Pursuing a Graduate Degree in Physics at Texas A&M
This page is a breakdown of the administrative requirements for members of the Toback Group who are pursuing a graduate degree in physics at Texas A&M. It lists the requirements specific to a Physics PhD with a concurrent Non-Thesis Masters. Lots of Toback Group members choose this combination because they will be writing a thesis for their PhD anyway, so they use their Non-Thesis Masters to present the current state of their research as it grows into a PhD thesis. Also, a concurrent masters means you can earn a master’s degree to take with you, should you decide to move on from A&M into an industry/lab position and/or a PhD elsewhere.
This information was last updated in August 2026. Institutional policies and requirements are subject to change over time, so this site will be updated accordingly.
Core Classes
All core classes are 3 credit hours each, and must be passed with a B or better. Masters students must take all Core Classes A, and PhD students must take all Core Classes A & B. For more information on what is covered in each course, see the TAMU Physics Course Catalog.
Core Classes A
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Core Classes B
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Directed Studies (685) vs Research (691)
These are two commonly confused course titles that are an important part of earning your degree(s). Take note of how each applies to your Degree Plan and your Total Credit Requirements.
Directed Studies (685)
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Research (691)
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Seminar (681)
This “course” is an opportunity to learn more about current physics research inside and outside our department. Toback Group members find the weekly department Colloquia and the High Energy Phenomenology, Experiment & Cosmology (HEPEC) Seminars to be particularly interesting and relevant.
Getting Credit for 681
- Make sure you are on the mailing list for the events you plan to attend
- You are allowed to attend seminars and colloquia via Zoom if necessary
- There is no strict weekly attendance requirement, but a good approach is to regularly attend both the general department colloquia and the High Energy Physics seminars
- Ensure that your presence is noticed by others to avoid any doubts about your participation
- In the Toback Group common drive, there is a spreadsheet used to track attendance
Department Colloquium
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HEPEC Seminar
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Electives
Elective courses are normally 3 credits each (double check individual courses during registration). For the PhD, your two required elective courses must come from areas outside your field of study. For Toback Group members, those are usually classes in Nuclear Physics, Solid State Physics, Astronomy, etc. If you’d like to take an additional elective inside your field of study to help with your research, discuss it with Dave and make sure it’s reflected in your Degree Plan.
Before each registration season, look out for an email from Graduate Advising that will list the electives being offered the following semester. Courses need at least five students to run, so have a backup ready in case a class doesn’t fill.
There is a database at anex.us that can tell you the average GPA and course grades by class and semester. While this shouldn’t be the only factor in your decision-making for electives, it can show you how different professors of the same course handle grading, and you can cross reference this with testimonies of more senior students about workload, content covered, etc.
Yearly Evaluations
Each year, you and Dave will evaluate your progress in the graduate program and provide a written evaluation that is reported to the Graduate Records Committee (GRC). The evaluation summarizes your progress in academics, research, teaching (when applicable), and future plans. You and your advisor will discuss the evaluation together. You will receive a copy and will be asked to acknowledge that you have received and discussed it. These evaluations are useful for keeping track of your progress through the program and making sure that you, your advisor, and the department have a shared understanding of your expectations and upcoming milestones. This is due after each spring semester, so make sure you and Dave are both doing your part to submit it on time!
Degree Plan
A Degree Plan is an agreement between you, your advisor, and the department as to how you will fulfill the requirements of your intended degree. A proactive practice is to start to assemble your degree plan with your advisor between your first and second year. You can always make edits to your degree plan as your classes and research progress (Yearly Evaluations in particular can reveal changes that need to be made to the degree plan). For more information on how to submit/edit your degree plan, explore additional degree options, select a committee, etc., take a look at these slides from Graduate Advising.
Other Things to Consider
First Semester of Courses
- Lots of physics grad students choose Quantum 1 (606) and Methods of Theoretical Physics (615) as their courses for their very first fall semester. These classes can be a great way to build community with other new students, especially considering that the bulk of your workload when you first start will be from your classes.
Courses with Prerequisites
- Quantum and Electromagnetism are both two-semester courses and can’t be taken out of order. Quantum 1 and EM 2 are usually offered in the fall, and Quantum 2 and EM 1 are usually offered in the spring. Plan accordingly!
- Methods of Theoretical Physics (615) is the prerequisite for Statistical Mechanics (607). Statistical Mechanics is usually offered every semester (with different professors), so you can take it any semester after you’ve finished Methods.
Total Credit Requirements for a PhD with Concurrent Non-Thesis Masters
Now that you have familiarized yourself with the courses and procedures for keeping track of your degree progress, you can use these tables to verify that you have enough of the right credits for your degree(s). This part of the page is likely to change most frequently based on institutional policies, so check the top of this page to make sure it is current before referencing.
Non-Thesis Masters
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Core Classes A | 15 |
| 681 Seminar | 2* |
| 685 Directed Studies | 8* |
| Remaining Credits | 11** |
| Total | 36 |
*Maximum number of credits that can count toward the Non-Thesis Master’s.
**Remaining credits can come from electives (3 credits each) and/or Core Classes B.
PhD
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Non-Thesis Masters | 36 |
| Core Classes B | 6 |
| Electives | 6 |
| Remaining Credits | 48*** |
| Total | 96 |
***Remaining credits can come from more electives (3 credits each), 685 Directed Studies, and/or 691 Research.
Questions?
For anything you’re still unsure about, don’t hesitate to reach out to Elise Zwahr by email (ezwahr@tamu.edu) or in person at the front office in the MPHY Building. She is happy to take any questions you may have. From Elise, “Asking questions before you make big moves is the best defense against personal and administrative catastrophe!”