Doctor of Philosophy in Physics
The Doctor of Philosophy in Physics at Auburn University provides advanced training in fundamental physics while emphasizing independent research and scholarly discovery. The program prepares students to pursue careers in academic research, national laboratories, industry and government.
Doctoral students develop expertise through advanced coursework, comprehensive examinations and original research conducted under the supervision of a faculty advisor. Throughout the program, students work closely with faculty mentors and research groups while contributing to ongoing research projects within the department’s major areas of physics.
Students in the PhD program pursue research in the department’s major areas of physics, including atomic, molecular and optical physics, biophysics, condensed matter physics, plasma physics and space physics. These research areas investigate phenomena ranging from atomic-scale interactions and materials properties to magnetized plasmas and the plasma environment surrounding Earth.
Graduate research is conducted within faculty laboratories and research groups and often involves collaboration with scientists across Auburn University as well as with national and international research partners.
The doctoral program combines advanced coursework with sustained research training. Students complete graduate coursework in core areas of physics such as classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics and statistical physics while also participating in the department’s colloquium series.
The PhD degree requires sixty credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree, including thirty hours of graded coursework and research hours devoted to dissertation research.
As students progress through the program, they select a faculty advisor and develop a research program with guidance from an advisory committee. A general doctoral examination evaluates the student’s understanding of core physics topics such as classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics and statistical physics and serves as a milestone for admission to doctoral candidacy.
The program culminates in the completion of original dissertation research and a final oral defense before the advisory committee.
Doctoral students play an active role in the department’s research community. Depending on their research area, students may gain experience with laboratory experimentation, computational modeling, theoretical analysis and advanced instrumentation.
Graduate students frequently present their work at scientific conferences and publish their findings in peer-reviewed journals. Through these experiences, students develop the analytical, technical and communication skills necessary for professional careers in physics and related scientific fields.
The PhD program is designed to prepare graduates for research-intensive careers across a range of professional environments. Auburn physics graduates pursue positions in universities, government and national laboratories, private research organizations and high-technology industries.
By combining rigorous coursework with independent research and professional development, the program equips students with the expertise needed to contribute to scientific discovery and technological innovation.
Doctoral students must pass the Graduate Doctoral Examination (GDE) as part of the requirements for admission to PhD candidacy. The examination assesses a student’s understanding of fundamental physics concepts drawn from undergraduate preparation and the first year of graduate coursework.
The exam is typically taken during the second year of graduate study and evaluates knowledge across four core areas of physics: classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, statistical and thermal physics and electricity and magnetism.
