PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Currently, there is tremendous growth in the fields of optics and condensed matter, caused by rapid developments in superconductivity, electro optic materials, optical, acoustical, and NMR imaging, semiconductor devices, tomography,  holography, and image processing.  The Physics Department at Cleveland State University offers an M.S. degree in physics with an emphasis on Optics and Materials designed for scientists and engineers who wish to develop competence in these rapidly advancing fields. 

CONTACT

Please send inquiries to  Dr. Petru S. Fodor, Physics Department Chair.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

To be considered for admission to the Optics & Materials Specialization, applicants have to follow the application submission procedure listed on the  College of Graduate Studies website (grad.engagecsu.com/apply). Consideration will be given to applicants with an undergraduate degree in physics, mathematics, chemistry, engineering, or an allied field. Students with deficient backgrounds are required to register for additional courses to remove deficiencies.

Application materials include:

1. Application Form and Fee (completed on the application website).
2. Official Transcripts.
3. Personal Statement.
4. Two Letters of Recommendation.

International students whose undergraduate training is not in the United States might also have to submit results of English Proficiency Tests and meet the international admission requirements for graduate students posted at: csuohio.edu/international-admissions/graduate-admission-requirements.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Student support is available through a limited number of graduate assistantships. These are awarded at the discretion of the department. Decisions on these are made by the Department Chair and the Department Graduate Committee. The data in the table below reflects the levels of support in the academic year 2021-2022. The dollar amounts for the stipends vary from one semester to another depending on available departmental funds, teaching experience, and academic performance.

* Current tuition rates for all students including non-resident domestic and international, are posted at: https://www.csuohio.edu/treasury-services/tuition-and-fees

DEGREE COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS

A minimum of 32 credits is required, of classes chosen from the following list or approved substitutions:

• PHY 520: Computational Physics, 4cr
• PHY 541: Quantum Mechanics, 3cr
• PHY 550: Optics, 4cr
• PHY 555: Advanced Optics Lab, 4cr
• PHY 560: Lasers, 4cr
• PHY 565: Image Processing, 4cr
• PHY 561: Electronics Lab, 3 cr
• PHY 580: Optical Materials, 3cr
• PHY 598: Project, 4cr
• PHY 680: Physics of Materials, 4cr