Doctor of Philosophy in Physics

Program Link:
https://physics.wsu.edu/
Student Learning Outcomes:
https://physics.wsu.edu/students/graduate/
Total Core Graduate Faculty in Program:
19
Graduate Students in Program:
60
Students Receiving Assistantships:
57
Priority Deadlines:

  • Fall January 15

Campus:

  • Pullman

International Student English Proficiency Exams

International students may need to surpass the Graduate School’s minimum English language proficiency exam scores for this program. If the graduate program has unique score requirements, they will be detailed below. Otherwise, please refer to the Graduate School’s minimum score guidelines.

  • 7.0 IETLS substituted for TOEFL. Minimum score.
  • 80 TOEFL IBT or 214 TOEFL Computerized.
  • GRE scores optional
  • Subject Physics GRE Strongly Recommended

Degree Description:

The Department of Physics and Astronomy doctoral program at Washington State University is designed to produce leaders in industry, in academia, and at national laboratories. The department’s progressive environment seeks to provide an atmosphere that fosters intellectual growth and quantitative reasoning. The program engages students in teaching and research activities that provide the skills, knowledge, and ability for critical thinking that will enable them to be productive members of society. In the process, our goal is to lay the foundations for technological advances that improve our quality of life.

Career Opportunities:

While the Department of Physics and Astronomy conducts research in the traditional areas of physics, it has enhanced its program by focusing on three areas of research excellence: Astrophysics, Extreme Matter, and Materials and Optics. Astrophysics seeks to answer some of the most basic questions about the universe and space-time and is in high demand from the students. Materials and Optics, and Extreme Matter are at the forefront of important technological advances.

These research areas are supported by two WSU research units, the Center for Materials Research (CMR) and Institute for Shock Physics (ISP) as well as unique regional facilities such as the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Observatory (LIGO). Students gain international exposure through conferences and collaborations.

Career Placements:

Postdoctoral positions; Physics research – industrial and applied physics at national labs such as Sandia, Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore, etc.; engineering physics jobs; university teaching/research positions.

Contact Information: