Our department offers several doctoral degrees: Physics Ph.D.; Astrophysics Ph.D.; Chemical Physics Ph.D.; and a Mathematical Physics Ph.D.
Doctoral Degrees
Physics Ph.D.
In addition to coursework, students interested in pursuing a Physics Ph.D. must demonstrate their ability to do research and present a publishable thesis. A candidate should possess a broad grasp of the field of physics and be prepared to acquire teaching skills and experience while in residence at Indiana University. Research areas include astrophysics, atomic physics, biological physics, condensed matter physics, high energy physics, mathematical physics, and nuclear physics. There is a separate biophysics track with its own set of course requirements.
Astrophysics Ph.D.
Students pursuing this Ph.D. degree can be in residence in either the Department of Physics or the Department of Astronomy. Research areas include all topics in the intersection of the two fields. A candidate must present a publishable thesis in the interdisciplinary area.
Chemical Physics Ph.D.
Students can be in residence in either the Department of Physics or the Department of Chemistry. A candidate must present a publishable thesis in the interdisciplinary area.
Mathematical Physics Ph.D.
Students can be in residence in either the Department of Physics or the Department of Mathematics. The research topics include all traditional and modern areas of mathematical physics. A candidate must present a publishable thesis in the interdisciplinary area.
Ph.D. minor in Scientific Computing
Indiana University has developed an interdisciplinary, interdepartmental Ph.D. minor in Scientific Computing. This is a formal recognition of changes in science that have been prominent over the past two decades, introducing a powerful and entirely new mode of research.
The increasing availability of high performance computers has led to a method of scientific inquiry based on mathematical models solved by means of numerical computations, analyzed and viewed by means of advanced computer graphics. Carrying out research by these means is necessarily interdisciplinary, calling on advanced skills in areas that span many classical divisions of academia. The Ph.D. minor in scientific computing enables the interdepartmental education necessary to best equip students for research within this new paradigm.
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