kent state university physics phd

INFORMATION AND POLICY GUIDE FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS IN PHYSICS

Spring 1996 compiled by: the graduate student admissions committee, the graduate program committee, the graduate coordinator, and the chairperson, department of physics kent state university, 1. academic programs, 1-1. doctoral program, 1-2. master's degree program, 1-3. graduation requirements, 2. curricular and related requirements, 2-1. diagnostic offering of the candidacy exam, 2-2. course schedules for physics graduate programs, 2-3. departmental grading system, 2-4. special courses and their requirements, 2-4.1. seminars and colloquia attendance, 2-4.2. college teaching of physics, 2-5. the "16-hour" requirement, 2-6. continuous registration requirement, 2-7. colloquium requirement, 3. doctoral candidacy requirements, 3-1. candidacy examination, classical mechanics:, electricity and magnetism:, thermodynamics:, quantum and atomic physics:, nuclear physics and special relativity:, solid state physics:, 3-2. curricular requirements for candidacy (summary), 4. advisors for physics graduate students, 4-1. curriculum advisor, 4-2. thesis and dissertation advisor, 4-2.1. termination by advisor, 4-3. limit on number of graduate students per thesis or dissertation advisor, 4-4. approval required for submission of a paper, 5. thesis and dissertation, 5-1. dissertation (thesis) topic, guideline, and committee, 5-2. writing style for thesis and dissertation, 5-3. procedures for examination of the doctoral dissertation and for the oral defense, 5-3.1. general, 5-3.2. dissertation committee, 5-3.3. preliminary approval of dissertation, 5-4. examining committee, 5-4.1. personnel, 5-4.2. selection of the moderator, 5-4.3 graduate faculty representative, 5-5. the final oral defense, 5-5.1. time and place, 5-5.2. attendance, 5-5.3. comments or questions, 5-5.4. order of the defense, 5-5.5. determination of success or failure of defense, 5-5.6. binding of dissertation or thesis, 6. timetable for graduate degree programs, 6-1. master's degrees, 6-2. doctorate, 6-3. time-line for dissertation, 7. financial support, 7-1. second-year support, 7-2. third-year support, 7-3. fourth-year support, 7-4. fifth-year support, 7-5. sixth-year support, 7-6. termination of support, 8. duties and evaluation of graduate appointees, 8-1. graduate assistant, 8-2. teaching fellow, 8-3. research assistant, 8-4. teaching evaluation of graduate appointees, 8-5. role and status of graduate student appointees, 9. student organizations and committee service, 9-1. society of physics students and sigma pi sigma, 9-2. committee service - graduate student representatives, 10. sexual harassment, 11. student grievance procedure.

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Our focus covers the foundational principles that underlie our universe and extends to several areas of applied physics. Physics programs range from physics minors to bachelor's and master's physics degrees to the PhD physics program.

Physics Programs & Degrees at Kent State University

Interested in  physics degrees  or physics programs? Are you seeking undergraduate physics programs,  PhD physics programs , or master's-level physics degrees? The Department of Physics at Kent State University focuses on providing students with a quality education in the field of physics. Our undergraduate offerings include courses and studies for  physics majors and minors  and  interdisciplinary options  are also available. The Kent State Physics Department continues to develop new coursework, and our physics programs offer stimulating and informative classes, labs and research training.

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Gain advanced training under the supervision of leading experts and participate in innovative research in physics and astrophysics. The School of Physics and Astronomy's main research interests focus on the physics of quantum materials, applied optics, astrophysics and planetary science.

Key information

• Duration 3 to 4 years full-time
• Start date September, January, May
• Location Canterbury

Our research degrees are based around laboratory and computational research projects. PhD study involves a 3-4 year research project on a full-time basis, or 5-6 years part-time. In all our research degrees you undertake a single, focused, research project from day one, and attend components of our transferable skills modules. You are supervised by a team which comprises your main supervisor(s) as well as supervisory chairs that give independent advice on progression.

Physics and Astronomy at Kent has seen an increase in its Grade Point Average (GPA) to 3.06 in the Research Excellent Framework (REF) 2021. 93% of our outputs are classed as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' (4* and 3*).

Reasons to study Physics at Kent

• Become part of our dynamic research community and work alongside staff who produce innovative and interdisciplinary world-leading research.
• Applied Optics Group (AOG)
• Centre for Astrophysics and Planetary Science (CAPS)
• Physics of Quantum Materials Group
• Regular investment in our laboratory facilities means you can access state-of-the-art equipment and computational facilities for your research.

Funded PhD studentships

The School’s latest PhD opportunities are announced throughout the year and can be found on the FindAPhD website or through the University of Kent scholarship finder .

Self-funded applicants

If you have private or other funding you are welcome to apply for a PhD at any time, provided that your research interests are in line with the interests and capabilities of one of our research groups . In order to apply, you need to complete the following steps:

• Identify an academic member of staff who you would like to act as a potential supervisor
• Contact the potential supervisor directly by email to discuss the possibility of undertaking a PhD under their supervision. Please outline your interest in the research, supply a CV including details of all relevant experience and details of how you will fund your study.
• Make an online application to study (click 'Apply now').

Everything you need to know.

Entry requirements, study support.

A first or upper second class honours degree in Physics or Chemistry.

All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications. 

Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country  and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.

English language entry requirements

This course requires a Good level of English language, equivalent to B2 on CEFR.  

Details on how to meet this requirement can be found on our English Language requirements webpage . 

Examples:  

IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component 

PTE Academic 63 with a minimum of 59 in each sub-test 

A degree from a UK university 

A degree from a Majority English Speaking Country 

Need help with English?

Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways .

Postgraduate research is a fantastic opportunity and significant investment in your future, enabling you to expand your knowledge, skills and career options – all while making a meaningful impact and contribution to an area you are passionate about.

At Kent, we also recognise the significant financial investment that comes with postgraduate study, and we offer a range of scholarships for our postgraduate researchers, to help keep your mind on your studies, and off your finances.

Scholarships can be broad, or specific to your situation, background or even country – so please do use our scholarships finder to discover the options available to you.

We also have research partnership funding with research councils and government schemes in specific areas of interest that can help you take your research to the next level with additional financial support.

Find out more on our fees and funding page and discover what option is right for you.

Postgraduate resources

The University has top-class facilities for physics and astronomy research, including:

• high-velocity light-gas gun and impact laboratory
• Beacon Observatory with optical telescope
• high-performance computers for astronomical image processing and modelling the properties of materials
• Kent Astrochemistry and Simulation Facility (KASF)
• Photonics Centre and clear air suite for optics research
• newly-refurbished physics and astronomy teaching labs

Interdisciplinary approach

Much of the department’s work is interdisciplinary and we have successful collaborative projects with members of the schools of Biosciences, Computing, Engineering and Digital Arts at Kent, as well as an extensive network of international collaborations.

National and international links

Physics at Kent benefits from £2.5 million of funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). The School has collaborations with universities around the world, particularly in Germany, France, Italy and the USA. UK links include King's College, London and St Bartholomew's Hospital, London. Our industrial partners include BAE Systems, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, and Ophthalmic Technology Inc, Canada. We also have collaborations with NASA, European Southern Observatory (ESO) and European Space Agency (ESA) scientists.

Dynamic publishing culture

Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Nature ; Science ; Astrophysical Journal ; Journal of Polymer Science ; Journal of Materials Chemistry ; and Applied Optics .

Researcher Development Programme

Kent's Graduate School co-ordinates the Researcher Development Programme for research students, which includes workshops focused on research, specialist and transferable skills. The programme is mapped to the national Researcher Development Framework and covers a diverse range of topics, including subject-specific research skills, research management, personal effectiveness, communication skills, networking and teamworking, and career management skills.

The School of Physics and Astronomy has a dynamic research community, producing innovative and interdisciplinary research. Our work has application in many industries, including medical imaging, quantum computing technologies and security. Take a closer look at our range of specialist research centres and groups:

• Forensic Imaging Group (FIG)
• Materials for Electronics and Engineering (MEE)
• Physics of Quantum Materials (PQM)
• Supramolecular Interfacial and Synthetic Chemistry (SISC)

Staff research interests

Kent’s world-class academics provide research students with excellent supervision. The academic staff in this school and their research interests are shown below. You are strongly encouraged to contact the school to discuss your proposed research and potential supervision prior to making an application. Please note, it is possible for students to be supervised by a member of academic staff from any of Kent’s schools, providing their expertise matches your research interests. Use our ‘ find a supervisor ’ search to search by staff member or keyword.

Full details of staff research interests can be found on the School's website .

All programmes equip you with the tools you need to conduct research, solve problems, communicate effectively and transfer skills to the workplace, which means our graduates are always in high demand. Our links with industry not only provide you with the opportunity to gain work experience during your degree, but also equip you with the general and specialist skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the workplace.

Typical employment destinations for graduates from the physics programmes include power companies, aerospace, defence, optoelectronics and medical industries. Typical employment destinations for graduates from our forensic science and chemistry programmes include government agencies, consultancies, emergency services, laboratories, research or academia.

The 2024/25 annual tuition fees for this course are:

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide .

For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact [email protected] .

Your fee status

The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from  UKCISA  before applying.

General information

For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* 

Additional costs

Find out more about  general additional costs  that you may pay when studying at Kent. 

Additional research fees

Please note that, due to the technical requirements of certain laboratory-based research projects, some projects incur additional research costs to support consumable requirements.

Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:

• University and external funds
• Scholarships specific to the academic school delivering this programme.

We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.

Ready to apply?

Learn more about the  application process  or begin your application by clicking on a link below.

You will be able to choose your preferred year of entry once you have started your application. You can also save and return to your application at any time.

Need help deciding?

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Kent ranked top 50 in The Complete University Guide 2024 .

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Research excellence.

Kent has risen 11 places in THE’s REF 2021 ranking, confirming us as a leading research university.

It’s easy to study on or off campus at Kent – discover what is right for you.

Physics - Ph.D.

Kent State University

Introduction

Program outcome, program tuition fee, about the school.

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The Ph.D. degree in Physics provides training of professionals to conduct independently conceived programs of research or teaching in universities or research laboratories. Original research is required in fundamental or applied areas of physics, and the Ph.D. dissertation must be orally defended. Two years of graduate coursework, plus four years of research are typical.

Major requirements

• Classical Electrodynamics II
• Statistical Mechanics I
• Quantum Mechanics II
• Quantum Mechanics III
• Particle Physics
• Applications of Quantum Chromodynamics or Advanced Condensed Matter
• Physics or Liquid Crystal Physics
• Solid State Physics I
• Dissertation I

Graduates of these programs will be able to:

• Demonstrate cognitive skills important to a physicist
• Demonstrate a core knowledge and understanding of the foundations of physics.
• Communicate results of their work to peers, to various target groups within the physics community and to people outside the discipline.

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• Department of Physics

Department of Physics / Department of Physics is located in Kent, OH, in a suburban setting.

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University Catalog 2023-2024

School psychology - ph.d..

About This Program

The School Psychology Ph.D. program prepares you for a professional career in school psychology with a focus on improving children's academic performance, social-emotional development, mental health and overall well-being. With a combination of comprehensive coursework, research experience and supervised on-site training experiences, you'll gain the knowledge and skills needed to make a difference in the lives of children and adolescents in a variety of applied settings. Read more...

Contact Information

• Program Coordinator: Richard Cowan | [email protected] | 330-672-4450
• Chat with an Admissions Counselor

Program Description

• Kent Campus

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*

Psychologists, all other.

• 2.3% slower than the average
• 19,800 number of jobs
• $105,780 potential earnings

Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists

• 3.1% about as fast as the average
• 171,500 number of jobs
• $79,820 potential earnings

Accreditation

American Psychological Association (APA), Recognized by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook . Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website . For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website .

Admission Requirements

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 3.000 graduate GPA on a 4.000 point scale (minimum 3.500 GPA is recommended)
• Official transcript(s)
• Résumé or vita
• Goal statement
• Sample of written work
• School Psychology Supplemental Data Form (online document)
• Questions in Anticipation of Licensure form
• Two letters of recommendation
• Minimum 550 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
• Minimum 79 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
• Minimum 77 MELAB score
• Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
• Minimum 58 PTE score
• Minimum 110 Duolingo English Test score

Application Deadlines

• Priority deadlines: January 15 and June 1 Applications submitted by January 15 will be considered for interviews taking place during the spring semester. If admitted, students may begin coursework during either the summer or fall semester. Applications submitted by June 1 will be considered for interviews taking place during the summer. If admitted, students may begin coursework during the fall semester.
• Priority deadline: October 1 Applications submitted by October 1 will be considered for interviews taking place during the fall semester. If admitted, students may begin coursework during the spring semester.
• Priority deadline: January 15 Applications submitted by January 15 will be considered for interviews taking place during the spring semester. If admitted, students may begin coursework during either the summer or fall semester.

Program Requirements

Graduation requirements.

• The total number of required credit hours in each student's Plan of Study/Residency Plan will vary based on previous graduate coursework, point of entry into the program, program area advisor input and the school psychology program requirements. The minimum requirement for a doctoral degree is 60 credit hours beyond the master's degree. Given the requirements of the accreditation bodies governing Kent State's school psychology degree program, the typical number of required credit hours for the doctoral degree will exceed that of the minimum college requirements.
• Students who enter the program without recent and comprehensive training in school psychology (from a NASP-approved program) and without a school psychology license must complete relevant coursework. The total number of required hours will vary based on point of entry into the program, previous coursework and program advisor input.
• State/Federal background checks are required for all field-based experiences.

Once the student has successfully completed and orally defended their comprehensive exams, they are recommended for doctoral candidacy in line with all other program and college requirements.

Licensure Information

Candidates seeking School Psychologist licensure are required to pass the ETS Praxis II School Psychologist test or the domain specific School Psychology Ohio Assessment for Educators test.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

• Demonstrate adequate knowledge and skills associated with both the National Association of School Psychologists' Domains of School Psychology Training and Practice and those domains related to advanced psychological foundations knowledge and research skills as identified by the American Psychological Association (APA).
• Demonstrate an appropriate level of professional deportment.

Full Description

Professional licensure disclosure.

The Ph.D. degree in School Psychology is committed to a scientist-practitioner model of training, which conceptualizes school psychologists as data-oriented problems solvers and transmitters of psychological knowledge and skill. As such, students draw upon the scientific literature as a primary basis for professional practice and focus their research agendas so as to have meaningful implications for practice. In addition, functioning as a scientist-practitioner meas that professional practice is conducted in ways that are consistent with the scientific method.

Emphasis in training is placed on the provision of services through research-based practice and data-based decision making. Doctoral students gain competencies, not only in the provision of school psychological services to individual children and youth, but also in the promotion and implementation of systemic, preventative educational and mental health systems. Since the program's emphasis is on the application of psychology in applied educational and mental health settings, students are required to demonstrate competence in the substantive content areas of psychological and educational theory; the scientific, methodological and theoretical foundations of practice in school psychology; data-based decision making; intervention design and evaluation; and cultural and individual diversity.

The school psychology doctorate prepares students to work as leaders in applied practice in educational and mental health settings.

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure .

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Fully-funded PhD studentships in Quantum Technologies – Apply by May 15!

The Physics of Quantum Materials (PQM) group is recruiting now in the field of Quantum Technologies

There is an opportunity to join our group with a number of prestigious and fully-funded PhD studentships. The studentships are supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under its Quantum Technologies Theme.

Currently proposed funded projects involving PQM group members include:

Candidates are encouraged to contact the prospective advisors to discuss the projects.

A full list of projects and instructions on how to apply can be found here:

www.kent.ac.uk/graduate-researcher-college/doctoral-training-partnerships/epsrc/epsrc-quantum-technologies

Please make sure you follow all the instructions given in that webpage.

You can find general information about the Physics of Quantum Materials on the PQM website . Information about individual PQM academics, including their research interests and recent publications, can be found under “People” .

Deadline to submit an application: Wednesday 15 May 2024, 23:59GMT.