Master of Physics at East Carolina University

East Carolina University offers the Master of Physics as a full-time degree delivered on campus at its main campus in Greenville , United States of America. Taught in English and completed over 2 years, the program equips students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for physics and related professional fields. The next available intake begins on August 21, 2027.

About Master of Physics

Are you interested in combining physical, biological and medical sciences in a professional setting? Are you interested in state-of-the-art research?

The MS degree program in physics is designed for completion over a two-year period.

The applied physics concentration is built around a core curriculum designed to give the candidate a thorough foundation in the major fields of physics. This concentration includes a research thesis (one year). Physics faculty offer a wide range of cutting-edge research projects.

The medical physics concentration is a joint program with the Department of Radiation Oncology (Brody School of Medicine) and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP) (www.campep.org/campeplstgrad.asp). It is designed as a terminal degree program with a substantial clinical component that enables its graduates to move into a career in diagnostic or therapeutic medical physics. A research thesis is optional. Instead, students participate in a clinical rotation (20 hours per week, for one semester) to gain valuable insights and first-hand practical experience in a clinical setting.

The health physics concentration is designed to fill an urgent need for trained health physics professionals brought about by resurgence in the development of nuclear power, an expansion of programs in national security, and an ageing cadre of current health physics professionals. Also in this concentration, a research thesis is optional. Instead, students participate in an internship (10Ã¢??16 weeks over the summer) in an academic, clinical or industrial setting to experience a realistic workplace for a health physicist.

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Program Coordinator: Michael Dingfelder (127 Austin Building; 252-328-0882; [email protected])

The Department of Physics offers the Physics, MS with concentrations in applied physics, health physics, and medical physics. Students seeking a master of science (MS) degree must apply and be admitted into one of the three concentrations. A satisfactory knowledge of a foreign language or an acceptable computer language is required. Attendance at a minimum of one-half of the regular Department of Physics seminars given during the student's residence in the graduate program is required.

The applied physics concentration requires minimum of 34 s.h. of courses and the completion of a thesis. The health physics concentration requires a minimum of 38 s.h. of courses, and, in addition, students must complete a 10-16 week rigorous practicum in applied health physics in an industrial, university or national laboratory setting in lieu of a thesis. The medical physics concentration requires a minimum of 39 s.h. of courses that include a minimum of 6 s.h. of clinical study in lieu of a thesis.

The degree requires a minimum of 34-39 s.h. as follows:

1. Core - 7 s.h.

PHYS 5600 - Modern Electronics
PHYS 5601 - Modern Electronics Laboratory
PHYS 5900 - Computational Physics
PHYS 5901 - Computational Physics Laboratory
PHYS 6816 - Seminar

2. Concentrations - 27-32 s.h.

(Choose one concentration.)

a. Applied physics concentration - 27 s.h.

Note: PHYS 7000 may be repeated for registration status, but only 6 s.h. may count towards graduation.

PHYS 5311 - Mathematical Physics I
PHYS 6200 - Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
PHYS 6300 - Electrodynamics I
PHYS 6410 - Quantum Mechanics I
PHYS 7000 - Thesis (6 s.h.)
PHYS 7450 - Solid State Physics

Minimum 6 s.h. of electives from:

PHYS 6250 - Classical Mechanics
PHYS 6700 - Health Physics
PHYS 6715 - Biomedical Physics
PHYS 6900 - Introduction to Research

b. Health physics concentration - 31 s.h.

HLTH 6011 - Introduction to Epidemiology
PHYS 6410 - Quantum Mechanics I
PHYS 6700 - Health Physics
PHYS 6750 - Risk Assessment, Risk Communication and Regulations
PHYS 6900 - Introduction to Research
PHYS 7730 - Radiation Instrumentation
PHYS 7740 - Special Problems in Radiation Dosimetry and Modeling
RONC 7370 - Biological Effects of Radiation

Minimum 6 s.h. of electives from:

PHYS 6200 - Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics
PHYS 6710 - Nuclear Medicine Physics
PHYS 6718 - Therapeutic Radiological Physics
PHYS 7450 - Solid State Physics

c. Medical physics concentration - 32 s.h.

PHYS 5410 - Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
PHYS 6700 - Health Physics
PHYS 6710 - Nuclear Medicine Physics

PHYS 6718 - Therapeutic Radiological Physics OR
RONC 6718 - Therapeutic Radiological Physics

PHYS 6720 - Physics of Medical Imaging
PHYS 6722 - Physics of Medical Imaging Laboratory

PHYS 6992 - Radiation Therapy Physics OR
RONC 6992 - Radiation Therapy Physics

PHYS 6993 - Clinical and Medical Dosimetry OR
RONC 6993 - Clinical and Medical Dosimetry

RONC 7370 - Biological Effects of Radiation

Minimum 3 s.h. of electives from:

PHYS 6528 - Readings in Physics III
PHYS 6900 - Introduction to Research
PHYS 7992 - Clinical Rotation in Radiation Therapy Physics

Minimum 3 s.h. of electives from:

PHYS 6715 - Biomedical Physics
PHYS 6750 - Risk Assessment, Risk Communication and Regulations
PHYS 7730 - Radiation Instrumentation

Notes:

Students in the medical physics concentration who have had an undergraduate course in quantum mechanics may substitute a 3 s.h. elective, listed above, for PHYS 5410.

In addition, a student in the medical physics concentration must demonstrate a satisfactory knowledge of human anatomy and physiology.

Termination rule: A student, because of inappropriate behavior in a clinical setting, will be immediately suspended by the instructor. A review by the Graduate Committee will determine if the student is eligible to continue in the medical physics option.

For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Master of Physics at East Carolina University

Entry Requirements

In order to be considered for admission, international graduate applicants follow the same steps as a U.S. applicant with a few exceptions as identified in Red font. Step by step instructions are identified below:

Complete the ECU Online Graduate School Application: One application fee and one set of supporting documents should be submitted for each program of study applying to.
Pay the Application Fee: Payment will be made through the self-service portal prior to submission of the application. The payment portal accepts debit or credit card only.
Provide Foreign Transcript Evaluation:

An official course by course credential evaluation of all foreign transcripts indicating that, at minimum, the US equivalent of a bachelor’s degree has been awarded by an accredited college or university is required.

Provide Official Transcript(s) & Diploma Copy: A copy of your transcript(s) and diplomas showing a full education history issued in your native language as well as a notarized or certified copy in English must be uploaded to your application.
Provide Evidence of English Proficiency: If English is not your native language and you have not completed at least one year of education (minimum of 18 credit hours) at a United States school, you are required to take a standardized English language exam or complete the ECU Language Academy (ECULA).
- Language Exam Options: The Graduate School accepts either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Duolingo English Test or Pearson Test of English (PTE) and scores must be forwarded to the Graduate School by the testing service. The paper- or computer-based TOEFL exam is accepted by request only.
ECU Language Academy: You may choose to attend the ECU Language Academy instead of taking the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. Also, if you do not obtain the required score on the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE, at least one session of the ECU Language Academy may be required prior to the start of your program. Successful completion of all levels of the ECU Language Academy is required for admission without TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. More information on the ECU Language Academy, including the ECULA application, is available on the Intensive English Program website. Individual programs may have higher minimum requirements.
Provide Official Standardized Admissions Test Results: If required by the program you’re applying to, please arrange for an official score report to be sent directly to the Graduate School by the testing service (GRE or GMAT). ECU’s institutional code is 5180. ECU does not have departmental codes.
Upload Statement of Purpose: If required by the program you’re applying to, please upload a copy of your personal statement (why you believe you would be a good candidate for the program) to your application. You may want to use resources to help you write a personal statement in English such as this webinar.
Provide Letters of recommendation: If required by the program you’re applying to, please arrange to have LOR’s submitted electronically with the online application. Review your program’s application requirements to determine the number of letters, if any, that they require.
Upload Resume: If required by the program you’re applying to, please upload a copy of your most recent resume to your online application.
Provide Financial information: If/when you are admitted to a graduate program at ECU you will be required to provide certified evidence of financial resources adequate to cover educational costs and living expenses. Documents only need submitted if/when an offer of admission is extended.

English Requirements

PTEMin 65
IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 78

Career Opportunities after Completing Master of Physics

Graduates with this degree are successful in many fields and careers, including the following:

Physics
Physicists
Physics Teacher, Postsecondary
Scientific and Technical Services
Education and Training
Medicine

Career Opportunities

ECU has developed resources to help you learn more about career opportunities and job market outlook. In addition, the websites below provide specific information on careers in the various majors from which students may choose:

NC Tower

This website provides graphs and tables of in-depth information on employment rates, wages and ongoing higher education enrollment of graduates from the North Carolina Community College System and from the University of North Carolina system schools. NC Tower includes data on former UNC students who are working in roughly 90% of all jobs in North Carolina. This database excludes information for graduates who are:

Self-employed;
Work for the federal government, including the military: or
Work outside of North Carolina.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook

This website also provides in-depth information regarding pay, projected new jobs, required education, growth rate and on-the-job training information on various occupations.

Degree-specific internships

For information on internship information for specific majors, go to the home page of the department in which the major is located and, as available, find the link to the information on internships in that major.

Tuition and Fee Information for Master of Physics at East Carolina University

Application Fee 75

How to Apply for Master of Physics at East Carolina University

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Master of Physics at East Carolina University

East Carolina University

United States of America, Greenville