Degrees

At the University of Minnesota, there are 2 paths one can take to obtain a Ph.D. in Physics Education Research:
1) Ph.D. in Physics with a M.A. in Education or M.S. in Physics; and
2) Ph.D. in Education with a M.S. in Physics.

Students in either program develop strong theoretical backgrounds in Physics, Cognitive Psychology, and Educational Research. In addition to course work, members of the Physics Education Research Group are involved in numerous application-oriented projects, such as the development and refinement of introductory laboratories, evaluations of course and student performances in the introductory physics sequence, and various aspects of Graduate Teaching Assistant Training (see list under Research on PERG Home Page and Recent Talks and Papers). In other words, members graduate with substantial experience in applying their knowledge of physics, cognitive psychology, and educational research in very practical contexts.

A list of suggested courses in both Physics and Education have been compiled at the bottom of the page.

1) Ph.D. in Physics with Masters in Education or Physics

Physics Ph.D. (for more information consult School of Physics and Astronomy Graduate Student Handbook)
Total Semester Credits (not including thesis credits)	40
Major Course Requirements	12 from Quantum Mechanics 5001/2 and Classical Mechanics 5011/2, 2 seminar credits, plus electives
Thesis Credits	24
Minor or Supporting Program Semester Credits	12*
Graduate Written Exam	Pass by Fall of 2nd year
File Degree Program	After passing Graduate Written Exam
Preliminary Oral Exam	Pass by end of 3rd year
File Thesis Proposal	After passing Preliminary Oral Exam
Final Oral Committee	5 members: 3 from major field, 1 from physics outside major field or from declared minor field, 1 from outside physics
Thesis Reviewer	3 member panel: advisor, 1 from major field, and 1 from outside major field, representing minor or supporting field. Thesis must be approved one week before defense

With ...

Education Masters (for more information consult Department of Curriculum and Instruction M.A. page)
	M.A. (Plan B)
Total Semester Credits	30
Major Course Requirements	14
Minor or Supporting Program Semester Credits	6*
File Degree Program	After 10 credits
Plan B Project	Minimum of 120 hours of work
Final Oral Committee	3 members: 2 from major field, 1 from minor or related field
Thesis Reviewer	All members of oral committee

Or ...

Physics Masters (for more information consult School of Physics and Astronomy Graduate Student Handbook)
	M.S. (Plan A)	M.S. (Plan B)
Total Semester Credits (not including thesis credits)	20	30
Major Course Requirements	14 including either Quantum Mechanics 5001/2 or Classical Mechanics 5011/2, plus electives	14 including either Quantum Mechanics 5001/2 or Classical Mechanics 5011/2, plus electives
Thesis Credits	10	0
Minor or Supporting Program Semester Credits	6	6
Graduate Written Exam	Taken once	Taken once
File Degree Program	After 10 credits	After 10 credits
File Thesis Title	Register thesis title when distributed to reviewers	NA
Plan B Project	NA	Minimum of 120 hours of work
Final Oral Committee	3 members: 2 from major field, 1 from minor or related fields	3 members: 2 from major field, 1 from minor or related fields
Thesis / Plan B Project Reviewer	All members of oral committee	All members of oral committee

*Note: Masters course work count towards Ph.D. course work in terms of the minor/supporting program

2) Ph.D. in Education with Masters in Physics

Education Ph.D. (for more information consult Department of Curriculum and Instruction Ph.D. page)
Total Semester Credits (not including thesis credits)	54
Major Course Requirements	24 9 from Core I - Critical Examination of Curriculum in Context (CI8131), Core II - Teaching Theory and Research (CI8132), Core III - Research Methods in Curriculum and Instruction (CI8133), plus electives
Research Methodology Courses	12 6 in quantitative research methods (Statistics) and 6 in qualitative research methods (Ethnography, Phenomenology, Case Studies, etc.)
Educational Foundations Courses	6 3 in psychological foundations and 3 in social, historical, cultural, or philosophical foundations
Thesis Credits	24
Minor or Supporting Program Semester Credits	12*
File Degree Program	Approximately 2 semesters prior to the preliminary examination
Graduate Written Exam	Taken near completion of course work
Preliminary Oral Exam	Taken after completing substantial part of course work
File Thesis Proposal	After passing Preliminary Oral Exam
Final Oral Committee	4 members: 3 from major field, and1 from outside major field, representing minor or supporting field
Thesis Reviewer	3 member panel: advisor, 1 from major field, and 1 from outside major field, representing minor or supporting field. Thesis must be approved one week before defense

With ...

Physics Masters (for more information consult School of Physics and Astronomy Graduate Student Handbook)
	M.S. (Plan A)	M.S. (Plan B)
Total Semester Credits (not including thesis credits)	20	30
Major Course Requirements	14 including either Quantum Mechanics 5001/2 or Classical Mechanics 5011/2, plus electives	14 including either Quantum Mechanics 5001/2 or Classical Mechanics 5011/2, plus electives
Thesis Credits	10	0
Minor or Supporting Program Semester Credits	6	6
Graduate Written Exam	Taken once	Taken once
File Degree Program	After 10 credits	After 10 credits
File Thesis Title	Register thesis title when distributed to reviewers	NA
Plan B Project	NA	Minimum of 120 hours of work
Final Oral Committee	3 members: 2 from major field, 1 from minor or related fields	3 members: 2 from major field, 1 from minor or related fields
Thesis / Plan B Project Reviewer	All members of oral committee	All members of oral committee

*Note: Masters course work count towards Ph.D. course work in terms of the minor/supporting program