Physics MS
Program Purpose
The purpose of the Physics MS program is to train students in physics research to prepare them for careers in governmental research, industrial research, teaching or entry into a PhD program. Students gain breadth by taking courses, attending a weekly colloquium and visiting the regular research group meetings. Students gain depth in their chosen field by taking courses required for their sub-discipline, conducting research, giving presentations, and writing and defending a thesis. Students also develop habits of integrity required by rigorous scientific research and develop spiritual strength from working closely with faculty members and fellow students of faith.
Curricular Structure
Learning Outcomes
Foundational Skills
Each student will achieve a mastery of physics at a level required for their chosen profession. They will choose a research project and prepare for it by completing relevant graduate-level courses.
Each student will pursue research of significance, and report these results orally and in writing.
Each student will join and participate in an appropriate professional society and communicate their research both orally and in writing to this society and other relevant local and national groups.
Each student will learn and follow the principles of ethics in science.
Evidence of Learning
Indirect Measures
1. Exit interview and alumni survey questions will ask for self assessment of proficiency in learning outcomes 1-4.
2. Survey of employment or acceptance into graduate programs will help us assess success in achieving learning outcomes 1 and 2.
3. Student ratings of teaching assistants will help to assess success in achieving learning outcome 1.
Direct Measures
1. The student's committee primarily measures success in scientific communication at the thesis defense. Presentations at national or international professional society meetings, regional meetings such as the the 4-Corners meeting of the American Physical Society, and the BYU College Spring Research Conference are also judged and feedback is given to the students.
2. The student's committee monitors research progress through thrice-yearly evaluations of each student. A final assessment is made at the thesis defense.
3. Mastery of graduate material is assessed through examinations and problem-solving exercises in graduate courses.
4. Ethical issues are a component of Physics 696R, two semesters of which are required of all graduate students. A paper on scientific ethics is required as part of this course.
5. Student membership in professional societies will be monitored as part of the thrice-yearly evaluation of each student by his or her committee.
Learning and Teaching Assessment and Improvement
Analysis, Evaluation, and Improvement Process
The department extracts from each student's file the following items which are kept in an assessment portfolio in the office of the graduate coordinator: thesis defense comments by the committee (Direct Measure 1), twice-yearly evaluation forms (Direct Measures 2 and 5), the student's transcript (Direct Measure 3), the student's scientific ethics paper (Direct Measure 4), exit interview (Indirect Measure 1), employment/graduate program information (Indirect Measure 2), and student ratings of teaching assistance (Indirect Measure 3). The graduate committee reviews the program yearly and schedules a faculty meeting at which suggested changes are discussed.
The implementation of suggested improvements and tracking to completion is the responsibility of the graduate committee. Any changes that require modification of the degree description in the university graduate catalog are formally reviewed by the college curriculum committee and by the university's graduate council.
Department Learning Outcomes Assessment Committee
Jean-Francois Van Huele, Eric Hirschmann, Shelena Shamo, Mark Transtrum, and Robert Davis.