Prospective Student Info

Information for prospective students that applies to all graduate students is available from Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations. A few hilights are listed below, followed by information specific to the department of Physics and Astronomy.

General Info for Applicants

• Financial Aid
• Admission Deadlines
• How to Apply
  
• Admission requirements

Department Info

Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 to be considered. Letters of recommendation are not required, and the GRE is not required.  For applicants without an undergraduate degree in physics we will typically require that you complete upper division classes in classical mechanics, electricity & magnetism, and quantum mechanics (at SJSU these classes are Phy 105, Phys 110 and Phys 163).  These can be taken before applying, or can be taken after joining the program as a condition of advancement to candidacy.   

The department offers the following:

• We offer an MS degree in Physics (degree requirements) and a concentration in computational physics as well as a concnetration in optics. Beyond these concentrations, we have groups of faculty with expertise in condensed matter, astronomy and astrophysics, as well as physics education research.
• All of our graduate classes are offered in the afternoon or evening to accomodate students with daytime jobs.
• We have opportunities for students as teaching assistants of lower division lab courses, research assistants, and tutors.
• It typically takes 2-3 year to obtain a masters degree (see an example plan of study), however it is possible to take up to 7 years if you have other life activities that you need to schedule around.

Info for foreign applicants

• Students whose undergraduate education was not principally in English must demonstrate English proficiency. As of Spring 2020 this required

  English language proficiency examination	Minimum score
  TOEFL Internet-based	80
  TOEFL computer-based	213
  TOEFL paper-based	550
  International English Language Testing System (IELTS)	6.5
  Pearson Test of English (PTE)	53

  See the section of the university catalog titled English Language Proficiency Requirement- Graduate Applicants for the official current requirements.