Graduate Study
Welcome to the graduate program in the Department of Physics at Syracuse University! We offer both a Ph.D. and an M.S. degree.
Apply for our program
Read more about our application process. For more information about the Ph.D. program, please see our Ph.D. FAQ. Should you have questions, please contact phyacademics@syr.edu.
For Fall 2023 admissions, our priority deadline is December 15, 2023, and the secondary deadline is January 15, 2024.
Click the apply button, navigate to graduate application, and click Physics!
Fast Facts and Highlights
- Total Number of Students: ~100
- Percentage of Women Students: 26%
- Percentage of Black and Latino Students: 8%
- Percentage of Students Supported on TA or RA: 100% (financial support)
- Average time to degree: 6 years
- Number of Faculty: 27
- Research Fields: Biophysics, Computational Astrophysics, Cosmology, Gravitational Waves Astrophysics, Neutrinos, Quantum Information Science, Experimental Particle Physics, Soft Condensed Matter, High Energy Theory, Nuclear Physics
Physics Graduate Student Traditions: Mrs. Jennings Wooden Leg
PhyGO: The goal of PhyGO (Physics Graduate student Organization) is to enrich the lives and careers of the physics graduate student body members and support the overall physics department community. Toward this goal, Phy-GO holds social and professional development events throughout the year.
PhyGo leadership board 2024-2025
President: Julia Rice
Vice President: Jared Lee
Treasurer: Ben Maves
Secretary: Edgar Mao
Event Coordinator: Ben Byrd
Public Relations Officer: JT Paustian
Emergent Intelligence Graduate Training Program (EmIRGE-Bio)
Fully funded Graduate research fellowships to support interdisciplinary research work in the second year of the graduate program, with opportunities such as:
- Learn about cutting-edge topics in team-based interdisciplinary courses including Emergent Intelligence in Biological and Bio-Inspired Systems, STEM Entrepreneurship, and BioInspired Communication and Ethics
- Join an active cohort of interdisciplinary students across SU and Upstate University campuses who are interested in team-based science for work and social activities
- Work with a primary mentor in your department and a team of co-mentors in other departments to learn new skills
- Apply for program-dedicated seed funding for graduate-student led projects and conference participation
- Participate in an internship track for students interested in entrepreneurship and industry positions
- Engage in a highly assessed professional development program with micro-credentialing for key transferrable skill sets
How to apply
Participants in the EmIRGE-Bio program should apply to our PhD program. In your application materials, please indicate an interest in being considered for EmIRGE-Bio. Once admitted, you will take the standard curriculum for first-year graduate students in your department. The EmIRGE-Bio curriculum and most of its programming will begin in your second year of graduate school.
Contact: Dr. Lisa Manning
For overall questions about the EmIRGE-Bio program, please email us.
Programs
Ph.D. in Physics
The Ph.D. degree is awarded to students who complete 48 credits of graduate-level coursework, pass a written qualifying examination, pass a research oral examination on the student’s proposed research, complete a written thesis based upon original research, and pass a thesis defense examination. Please see the Ph.D. in Physics page for a detailed description of the program.
M.S. in Physics
The degree can be achieved in any three different ways through a combination of coursework, thesis work and/or independent study. Please see the M.S. in Physics page for a detailed description of the program. Students in the Ph.D. program will satisfy the requirements of the M.S. and so may optionally claim the M.S. degree as they proceed towards the Ph.D.