Physics

Questions about these requirements? See the contact information at the bottom of the page. 

Overview of Program Requirements and General Timeline

• 4 core courses
• 4 elective courses in physics or related fields
• teaching practicum
• laboratory course requirement (theory students only)
• 2 terms of teaching
• oral qualifying exam by May 31 of the third year of study
• thesis defense.

Recommended Timeline & Requirements

• Year 1: Recommended focus on courses; explore areas of research; rotate within groups.
• Year 2: By May 31—establish dissertation advisory committee (DAC).
• Year 3: By May 31—qualifying exam; begin annual progress reports.
• Year 4+: Continue research; complete remaining course credits; dissertation defense.

Advising 

The department assigns each incoming graduate student a faculty academic advisor to help the student make decisions about coursework and research opportunities. A secondary advisor is also assigned to ensure that students have barrier-free touchpoints with multiple faculty members immediately upon matriculation. Students should regularly consult with their advisors in planning a program of study and research

Dissertation Advisory Committee 

By the end of the second year of study, each student is required to select a research advisor and dissertation advisory committee (DAC) to oversee progress toward thesis completion. The student’s primary research advisor typically serves as the DAC chair, unless the primary research advisor is not a member of the Department of Physics.

The DAC should consist of at least three faculty members and must be chaired by a member of the Department of Physics. At least two members of the dissertation committee, including the chair, must be members of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS). A non-FAS research advisor may be a member of the DAC but cannot serve as its official chair. Selection of the committee, as well as subsequent changes to the committee, requires the approval of the director of graduate studies (DGS).

Students are free to choose new advisors at any time and should inform the graduate team of such a change after obtaining the new advisor’s consent. The graduate team is available for consultation on questions about changing advisors.

Annual Progress Reports 

After the student’s third year of study (or after completion of the qualifying exam, whichever occurs first), the DAC meets with the student annually. The DAC evaluates the student’s progress toward completion of the degree and completes a formal progress report to be submitted to the graduate support team.

The Committee on Higher Degrees may review the progress reports of students approaching their seventh year of study to ensure degree completion before the eight-year cap is reached. Continued enrollment is contingent upon a student showing satisfactory progress toward the degree each year.

Teaching 

Because of the importance of teaching skills for a successful physics career, two terms as a teaching fellow (TF) are required of all graduate students. This teaching experience provides an opportunity for students to develop communication skills that are vital for careers in academia and industry.

To fulfill the teaching requirement, the TF position must include at least two standard sections. The TF role must incorporate teaching or instruction and not merely grading.

Program of Study 

To obtain the PhD, each student is required to accumulate at least 16 four-credit courses in aggregate, taking no fewer than 16 credits each term of enrollment. This total may include

• 200- or 300-level Harvard courses in physics and related fields;
• cross-registered courses at MIT*; and
• courses designated for research time (Physics 300r), course time (Physics 300c), or teaching time (Physics 300t).

Some of these courses may also satisfy requirements for the optional continuing AM degree.

Students must obtain grades of B- or better for a course to be considered as satisfying a program requirement.

The general requirements outlined below are a minimum standard; students usually take additional courses in their selected fields as well as in others. A student need not fulfill all course requirements before beginning research. It is recommended that students complete most of their course requirements during the first and second years to allow for a focus on research in later years.

Required Courses 

Core Courses 

Four required core courses:

• Advanced Quantum Mechanics I
• Advanced Quantum Mechanics II
• Advanced Electromagnetism
• Statistical Physics.

 Information on specific courses that satisfy these requirements can be found on the department’s course requirements page. 

Elective Courses 

Four additional four-credit courses drawn from the department's official list, with, at most, two four-credit courses in any one subfield.  

Laboratory Course 

Physics 247, or equivalent laboratory experience, is a required part of the PhD program for all theoretical physics students. Students who wish to fulfill this requirement by equivalent laboratory experience completed at a previous institution should submit a petition for approval by the Committee on Higher Degrees no later than the end of the first year of study.

Students planning to submit a thesis in theoretical astrophysics may instead satisfy this requirement by taking Astronomy 191, with the approval of the Committee on Higher Degrees.

Teaching Practicum 

In the spring term of the first year, as part of their training in teaching and presentation skills, students are required to enroll in Physics 302a, Teaching and Communicating Physics. This is a half-term course.

Petition Process 

With the approval of the Committee on Higher Degrees, a student may

• use 200-level courses or courses in fields not officially listed, and/or
• demonstrate proficiency in required areas by submitting evidence of satisfactory work in appropriate courses taken at other institutions or by other means deemed satisfactory by the Committee on Higher Degrees.

Students wishing to utilize this option should submit a petition to the Committee on Higher Degrees before the end of the first year of Harvard graduate study.

*As a result of an exchange agreement between the universities, graduate students in physics at Harvard may also enroll in lecture courses at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The procedure is outlined under Cross-Registration in the Academics and Enrollment section of the Handbook for Students. 

Qualifying Exam 

Each student is required to pass a qualifying examination by May 31 of the third year, although completion during the second year is recommended. The exam is an oral examination attended only by the student and the DAC.

For the examination, each student selects an in-depth research topic in physics to present to the committee in the form of a presentation, including a title and abstract. This topic is preferably related to the student’s proposed field of research. The student will confer in detail with the committee chair to develop the topic to be discussed and concrete expectations for the examination. To ensure adequate preparation, this conference should take place as soon as possible, typically one to two months before the examination.

To pass, the student must demonstrate adequate comprehension of physics within the field and the capability to conduct the research required for the doctoral degree. Qualifying examinations are evaluated based on

• the student’s overall knowledge of the chosen topic;
• understanding of the broader subfield of interest; and
• clarity and organization of the presentation.

The committee may also consider other information about the candidate’s performance as a graduate student.

Students who do not pass the qualifying oral examination on the first attempt will be given instructions for improvement and encouraged by the committee to take a second examination to be scheduled later. Failure to pass the retake of the general exam will result in withdrawal from the program.

If a student is unable to meet the program requirement of completion of the qualifying exam by May 31 of the third year, they may petition the Committee on Higher Degrees for an extension of up to one year. Extension requests should be submitted as soon as it is suspected that one may be needed. Extensions are granted sparingly and are reserved for extenuating circumstances only.

Any student who has not successfully completed the qualifying exam and does not have an exception to the deadline from the Committee on Higher Degrees will be considered not in good standing within the department and will be required to receive permission from the Committee on Higher Degrees to register for the fourth year.

Dissertation Defense 

The dissertation defense consists of an oral final examination delivered to the dissertation advisory committee that involves a searching analysis of the student’s thesis. If the student’s coursework does not indicate a wide proficiency in the field of the thesis, the examination may be extended to test this proficiency as well. 

The candidate must provide a draft of the completed thesis for members of the dissertation advisory committee at least three weeks in advance of the examination. For detailed requirements, see the dissertation policies found in the Academics and Enrollment section of the Handbook for Students. 

Funding and Financial Support 

First Year of Study 

During the first year of study, students’ tuition, fees, and stipends are covered by either Harvard’s Purcell Fellowship or outside sources of funding, allowing students to devote their attention to coursework and exploring research groups.

In the summer after the first year, students arrange their own funding. For those without external or internal fellowships, options may include research assistantships (RAs) with research groups and teaching assistantships (TAs) through Harvard Summer School.

Second Year & Beyond 

For students in their second year or study and beyond who do not have an external or internal fellowship, the department covers tuition and fees but not salaries. Therefore, starting in the second year, a student without fellowship funding should plan on securing either a research assistantship (RA) or a teaching fellowship (TF) each term. After joining a research group, students typically receive their summer funding by working in a research assistantship with that group. 

Master of Arts (AM) Degree 

The Department of Physics does not admit graduate students whose sole purpose is to study for the master of arts (AM) degree. However, the AM degree is frequently taken by students who continue on for the PhD degree. For those who do not attain the doctorate, the AM degree attests to the completion of a full year’s study beyond the bachelor’s degree.

Program of Study  

Eight four-credit courses taken while enrolled at Harvard are required for the continuing AM degree. At least four must be physics courses and, ordinarily, all must be in physics or related fields like applied physics, applied math, chemistry, biophysics, engineering, or astronomy. No more than two four-credit courses may be from the 100-level listing (for undergraduates and graduates,) and ordinarily no more than one four-credit course may be from the 300-level group (Reading and Research.) The remainder must be from the 200-level (primarily for graduates,) or graduate-level courses taken by official cross-registration at MIT. There is no limit on the number of the eight four-credit courses taken at MIT. 

With the permission of their advisors and with the approval of the Committee on Higher Degrees, students may substitute 300-level courses for more than one of the required eight four-credit courses. For students who were previously undergraduates at Harvard College, only bracketed courses taken as an undergraduate can count toward the AM degree. Courses counted toward the AM degree are also counted toward the PhD. 

All four-credit courses counted toward the AM degree must be passed with a grade of C- or better, and a B average must be obtained in these courses.  

No thesis, general examination, or knowledge of a foreign language is required for the AM degree. The minimum residence requirement is one year. 

AB/AM Degree for Harvard Undergraduate Students 

Students at Harvard College who are pursuing the AB/AM degree should review the concurrent master's program requirements on the Department of Physics website.  

Contact 

Physics website  
Department of Physics  
Harvard University  
17 Oxford Street  
Cambridge, MA 02138 
Email