To earn a master’s degree at Washington University, a student must complete all courses required by their department; maintain satisfactory academic progress; pass certain examinations; fulfill all academic and residence requirements; and apply for program completion (graduation) via Workday Student.
For the details of master’s degree general requirements in Arts & Sciences, including an explanation of Satisfactory Academic Progress, students should review the Master’s Degree Academic Information page of the Arts & Sciences Bulletin.
Program Requirements
- Total Units Required: 36
- Students are required to obtain 36 credits including four core courses (12 credits) and eight elective courses (24 credits).
- Courses that count toward academic credit are as follows:
- Any regular 5000-level lecture courses in the physics department, including PHYSICS 5820 Research Seminar
- Courses outside of the physics department, if approved by the master's program director
- Degree Length: One academic year
- Note: Students must be enrolled in 9 graduate credits each semester to retain full-time status. As students complete their coursework, if enrolled in fewer than 9 graduate credits, they must enroll in a specific Arts & Sciences graduate course that will show 0 units but does count as full-time status. Students should connect with their department to ensure proper enrollment prior to Add/Drop.
- Grade Requirement: A master's student must maintain an average of a B (a grade point average of 3.0), with no more than one grade lower than B–.
The Office of Graduate Studies, Arts & Sciences, offers an accelerated BA/MA program that allows Washington University students completing a BA degree in Arts & Sciences to earn both the BA and MA degrees with one additional academic year of study (typically five years total). Students admitted to the accelerated program must begin graduate study in the academic year immediately following completion of the BA degree; deferred admission is not permitted. Applications are due by March 15 prior to the fall semester in which the student will begin the MA program. The program allows participants to count up to 15 units of approved 4000-/5000-level coursework earned during their undergraduate studies toward the MA degree requirements, provided the courses were completed with grades of B or better. Careful course selection throughout the undergraduate program is required; students interested in the program are encouraged to consult with the department early regarding eligibility and the applicability of prospective courses to the MA degree requirements.
Core Course Requirements
Students must take the following three courses:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PHYSICS 5050 | Classical Electrodynamics I | 3 |
| PHYSICS 5230 | Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYSICS 5290 | Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
They must also take at least one of the following.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PHYSICS 5010 | Theoretical Physics | 3 |
| PHYSICS 5020 | Methods of Theoretical Physics II | 3 |
| PHYSICS 5060 | Classical Electrodynamics II | 3 |
| PHYSICS 5070 | Classical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYSICS 5090 | Nonlinear Dynamics | 3 |
| PHYSICS 5240 | Quantum Mechanics II | 3 |