The objective of graduate work in physics is to prepare the student for continued professional and scholarly development as a physicist. The Physics MS Degree Programs are designed to give the student advanced training in all fundamental areas of physics through formal courses and the options of some degree of specialization or participation in original research in one of a variety of projects directed by the faculty. For the Thesis Option, a minimum of 30 hours is required for the Master of Science degree, of which 24 hours, including a six hour thesis (minimum registration), will be in physics, and six hours may be selected from physics, mathematics, chemistry, earth & environmental sciences, biology, or engineering as approved by the Graduate Advisor. For the Non-thesis Option, a minimum of 36 hours is required for the Master of Science degree. They will be in physics. But up to nine hours may be selected from mathematics, chemistry, earth & environmental sciences, biology, or engineering as approved by the Graduate Advisor. The student is required to pass an oral comprehensive exam in the last semester.