Summary of
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Texas A&M University
GRADUATE STUDENT POLICIES
Fall 2018
Graduate Advisors:
Joseph Ross – Faculty Academic Advisor – Physics
Lucas Macri – Faculty Academic Advisor - Astronomy
Sherree Kessler – Senior Academic Advisor
RaéChel Superville – Academic Advisor II
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Academic Standards
III. Minimum Course Load
IV. Student’s MS or PhD Advisory Committee
V. Steps to Graduation
VI. PhD Degree Plans
VII. MS Degree Plans
VIII. Grad Asst. Teaching (GAT) and Grad Asst.
Non-Teaching (GANT)
IX. Graduate Assistant Research (GAR)
X. Annual Evaluation
XI. International Student Language
Requirements
XII. Graduation Timelines
XIII. Degree Evaluation and Degree Plan
Examples
XIV. Information for Graduate Students
XV. Resources for Graduate Students
XVI. Physics and Astronomy Graduate Advisors
I. Introduction
In addition to the University policies published in the Graduate and Professional
Catalog and the graduate policies enforced by the Office of Graduate and Professional
Studies (OGAPS), this document summarizes the departmental policies of the Department of
Physics and Astronomy for student pursuing graduate degrees. It is the responsibility of
each Graduate Student to ensure they have met all Departmental, Graduate and
University requirements for their degree.
II. Academic Standards
A graduate student must maintain a grade point ratio (GPR) of at least 3.0 to receive an
advanced degree. A student with a GPR below 3.0 is on academic probation according to the
Graduate and Professional Catalog. When the GPR drops below 3.0, a student will be given
a one-semester probationary period to bring it back to 3.0 or above. If this is not achieved, the
student must meet with their Graduate Advisor to determine whether the student should
remain in the Physics and Astronomy graduate program. If the GPR cannot be returned to
3.0 or above within two consecutive semesters (fall or spring), the student will be considered
by the Graduate Records Committee for dismissal from the Physics and Astronomy graduate
program. A course in which the final grade is a C or lower may be repeated ONCE in order to
replace the lower grade. If the second grade is higher, the original grade will remain on the
permanent record, but it will not be used to compute the cumulative and Degree Plan
GPRs. In accordance with University rules, any further repeat would be treated as an
additional grade that will be included along with the previous grade for GPR computations.
More information can be found in the Student Rules Handbook – Rule 10. Failure to make
reasonable progress in the other areas of graduate study, particularly research, is also
grounds for a recommendation that a student be dropped from the graduate program. Such a
recommendation is to be made by the Graduate Records Committee, with input from the
student’s research advisor.
III. Minimum Course Load
To be considered full-time, graduate students must carry a 9-hour course load each fall
and spring semester. This can be a combination of up to three academic courses (typically 3
hours each) and/or research hours (PHYS or ASTR 685/691). Students are encouraged to
complete the required academic courses as quickly as possible (see PhD and MS degree
plans). First year students should consult the graduate advisors to select an appropriate set
of fall or spring courses. The summer full-time minimum load for graduate students is three
hours per 5-week session or six hours per 10-week session. In most cases, these will be
research hours.
Full-time registration is a University requirement for students while receiving support on
a teaching or research assistantship, or a Department or University fellowship. Students should
also be aware of the University’s continuous registration requirement. If a student does not
plan to register in the fall or spring due to unusual circumstances, a Leave of Absence petition
may be required.
The Physics and Astronomy Department expects all students to preregister during the
designated preregistration period each semester. Preregistration is important to both the
students and Department since it allows the Department to finalize the list of course offerings
and also to make the TA assignments in a timely manner. Additionally, failure to register in a
timely manner can result in a delay of tuition and stipend payment.
IV. MS and PhD Advisory Committee
Each grad student is required to have an Advisory Committee to supervise his or her
graduate program. The department encourages students to select a committee as early as
possible. The first step is the choosing a research advisor/chair, who will then assist in the
selection of faculty to be the other committee members. All committee members must be
approved graduate faculty at the university. The committee should be closely involved in all
aspects of the student’s graduate education and research, and will approve each step required
for graduation.
MS Committee The Advisory Committee is composed of at least three members: a
chair, normally the same as the research advisor, plus one Graduate Faculty member from the
Physics and Astronomy Department and one member from outside the Department. The
Graduate Catalog requires that this committee be selected and a Degree Plan approved prior
to registration (or preregistration) for a fourth term, excluding summer terms. The Degree Plan,
with the selected committee, must be approved at all levels, including the final approval by
OGAPS, before a student will be approved to hold a Final Exam. See Master’s Degree Timeline
for more details.
PhD Committee The Advisory Committee is composed of at least four members: a
chair, normally the research advisor, and at least two Graduate Faculty members from the
Department and one from outside the Department. The three Department faculty members
must include at least one theorist and one experimentalist, except for students in Astronomy.
The Graduate Catalog requires that this committee be selected and a Degree Plan approved
prior to registration (or preregistration) of your fifth semester, excluding summers. The Degree
Plan, with the selected committee, must be approved at all levels, including the final approval
by OGAPS, before a student will be approved to hold a Preliminary exam. See PhD Degree
Timeline for more details.
V. Steps to Graduation
Degree Plan (required for all graduate degrees)
The degree plan is the formal list of courses and research hours the student will complete
to meet the requirements for graduation, required of all graduate students. The student should
consult with their Advisory Committee Chair (see section IV), and then electronically submit the
Degree Plan (https://ogsdpss.tamu.edu/). Physics and Astronomy Advising will begin the
electronic approval process, after it is determined all rules for the degree plan and committee
have been met. After the Advisory Committee Chair has approved the degree plan online, it
will automatically be sent to the student’s committee for approval. It will then be approved by
the Department Head before being forwarded to OGAPS.
For detailed OGAPS requirements, the student should consult the Graduate and
Professional Catalog. Assistance in preparing the Degree Plan may be obtained from Physics
and Astronomy Advising.
Proposal (required for PhD and MS Thesis Option)
The proposal is a comprehensive statement on the extent and nature of the student’s
planned dissertation or thesis research. It is required for MS Thesis Option and PhD students.
Students should prepare the proposal in consultation with their research advisor, and as a
general guide, this documents would typically include about 1/3 introduction/literature review,
1/3 summary of work to date, and 1/3 proposed new work. A general guideline would
be 15 - 20 pages, but the format and length should be discussed with the advisor and
committee.
Preliminary Exam (required for PhD degrees only)
The preliminary exam is one of the requirements for the PhD. The TAMU rules for the
preliminary examination, including the allowable timing of the exam, can be found in the
Graduate and Professional Catalog. It is strongly recommended that the preliminary exam be
taken no later than in the 4
th
year of the student’s PhD program. Or, in the rare case that
completion of formal coursework takes longer than 4 years, it is strongly recommended that
the prelim be taken within a semester of completing the formal coursework on the degree plan.
Timely completion of this exam will indicate adequate progress toward the student’s degree,
and will serve as an important factor when considering their eligibility for any form of
departmental support, including teaching assistantships, fellowships and travel grants. The
format of the exam is determined by the student’s Advisory Committee, and will typically include
an oral presentation of the student’s dissertation proposal, followed by a question and answer
period, in addition to any written parts. The general purpose of the exam is to evaluate the
student’s readiness to pursue full-time research towards a Ph.D. degree, and to test their grasp
of the broader field’s background and their knowledge of the basic science that forms the core
of their field of study. The student is expected to demonstrate a broad understanding of the
core concepts, familiarity with the current and prior research in the chose subfield, as well as
proficiency in techniques necessary to pursue his or her proposed research. The preliminary
exam also serves as an opportunity for the Advisory Committee to provide additional research
guidance and feedback while evaluating the student’s dissertation proposal. Additional topics
for the oral exam may include more fundamental questions on Physics and Astronomy related
to the proposed dissertation research.
Residency (required for all degrees)
MS Non-Thesis and Thesis Option - One semester must be spent in resident study (9
hours). PhD - If entering with a baccalaureate degree, one year plus one semester must be
spent in resident study. If entering with a master's degree, or a DVM or MD from a U.S.
institution, one year must be spent in resident study. One year may include two adjacent long
semesters or one long semester and one adjacent 10-week summer term of 9 hours each.
Candidacy (required for PhD only)
To be admitted to Candidacy one must:
Complete all course work on the degree plan with the exception of any remaining 691
Have a graduate GPR of at least 3.0 (Program GPR)
Have a degree plan GPR of at least 3.0, with no grade lower than C in any course on
the degree plan
Pass the preliminary exam
Have an approved dissertation proposal
Meet the residency requirements
Final Exam (required for all degrees)
MS Non-Thesis Option
The final oral exam must be taken by the dates announced each semester by OGAPS,
found on the Calendars & Deadlines page. It may not be taken prior to the mid-point of the
semester or summer term in which the student will complete all remaining courses on the
degree program. This exam will be given by the student’s Advisory Committee. This exam
covers the degree work, including basic concepts of physics. For those students engaged in
advanced laboratory or theoretical work in one of the Department’s research groups, the exam
will normally include a presentation describing the research activities in which the student was
engaged, in addition to more general questions about Physics and Astronomy concepts.
MS Thesis Option and PhD
The final oral exam is one of the last requirements for the MS Thesis Option and PhD
degrees. It must be taken by the dates announced each semester by OGAPS, found on the
Calendars & Deadlines page. TAMU rules for this exam such as required forms and allowable
timing, may be found in the Graduate and Professional Catalog, and on the OGAPS website.
The oral exam is taken after the written thesis/dissertation is complete. A typical sequence
would be for the student to write the thesis/dissertation, work with the research advisor to refine
it, then distribute the completed thesis/dissertation to the Committee to review in advance of
the final exam. The oral exam will include a presentation of the thesis/dissertation results with
questions from the Advisory Committee. The Committee must separately approve the written
thesis/dissertation (before or after the oral exam). Note that although University rules do not
specify the ordering in which these events occur, in our Department (and in most Departments),
the Committee will almost always expect to review the dissertation prior to the oral exam. See
MS Timeline and PhD Timeline for more details.
Thesis/Dissertation - (required for PhD and MS Thesis Option)
The thesis or dissertation is a complete written record of the research methods and
results developed during a student’s MS or PhD study. For the case of the dissertation, this
will normally include a description of research, which is also published in the scientific literature.
The TAMU Thesis Office has specific rules about the formation for this document, as well as
the citation of figures and prior work, etc. Beyond this, the Advisory Committee will review the
content for accuracy and completeness before providing the required formal approval.
VI. PhD Degree Plans
The PhD Degree Plan for a student with an MS degree normally includes all of the PhD
required courses, except for any taken at Texas A&M University and already appearing on the
MS degree plan, or any for which the student has tested out. Elective courses designated by
the Advisory committee, and a sufficient number of credit hours in PHYS or ASTR 685/691 to
make a total of 64 credit hours will complete the degree plan.
The PhD Degree Plan for a student who does not have an M.S. degree normally includes
a set of courses identical to what is described above, except with a total of 96 hours.
A. The PhD Degree Plan in Physics will include the following nine basic courses:
Hours
Prerequisites
3 credit hours
PHYS 303, MATH 311 and 412,
concurrent registration in PHYS 615
3 credit hours
PHYS 304, PHYS 615
3 credit hours
PHYS 412, MATH 311 and 412,
concurrent registration in PHYS 615
3 credit hours
PHYS 408 and 412, PHYS 615
3 credit hours
MATH 311, 407, and 412
3 credit hours
PHYS 606
3 credit hours
PHYS 603
High-energy/Nuclear:
Nuclear Physics (625)
Particle Physics (627)
Quantum Field Theory (634)
Relativity and Cosmology (644)
AMO/Condensed Matter:
Atomic Physics/Quantum Optics (648, 649)
Solid State Physics (617, 631, 632)
Astronomy:
ASTR 601/PHYS 641
ASTR 603/PHYS 643
ASTR 605/PHYS 645
ASTR 606/PHYS 646
Equivalent courses acceptable for bolded courses. Seek advisor assistance for registration.
A grade of B or better on each course numbered 1 through 6 above is required in order
to achieve PhD Qualification in Physics. It is a requirement of the Department that students
complete their Qualifying courses before taking elective courses, except for electives taken as
a third course while completing the Qualifying sequence, unless approved by the Graduate
Faculty Advisor or the student’s Advisory Committee Chair. This is in addition to the TAMU
requirement that the average of all coursework appearing on the degree plan should
correspond to a B average (3.0 GPA) and that the cumulative GPA should be a 3.0 or B
average.
In addition to these nine required courses, the student and/or his committee may add
other specialty courses appropriate to his research area.
B. The PhD Degree Plan in Applied Physics will include the following ten courses, plus
sufficient additional credits of electives or research hours to total 64 or 96 credit hours, as per
the TAMU requirement for students obtaining a Ph.D. with or without an MS degree:
Course
Hours
Prerequisites
(1) 601 – Analytical Mechanics
3 credit hours
PHYS 303, MATH 311 and 412,
concurrent registration in PHYS 615
(2) 603 – Electromagnetic Theory
3 credit hours
PHYS 304, PHYS 615
(3) 606 – Quantum Mechanics
3 credit hours
PHYS 412, MATH 311 and 412,
concurrent registration in PHYS 615
(4) 607 – Statistical Mechanics
3 credit hours
PHYS 408 and 412, PHYS 615
(5) 615 – Methods of Theoretical
Physics I
3 credit hours
MATH 311, 407, and 412
(6) One course in Classical or Quantum Physics:
PHYS 611 (EM II) ATMO 601 (Fund. Of Atmospheric Dynamics)
PHYS 617 (Solid State Physics) CHEM 633 (Principles of Inorganic Chemistry)
PHYS 624 (QMII) CHEM 649 (Mol. Quantum Mechanics)
PHYS 625 (Nuclear Physics) CHEM 673 (Symmetry/Group Theory)
PHYS 648 (Q. Optics and Laser Physics) ECEN 635 (EM)
PHYS 619 (Modern Comp. Physics) ECEN 657 (Quantum Electronics)
AERO 602 (Theory of Fluid Dynamics) GEOP 611 (Geomechanics)
MATH 605 (Math. Fluid Mechanics) NUEN 607 (Plasma & Thermonuclear Eng.)
MATH 614 (Dynamical Systems & Chaos) OCNG 618 (Accoustical Oceanography)
MATH 604 (Math. Foundations
of Continuum Mechanics)
(7) Four elective courses chosen in consultation with the student’s committee.
Equivalent courses acceptable for bolded courses. Seek advisor assistance for registration.
A grade of B or better on each course numbered 1 through 5 above is required in order to
achieve PhD Qualification as an Applied Physics candidate. It is a requirement of the
Department that students complete their Qualifying courses before taking elective courses,
except for electives taken as a third course while completing the Qualifying sequence, unless
approved by the Graduate Faculty Advisor or the student’s Advisory Committee Chair. This is
in addition to the TAMU requirement that the average of all coursework appearing on the
degree plan should correspond to a B average (3.0 GPA) and that the cumulative GPA should
be a 3.0 or B average.
C. The PhD Degree Plan in Astronomy will include the following eight courses, plus
sufficient additional credits of electives or research hours to total 64 or 96 credit hours, as per
the TAMU requirement for students obtaining a Ph.D. with or without an MS degree:
Hours
Prerequisites
3 credit hours
PHYS 601 or ASTR 314 and
PHYS 302
3 credit hours
PHYS 615
3 credit hours
PHYS 606 and PHYS 607
3 credit hours
PHYS 615
3 credit hours
PHYS 601 and PHYS 607
3 credit hours
PHYS 302 and PHYS 304 and
PHYS 408 and PHYS 412
3 credit hours
MATH 311, 407, and 412
PHYS 601 – Analytical Mechanics
PHYS 603 – Electromagnetic Theory I
PHYS 606 – Quantum Mechanics
PHYS 607 – Statistical Mechanics
Equivalent courses acceptable for bolded courses. Seek advisor assistance for registration.
A grade of B or better is required in all ASTR and PHYS courses. A student is considered
qualified when they have completed an oral examination presenting and summarizing their
research to date and outlining their PhD Thesis plan. This exam is generally held in the Fall
of the third year.
VII. Master’s Degree Plans
Graduate students have two options for pursuing an MS degree in Physics. They may
choose to register themselves as an MS student, or they may add a secondary curriculum of
an MS degree to a PhD program. Students who register as an MS student and choose to
continue with a PhD program will submit a University Letter of Intent. Please see an Academic
Advisor for more information on these options.
A. The MS Thesis Option in Physics Degree plan normally includes the following graduate
courses:
Course
Hours
Prerequisites
(1) 601 – Analytical Mechanics
3 credit hours
PHYS 303, MATH 311 and 412,
concurrent registration in PHYS 615
(2) 603 – Electromagnetic Theory
3 credit hours
PHYS 304, PHYS 615
(3) 606 – Quantum Mechanics
3 credit hours
PHYS 412, MATH 311 and 412,
concurrent registration in PHYS 615
(4) 607 – Statistical Mechanics
3 credit hours
PHYS 408 and 412, PHYS 615
(5) 615 – Methods of Theoretical
Physics I
3 credit hours
MATH 311, 407, and 412
(6) A maximum of 8 hours of 691 or 685, combined up to 12, i.e., 8 hours of PHYS 685
and 4 hours of PHYS 691 or 5 hours of PHYS 685, 4 hours of PHYS 691; all MS thesis
option degree plans must contain at least 1 hour of 691. A sufficient number of credit
hours in other physics courses must be added to the Degree Plan to make a total of 32
credit hours.
Equivalent courses acceptable for bolded courses. Seek advisor assistance for registration.
A B average on all coursework and a B average on all courses on the Degree Plan are
required for the M.S. degrees in Physics. If a student makes a grade of C or lower in a basic
course that is on his or her Degree Plan, it is recommended that the student repeat that
course and attain a grade of A or B.
An advanced undergraduate course with a grade of B or better may be substituted for one
of the graduate courses 601 (PHYS 302), 603 (PHYS 304), 606 (PHYS 412), 607 (PHYS 408),
or 615 (MATH 601 and 602). If this is done, the student must take one additional graduate
level course in physics.
B. The MS Non-Thesis Option in Physics Degree plan normally includes the following
graduate courses:
Course
Hours
Prerequisites
(1) 601 – Analytical Mechanics
3 credit hours
PHYS 303, MATH 311 and 412,
concurrent registration in PHYS 615
(2) 603 – Electromagnetic Theory
3 credit hours
PHYS 304, PHYS 615
(3) 606 – Quantum Mechanics
3 credit hours
PHYS 412, MATH 311 and 412,
concurrent registration in PHYS 615
(4) 607 – Statistical Mechanics
3 credit hours
PHYS 408 and 412, PHYS 615
(5) 615 – Methods of Theoretical
Physics I
3 credit hours
MATH 311, 407, and 412
(6)
OPTIONAL: PHYS 685 (Directed Studies) *- Students may include up to the
maximum eight hours allowed on non-thesis M.S. degree plans. The student will work
in a research laboratory or on a theoretical project supervised by a tenured or tenure-
track faculty member. Depending upon a student’s career goals, this option is highly
recommended as part of the M.S. program, although not required. A written project
report is generally not required for this option, but the student should discuss
expectations with the faculty member when electing this option.
*The Office of Graduate and Professional Studies will not accept PHYS 691 in this
degree plan.
(7)
A suff
icient number of credit hours in other elective physics courses must be added
to the Degree Plan to make a total of 36 credit hours.
Equivalent courses acceptable for bolded courses. Seek advisor assistance for registration.
A B average on all coursework and a B average on all courses on the Degree Plan are
required for the MS degrees in Physics. If a student makes a grade of C or lower in a basic
course that is on his or her Degree Plan, it
is recommended that the student repeat that
course and attain a grade of A or B.
An advanced undergraduate course with a grade of B or better may be substituted for one
of the graduate courses 601 (PHYS 302), 603 (PHYS 304), 606 (PHYS 412), 607 (PHYS
408), or 615 (MATH 601 and 602). If this is done, the student must take one additional
graduate level course in physics.
C. The MS Non-Thesis Option in Astronomy Degree Plan normally includes the following
graduate courses:
Course
Hours
Prerequisites
(1) ASTR 601/PHYS 641 –
Extragalactic Astronomy
3 credit hours
PHYS 601 or ASTR 314 and PHYS
302
(2) ASTR 602/PHYS 642 –
Astronomical Observation and
Instrumentation
3 credit hours
PHYS 615
(3) ASTR 603/PHYS 643 – Stellar
Astrophysics
3 credit hours
PHYS 606 and PHYS 607
(4) ASTR 604/PHYS 644 -
Cosmology
3 credit hours
PHYS 615
(5) ASTR 605/PHYS 645 –
Galactic Astronomy
3 credit hours
PHYS 601 and PHYS 607
(6) ASTR 606/PHYS 646 –
Radiative Processes and the
Interstellar Medium
3 credit hours
PHYS 302 and PHYS 304 and
PHYS 408 and PHYS 412
(7) PHYS 615 – Methods of
Theoretical Physics I
3 credit hours
MATH 311, 407, and 412
PHYS 601 – Analytical Mechanics
PHYS 603 – Electromagnetic Theory I
PHYS 606 – Quantum Mechanics
PHYS 607 – Statistical Mechanics
(9) OPTIONAL: PHYS 685 (Directed Studies)* - Students may include up to the
maximum eight hours allowed on non-thesis M.S. degree plans. The student will work
in a research laboratory or on a theoretical project supervised by a tenured or tenure-
track faculty member. Depending upon a student’s career goals, this option is highly
recommended as part of the M.S. program, although not required. A written project
report is generally not required for this option, but the student should discuss
expectations with the faculty member when electing this option.
*The Office of Graduate and Professional Studies will not accept ASTR 691 in this
degree plan.
(10) A sufficient number of credit hours in other elective physics courses must be added
to the Degree Plan to make a total of 36 credit hours. Note that this may include a
maximum of two hours of ASTR 681, Seminar.
Equivalent courses acceptable for bolded courses. Seek advisor assistance for registration.
A B average on all coursework and a B average on all courses on the Degree Plan are
required for the M.S. degree in Astronomy.
VIII. Graduate Assistant Teaching (GAT) and Graduate Assistant Non-Teaching (GANT)
All incoming students are required to attend departmental and university Teaching
Assistant training. The department TA training will be scheduled for one week, in one of the
two weeks before the beginning of classes. More information about the University training can
be found at the Center for Teaching Excellence website. Requests for GAT and GANT
positions are made each semester through the Physics and Astronomy database. Logging into
this website requires that your Dept. of Physics and Astronomy password be current. Please
contact the Computer Support Group for assistance.
Appointments
The Department selects incoming students for teaching assistantships on the basis of
merit. Continuing students are also expected to show good progress towards the degree in
order to be given high priority for a TA. The initial appointment is normally for a period of nine
months. After the first academic year, the student is expected to progress toward choosing a
research advisor and beginning the thesis or dissertation work and to seek support as a
research assistant.
It is intended that students holding a TA not only perform their teaching duties diligently
but also spend their remaining time vigorously pursuing their graduate studies. The student
must therefore show substantial progress in coursework and/or research, and may not
undertake outside jobs. Also, students supported on teaching assistantships, research
assistantships, or fellowships are expected to take only coursework relevant to their Physics or
Astronomy Degree, unless approved by the Graduate Faculty Advisor or the student’s Advisory
Committee Chair. Registration for a course outside of the department in any semester requires
written approval of the Graduate Advisor Chair.
TA positions are a limited resource, and for students beyond the first year the
Department employs a priority system for assigning these positions. Students should be aware
that in a given term, some or all of the lower priority applicants may not receive requested
support. The following guidelines will be used by the Credentials Committee in establishing
these priorities:
1. Academic Performance
All graduate students are expected to maintain a 3.0 GPR in the required courses.
Students with GPR in required courses above 3.0 are given highest priority. A student
who has six or more hours of C or below a 3.0 GPR for more than one regular semester
is unlikely to be supported.
2. Job Performance
All TAs must take their teaching responsibilities seriously. Lab and recitation TAs must
be on time and prepared for each class meeting, and must cooperate fully with the
instructor for the lecture portion of the course. This includes responding to emails and
other communications in a timely manner. Each semester the faculty who were assigned
TAs will be polled to identify students whose job performance was superior, as well as
those whose performance was deficient. This information will be collected by the
Credentials Committee. Students identified as showing poor performance will have a
lower priority for TA allocation. When appropriate, the Credentials Committee will give a
written warning to the student that their job performance must improve if support is to
continue. The Department will provide help (mentoring, selection of TA assignment) to
those students who need help in improving their teaching performance.
3. Research Progress
After the first academic year, students making good progress should show
demonstrated steps toward finding a research group, for example, meeting with potential
advisors, or attending group meetings. For such students without a research group, the
Graduate Faculty Advisor may work with the student to devise a plan of progress toward
the degree as a condition of continued support. After the second academic year the
student is expected to have found a research advisor to work with, who will support their
candidacy for a TA position thereafter, if necessary. Students not taking a full load of
core courses are expected to be vigorously involved in research. In those cases where
the Credentials Committee feels it is appropriate, it may ask the student’s research
advisor for a written statement of progress and anticipated timetable for degree
completion. Visible signs of progress include research proposal submission, prelims,
publications, and research presentations. With input from the research advisor, the
Credentials Committee may assign a lower priority to students not making adequate
progress, or may establish a date of expected completion after which TA support will
cease.
The number of assistantships available for the summer session is usually much smaller
than in the corresponding fall and spring semesters. Consequently, all graduate
students are encouraged to seek other summer support in the form of full or part-time
research assistantships or fellowships.
The awarding of research assistantships is left solely to the principal investigator(s) of
the research grant or contract.
Duties
Most teaching assistants serve as recitation and laboratory instructors (GAT); a few
serve as graders or staff the Dept. of Physics and Astronomy Help Desk (GANT).
Graduate students serving in GAT or GANT positions will be subject to the
responsibilities of these positions. Details will be provided at the TA training sessions.
IX. Graduate Assistant Research (GAR)
Graduate students who enter the Department of Physics on Research Assistantships
normally accept this position for a period of time specified in their award letter. This
appointment is considered half time based on a forty-hour workweek. First-year students given
such support who are considering a switch to another research assignment (or teaching
assignment, if available), should consult with the Graduate Advisor regarding the possibility of
such a switch. At the end of the appointment, students may choose to remain with their original
major professor, or they may change major professors subject to availability of support. It
should be noted, however, that when a student changes major professors, the student could
take longer to receive his/her degree. Also, should a student feel that he/she is being required
to do things outside the realm of normal Physics and Astronomy Department duties, the student
is strongly encouraged to report such inequities to the Department Head who will turn the
matter over to a grievance committee, which will then perform a thorough investigation.
Requests for GAR positions are made each semester through the Physics and Astronomy
database. Logging into this website requires that your Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
password be current. Please contact the Computer Support Group for assistance.
X. Annual Evaluations
Each academic year, all graduate students will have an evaluation completed by their
research advisor. For students without research advisors, a member of the Graduate Records
Committee will be assigned to complete the evaluation. The evaluation process is designed
for the purpose of starting a one-on-one discussion between a supervisor and each of their
students. From this discussion a student needs to get a clear idea on their progress towards a
degree, the quality and appropriateness of their research and teaching, as well as goals for the
future. Each evaluation needs to be signed by the supervisor and by the student, to
acknowledge that the discussion took place and the evaluation is known to both. Evaluations
will be kept by the department as a record of the student's standing. Evaluations are
mandatory, and may influence a student’s eligibility for teaching support. The evaluation
process generally occurs in May. Evaluations are recorded in the Physics and Astronomy
database and are linked to each student individually.
XI. International Students English Language Proficiency Requirement
To serve as a GAT, an international student must demonstrate a higher level of English
Proficiency – English Proficiency Certification. International students entering the Physics and
Astronomy Department must achieve “Certified” status in English as soon as possible; the
Department cannot assign students to recitation or laboratory sections until they have been
“Certified”. A student who fails to achieve certification will be required to participate in additional
training sessions throughout the semester, through the Center for Teaching Excellence and/or
the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Note that certification corresponds to “Level 1” in
the list of University eligibility levels below.
Eligibility for Students Serving in Teaching Positions:
Global Standardized Tests
Locally Administered (on
Texas A&M campus)
Exam
Level #
TOEFL speaking
section
IELTS
speaking
section
PTE
speaking
section
ELPE oral exam
1
26-30
>=8.0
>=85
80
2
23-25
7.0-7.5
75-84
75
3
<23
<7.0
<75
Level 1: Students eligible for teaching assignments
Level 2: Students conditionally eligible for teaching assignments for one semester only, but
<75
must simultaneously participate in Center for Teaching Excellence English Language
Proficiency (CTE-ELP) instruction and achieve a certifying score on the oral section of the
ELPE by the end of the semester.
Level 3: Students not eligible for teaching assignment. Students should participate in spoken
language training (such as those offered by CTE-ELP or other independent English language
instruction providers) to assist them in meeting English language proficiency requirements.
XII. Graduation Timelines
Master’s Degree Timeline
Continuous registration is required throughout the degree in the fall and spring semesters.
Registration in the summer term(s) is only required for the semester the student will take their
final exam.
3 semesters of classes
Degree plan due, choose committee chair and members (see degree plan examples )
Proposal for Thesis (Thesis Option Only)
o Printed copy of the proposal and the Proposal Approval Form
o Must be submitted at least 20 working days prior to submitting the “Request and
Announcement of Final Exam”
Final
o “Request and Announcement of Final Exam” must be submitted at least 10
working days prior to the Final Exam
o Cumulative and major GPA at least 3.0
o No unresolved grades of D, F or U on degree plan
o Original signatures on Report of Final Exam (this form will be provided to the
student’s research chair upon approval by OGAPS; it cannot be downloaded
from the OGAPS website)
o Results turned in no later than 10 working days from date of exam
Thesis (Thesis Option only)
o Upload Thesis
o Submit Thesis Approval Form
o Submit Copyright and Availability Form
Graduation Application (available on Howdy)
Check Dates and Deadlines on OGAPS Calendars and Deadlines webpage
PhD DegreeTimeline
Continuous registration is required throughout the degree in the fall and spring semesters.
Registration in the summer term(s) is only required for the semester the student will defend
and submit their dissertation.
4 semesters of classes
Degree plan due, choose committee chair and members is due in the fourth long
semester (see degree plan examples)
Proposal for Dissertation
o Printed copy of the proposal and the Proposal Approval Form
o Must be submitted at least 20 working days prior to submitting the “Request and
Announcement of Final Exam”
Prelim
o Preliminary Exam Checklist and Report
o Prelim Exam Checklist must be signed by the Department at least one day
before the prelim exam
o May not be scheduled until 90 days after the degree plan is submitted
o Cumulative and major GPA at least 3.0
o No more than 6 hours of academic coursework remaining
o One sub allowed, but not for chair
o Results turned in no later than 10 working days from date of exam
Final Oral Exam
o “Request and Announcement of Final Exam” must be submitted at least 10
working days prior to the Final Exam
o Results must be submitted to OGAPS before “Request and Announcement of
Final Exam”
o Cumulative and major GPA at least 3.0
o No unresolved grades of D, F or U on degree plan
o Must be formally admitted to candidacy
o Original signatures on Report of Final Exam (this form will be provided to the
student’s research chair upon approval by OGAPS; it cannot be downloaded
from the OGAPS website)
o Results turned in no later than 10 working days from date of exam
Dissertation
o Final approval can be one year after final exam to graduate, however note that
the dissertation draft is written and distributed before final exam.
o Submit Dissertation Approval Form
o Submit Copyright and Availability Form
o Online Survey of Earned Doctorates and AAUDE Survey
Graduation Application
Apply for graduation through Howdy in the semester the dissertation will be submitted
(unless there are unusual circumstances)
Check Dates and Deadlines on OGAPS Calendars and Deadlines webpage
XIII. Degree Evaluation and Degree Plan Examples
Degree Evaluation
Howdy – My Record Tab
After you choose your degree and the semester you began, you will see these options:
Choosing additional information will show the degree requirements and their status:
Additional Information
Ph.D.
MS Non-Thesis Option
MS Thesis Option (Final Examination/Defense is Passed, this requirement always shows as no)
Degree Plan Examples – these are examples only, yours will likely look different
PhD in Physics degree plan with no completed MS degree
PhD in Physics degree plan with completed MS degree
PhD in Applied Physics degree plan with no MS degree
PhD in Applied Physics degree plan with MS Degree
PhD in Astronomy degree plan with completed MS degree*
* In general, PhD students in Astronomy are expected to earn a Master’s Non-Thesis degree.
MS Non-Thesis Option in Physics degree plan
MS Non-Thesis Option in Astronomy degree plan
MS Thesis Option in Physics
MS Thesis Option in Astronomy – for information, please contact the Graduate Faculty
Advisor, Dr. Lucas Macri
XIV. Information for Graduate Students
Aggie Code of Honor
For many years Aggies have followed a Code of Honor, which is stated in this very
simple verse:
An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do.
The Aggie Code of Honor is an effort to unify the aims of all Texas A&M men and women
toward a high code of ethics and personal dignity. For most, living under this code will be no
problem, as it asks nothing of a person that is beyond reason. It only calls for honesty and
integrity, characteristics that Aggies have always exemplified.
The Aggie Code of Honor functions as a symbol to all Aggies, promoting understanding and
loyalty to truth and confidence in each other. For more information go to the Aggie Honor
System Office website.
Title IX – Sexual Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault and Violence
Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of
sex in educational programs and activities at institutions that receive federal financial
assistance.
Sexual harassment, including sexual violence, is a form of sex discrimination and is
therefore prohibited under Title IX. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors,
and other verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual
harassment when this conduct is so severe, persistent or pervasive that it explicitly or
implicitly affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work
or educational performance, or creates an intimidating or hostile work or educational
environment.
Texas A&M University is committed to providing an environment of academic study
and employment free from harassment or discrimination to all segments of its community; its
faculty, staff, students, guests and vendors; and will promptly address all complaints of
discrimination, sexual harassment, and related retaliation in accordance with applicable
federal and state laws. For more information, including reporting contacts, please visit
https://urc.tamu.edu/title-ix/.
XV. Resources for Graduate Students
Office of Graduate and Professional Studies (OGAPS) Home Page
OGAPS Calendars and Deadlines
OGAPS Forms
Graduate Catalog
Graduate and Professional Student Council
University Writing Center
TAMU Ombuds Officer
Career Center
TAMU Libraries
TAMU Student Rules
Request GAT or GANT position
Request GAR position
XVI. Physics and Astronomy Graduate Advisor Contact Information
Joseph Ross (Faculty Advisor for Physics) Office: Room 448 MPHY
[email protected] Phone: 979.845.3842
Lucas Macri (Faculty Advisor for Astronomy) Office: Room M423 MIST
[email protected] Phone: 979.845.7362
Sherree Kessler (Senior Academic Advisor) Office: Room 156 MPHY
[email protected] Phone: 979.458.5948
RaéChel Superville (Academic Advisor II) Office: Room 154 MPHY
[email protected] Phone: 979.845.7738