This plan provides a strong core of applied physics as well as essential research skills, and prepares you for technical employment in high-technology industries, research institutes, or college teaching, as well as for further professional study in various fields of applied physics. This plan can be interdisciplinary, integrating a broad range of subject areas to enhance your opportunities for research, teaching, or careers in the private sector. There is a thesis option in General Physics and a specialization option in Teaching College Physics.
Are you interested in non-academic, technical employment in the aerospace, defense and high technology industries, government laboratories, and private research institutes? Are you looking for a basic graduate-level scientific foundation, so that you can further your studies even more? Our program is designed to train you in laboratory skills and with computational and computer modeling expertise, develop your competence in the use and design of modern instrumentation, and provide you with a basic foundation in physics. You will have a broad selection of cross-disciplinary course options, such as geology, chemistry, engineering, and mathematics. As a capstone to this coursework, you'll participate in an internship or write a master's thesis through partnerships with government laboratories, private research institutes, and industrial corporations.
To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.
You must additionally complete:
Read the full policy here.
In addition to University Requirements:
| Minimum Units for Completion | 30 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required. |
| Fieldwork Experience/Internship | Optional |
| Thesis | Thesis may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option. |
| Comprehensive Exam | Comprehensive Exam may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option. |
| Research | Individualized research may be required by chosen emphasis or offered as an option. |
| Progression Plan Link | View Program of Study |
Purpose Statement
The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers a two-year master's degree that provides a strong core of applied physics as well as essential research skills, and prepares students for employment in high-technology industries, research institutes, or further academic study in physics. The program is designed to train students in laboratory skills, providing them with computational and computer modeling expertise, developing their competencies in the use and design of modern instrumentation, and providing them with a basic foundation in physics. There are both thesis and coursework options available. These plans can be interdisciplinary, integrating a broad range of subject areas to enhance opportunities in research or the private sector.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will achieve the following learning outcomes:
The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.
Admission requirements include the following:
Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.
Ready to apply? Begin your application now.
International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy.
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
This Master’s degree requires 30 units distributed as follows:
Take the following 30 units:
Applied Physics Coursework (18 units)
Thesis Requirement or Coursework Option - Select one (12 units)
Coursework Option (12 units)
Thesis Option (12 units)
If you pursue the Master of Science in Applied Physics degree at NAU, you will not be able to pursue the Master of Science in Materials Science/Master of Science in Applied Physics and Materials Science degree. Only one of the two degrees will be awarded.
Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.