Go to the U of M home page
School of Physics & Astronomy
School of Physics and Astronomy Wiki

User Tools

Trace:
graduate_handbook:physics_graduate_policies

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision		Previous revision
graduate_handbook:physics_graduate_policies [2024/12/03 12:47] – [Winter break travel policy] vinalsgraduate_handbook:physics_graduate_policies [2025/05/13 09:42] (current) – [Requirements for satisfactory progress in the graduate program] vinals
Line 33: Line 33:
   * In the third year and beyond, students must show progress toward their Ph.D. by making an annual presentation on their research in a format that may depend on their research area, for example by giving a talk in their group seminar.   * In the third year and beyond, students must show progress toward their Ph.D. by making an annual presentation on their research in a format that may depend on their research area, for example by giving a talk in their group seminar.
  
-**Additional requirements for TA support, or University wide time limits**:+**Additional requirements, and University wide time limits**:
  
 ^ Requirement ^ Comment ^ ^ Requirement ^ Comment ^
 | Report of progress by Oral Committee for TA appointment beyond Oral Exam | No Teaching Assistant appointment beyond the third academic year will be offered unless a positive statement of progress is made by the Oral Committee. This is an annual requirement before a student is eligible for TA support: Once one year has elapsed since the Oral Exam is passed, a student needs to convene the Oral committee at least once every twelve months prior to being eligible for a 50% TA appointment | | Report of progress by Oral Committee for TA appointment beyond Oral Exam | No Teaching Assistant appointment beyond the third academic year will be offered unless a positive statement of progress is made by the Oral Committee. This is an annual requirement before a student is eligible for TA support: Once one year has elapsed since the Oral Exam is passed, a student needs to convene the Oral committee at least once every twelve months prior to being eligible for a 50% TA appointment |
 +| Work under the supervision of a SPA graduate faculty member | Students are assigned an academic adviser upon arrival. They may transition to a research adviser at any time after that. However, (i) one adviser of record needs to be maintained at all times, and (ii) the adviser of record must be a member of the [[https://faculty-roles.umn.edu/institution/UMNTC/programs/067660207/responsibilities|Physics graduate faculty]] |
 | Degree completed in a maximum of 8 years | Petition before the University is possible for a one year extension. Follow University guidelines | | Degree completed in a maximum of 8 years | Petition before the University is possible for a one year extension. Follow University guidelines |
 ===== Financial Support Policy ===== ===== Financial Support Policy =====
Line 46: Line 47:
 3. Except in unusual cases, financial support for entering graduate students who do not receive fellowships will be in the form of a 1/2 time TA appointment. The TA appointment will be renewed for a second year subject to satisfactory academic progress by the student, and satisfactory performance of the required TA duties. Satisfactory academic progress does not require passing the graduate written examination during the first year. Graduate students who enter the program without financial aid, but who pass the graduate written examination will be treated in succeeding years as if they had entered with a 1/2 time TA appointment. 3. Except in unusual cases, financial support for entering graduate students who do not receive fellowships will be in the form of a 1/2 time TA appointment. The TA appointment will be renewed for a second year subject to satisfactory academic progress by the student, and satisfactory performance of the required TA duties. Satisfactory academic progress does not require passing the graduate written examination during the first year. Graduate students who enter the program without financial aid, but who pass the graduate written examination will be treated in succeeding years as if they had entered with a 1/2 time TA appointment.
  
-4. Students who are offered TA appointments will be required to accept or reject them in writing. Once accepted, the TA appointment is considered a commitment by the student for the term of the appointment. Students may be released from their TA responsibilities in the event of an equivalent RA appointment or for other reasons if approved in advance by the DGS. Such consent will only be given when it is possible to find a replacement.+4. Students who are offered TA appointments will be generally notified by early February of the year commencing their studies, and will be required to accept or reject them in writing by April 15 (the University of Minnesota is a signatory to the [[https://cgsnet.org/resources/for-current-prospective-graduate-students/april-15-resolution|April 15 Resolution]]). Once accepted, the TA appointment is considered a commitment by the student for the term of the appointment. Students may be released from their TA responsibilities in the event of an equivalent RA appointment or for other reasons if approved in advance by the DGS. Such consent will only be given when it is possible to find a replacement.
  
 5. Some TA positions will be awarded for the summer session. Applications are generally solicited during Spring Semester. Priority will be given to current TA's who do not have summer research support. 5. Some TA positions will be awarded for the summer session. Applications are generally solicited during Spring Semester. Priority will be given to current TA's who do not have summer research support.
Line 53: Line 54:
  
 7. The total of the TA, grading and RA appointments for any student may not exceed a 50 percent appointment, unless a higher limit is approved by the adviser, the DGS, and the Head of the School. (International students may not exceed the equivalent of a 50 percent appointment during the academic year.) 7. The total of the TA, grading and RA appointments for any student may not exceed a 50 percent appointment, unless a higher limit is approved by the adviser, the DGS, and the Head of the School. (International students may not exceed the equivalent of a 50 percent appointment during the academic year.)
 +
 +{{page>:graduate_handbook:transcluded_items#financial_support&nodate&noheader&nofooter}}
 +
  
 ===== Tuition ==== ===== Tuition ====
Line 73: Line 77:
  
 **Important**: If it is determined that you should take thesis credits in the Summer term, then the office must be informed sometime in May. The specific deadline changes year to year depending on the appointment calendar, but it is generally around the middle of May. Failure to do so, may result in you being responsible for the entire tuition bill. Retroactive summer registration (e.g., June, July, August) is NOT allowed as all tuition payments are tied to the type of payroll appointment a person has for the Summer, as entered into the system in May. **Important**: If it is determined that you should take thesis credits in the Summer term, then the office must be informed sometime in May. The specific deadline changes year to year depending on the appointment calendar, but it is generally around the middle of May. Failure to do so, may result in you being responsible for the entire tuition bill. Retroactive summer registration (e.g., June, July, August) is NOT allowed as all tuition payments are tied to the type of payroll appointment a person has for the Summer, as entered into the system in May.
 +
 +==== Special rules for fellowships holders ====
 +All summer fellowship recipients must take 1 credit of Directed Research, PHYS 5994, if they have not attained ABD status. This includes all first-year students who receive departmental fellowships, all recipients of NSF, NASA, and the named fellowships like the Burlaga, Goldman, Greiling, Larkin, Hoff Lu, Pepin, and Voloshin, and all NSF-NRT students.
 +
 +If a summer fellowship recipient has attained ABD status they must take 1 credit of Phys 8444. This includes all recipients of NSF, NASA, and the named fellowships like the Burlaga, Goldman, Greiling, Larkin, Hoff Lu, Pepin, and Voloshin.
 +
 +Registration is mandatory and failure to register for the 1 credit may result in your fellowship being terminated by the University.  If you have a fellowship that is awarded through another unit, e.g. the Medical School, Dentistry, etc, you must contact them about the registration issue and payment.
 +
  
 ==== Payroll Taxes ==== ==== Payroll Taxes ====
Line 86: Line 98:
 ===== Graduate Written Examination Policy ===== ===== Graduate Written Examination Policy =====
  
-1. The Graduate Written Examination (GWE) will be prepared and administered by a faculty committee especially designated for this task. The GWE Committee will assign the grades and make recommendations concerning the passing requirements to the Physics Graduate Faculty. The Faculty will make the final decision as to which students pass the examination.+1. The Graduate Written Examination (GWE) will be prepared and administered by a faculty committee especially designated for this task. The GWE Committee will assign the grades and make recommendations concerning the passing requirements to the Physics Graduate Faculty. The Faculty will make the final determination of the threshold score for students to pass the examination.
  
-2. The general criterion for passing the exam is to demonstrate a strong and comprehensive knowledge of undergraduate physics at a level similar to the one taught to undergraduates at the University of Minnesota. To pass, students should demonstrate a broad range of knowledge in the core subjects of classical dynamics, electricity and magnetism, thermal and statistical physics and quantum mechanics. Students are expected to be able to apply their knowledge to solving explicit problems in these areas. In addition, students are expected to have some general knowledge about physics specialty areas such as astrophysics, atomic physics, condensed matter physics, elementary particle physics, nuclear physics, and space physics. The required level of understanding in these latter subjects is mostly qualitative. In the past, the passing score for the examination has been approximately one-half of the possible score. The faculty will adjust this level up or down in order to maintain a consistent level of difficulty with previous years. Further information on the exam, and how to prepare for it is given [[http://zzz.physics.umn.edu/dgs_advice/preparation_for_the_graduate_written_exam|here]].+2. The general criterion for passing the exam is to demonstrate a strong and comprehensive knowledge of undergraduate physics at a level similar to the one taught to undergraduates at the University of Minnesota. To pass, students should demonstrate a broad range of knowledge in the core subjects of classical dynamics, electricity and magnetism, thermal and statistical physics and quantum mechanics. Students are expected to be able to apply their knowledge to solving explicit problems in these areas. In addition, students are expected to have some general knowledge about physics specialty areas such as astrophysics, atomic physics, condensed matter physics, elementary particle physics, nuclear physics, and space physics. The required level of understanding in these latter subjects is mostly qualitative. In the past, the passing score for the examination has been approximately 65%. The faculty may adjust this threshold (only down) in order to maintain a consistent level of difficulty with previous years. Further information on the exam, and how to prepare for it is given [[http://zzz.physics.umn.edu/dgs_advice/preparation_for_the_graduate_written_exam|here]].
  
 3. The GWE is given once annually at the end of the Spring Semester. It is comprised of two parts on two successive days, each being 4 hours in length. 3. The GWE is given once annually at the end of the Spring Semester. It is comprised of two parts on two successive days, each being 4 hours in length.
Line 99: Line 111:
 ===== Preliminary Oral Examination ===== ===== Preliminary Oral Examination =====
  
-The Preliminary Oral Examination is the last exam that needs to be passed before the student is formally admitted to Ph.D. candidacy. The exam must taken by all Ph.D. students before the end of the third year. The goal of the exam is to determine whether a student has acquired enough knowledge to begin productive thesis-level research. The exam includes an oral defense of a thesis prospectus, with demonstration that the student has a reasonable plan for the thesis, as well as general knowledge of physics principles pertinent to the chosen field of research.+The Preliminary Oral Examination is the last exam that needs to be passed before the student is formally admitted to Ph.D. candidacy. The exam must be taken by all Ph.D. students before the end of the third year. The goal of the exam is to determine whether a student has acquired enough knowledge to begin productive thesis-level research. The exam includes an oral defense of a thesis prospectus, with demonstration that the student has a reasonable plan for the thesis, as well as general knowledge of physics principles pertinent to the chosen field of research.
  
 ==== Timing ==== ==== Timing ====
Line 151: Line 163:
 ===== Grading Policy ===== ===== Grading Policy =====
  
-1. At least two-thirds of all credit hours in an M.Sc. or a Ph.D. program must be taken on an A-N basis.+1. At least two-thirds of all credit hours in an M.Sc. or a Ph.D. program must be taken on an A-F basis.
  
-2. There are no formal grading restrictions on 8000 level courses; however, an adviser may require a student to take at least one 8000 course in the student's sub-field on an A-N basis.+2. There are no formal grading restrictions on 8000 level courses; however, an adviser may require a student to take at least one 8000 course in the student's sub-field on an A-F basis.
  
-3. The required core courses PHYS 5001/2 and 5011/2, if they are used on an M.S. or a Ph.D. program, must be taken on an A-N basis.+3. The required core courses PHYS 5001/2 and 5011/2, if they are used on an M.S. or a Ph.D. program, must be taken on an A-F basis.
  
-4. Instructors must clarify to students during the first two weeks of classes the standards of performance required under both the A-N and S-N grading systems.+4. Instructors must clarify to students during the first two weeks of classes the standards of performance required under both the A-F and S-N grading systems.
  
 ===== Criteria for Registration Warnings and Holds ===== ===== Criteria for Registration Warnings and Holds =====
Line 175: Line 187:
 As stated in [[graduate_handbook:ta_expectations:paid_vacation|Paid and Unpaid Leave of Absence]], Graduate teaching assistants do not receive paid vacation other than official University of Minnesota holidays. The University does not recognize the time between terms as holidays.  As stated in [[graduate_handbook:ta_expectations:paid_vacation|Paid and Unpaid Leave of Absence]], Graduate teaching assistants do not receive paid vacation other than official University of Minnesota holidays. The University does not recognize the time between terms as holidays. 
  
-As we are getting closer to the winter break, some of you are likely planning international travel. If you are an international student and are planning to travel outside of the United States, please remember the following items:+{{page>:graduate_handbook:transcluded_items#winter_break_travel_dates&nodate&noheader&nofooter}} 
 + 
 +Around the end of the Fall semester, some of you may perhaps be planning international travel of personal nature. If you are an international student and are planning to travel outside of the United States, please remember the following items:
   * If you are a TA during the preceding Fall 24 semester, your travel must be after the semester is over, and your TA responsibilities are completed. Talk with your faculty instructor to ensure your departure date is acceptable. If you are an RA, please discuss your travel plans with your adviser.   * If you are a TA during the preceding Fall 24 semester, your travel must be after the semester is over, and your TA responsibilities are completed. Talk with your faculty instructor to ensure your departure date is acceptable. If you are an RA, please discuss your travel plans with your adviser.
   * If you are a TA during the following Spring semester, you MUST be back in Minnesota the week before the semester starts. If you are an RA, please discuss your travel plans with your adviser.   * If you are a TA during the following Spring semester, you MUST be back in Minnesota the week before the semester starts. If you are an RA, please discuss your travel plans with your adviser.
graduate_handbook/physics_graduate_policies.1733251668.txt.gz · Last modified: 2024/12/03 12:47 by vinals

Page Tools