MS Physics at Louisiana State University

Programme overview

The MS in Physics is generally earned by students in the PhD programme on the way to the doctorate; students are not normally admitted only for the MS. Thesis and non-thesis paths are available.

Faculty: Pinkie Gordon Lane Graduate School | Department: Department of Physics & Astronomy | Duration: Thesis option 30 credit hours; non-thesis option 36 credit hours | Study mode: full-time | Location: Baton Rouge, LA, United States

What you will study

Both options require eight core courses (22 credit hours: PHYS 7221, 7225, 7231, 7232, 7241, 7242, 7398, 7857) and passing the departmental qualifying exam by the end of the second year. The thesis option adds a defended thesis (up to six research hours); the non-thesis option requires 36 coursework hours and a comprehensive exam.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Students are not normally admitted just for study leading to the MS in physics; admission is generally to the PhD programme. LSU Graduate School minimum requirements (apply to all graduate programmes): a conferred bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from an accredited institution; minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in the previous undergraduate degree or its last 60 credit hours (and 3.0 in any graduate coursework attempted); transcripts; curriculum vitae or resume. International applicants whose native language is not English or who were educated in a country where English is not the only official language must show English proficiency: TOEFL iBT 79, IELTS 6.5, PTE 59, Duolingo English Test 110 or Michigan English Test 53; applicants with a US bachelor's degree or from listed English-speaking countries (including Ghana and Nigeria) are exempt. International applicants submit degree certificates and a NACES credential evaluation where degrees are not a US equivalent.

Requirements published at program group level.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

International applicants complete the online application and pay a $50 non-refundable application fee online by credit card or by check or money order drawn on a U.S. bank. Official transcripts and TOEFL or IELTS scores (TOEFL code 6373) are required, and documents should arrive at least 120 days before the semester starts.

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