previous spring.
- End of Drop/Add in first semester of senior year
Senior Thesis topics turned in the Research Coordinator.
- One week before mid-term presentation for all research students
Written report turned in to advisor and Research Coordinator
- First Thursday noon of exam period
Mid-term presentations must be complete
- 4 weeks before last day of classes in senior year
Complete draft of thesis turned in to advisor
- 2 weeks before last day of classes in senior year
Corrected complete draft of thesis passed out to members of the examination committee
- Thursday noon of last week of classes
Final Honors presentations must be complete
- Monday of first exam week
Acid-free and electronic copies of the Honors thesis turned in to Research Coordinator
- First Thursday noon of exam period
Final Senior Thesis presentations must be complete
- First Monday of exam week
Acid-free and electronic copies of the Senior thesis turned in to Research Coordinator
Senior Thesis Electronic Archives