Towson University’s Master of Science in Applied Physics program is designed to prepare graduates for leadership positions in a wide range of science and technology careers. The program is recognized by the Council of Graduate Schools as a Professional Science Master’s program (PSM) and is one of about 10 PSMs in physics nationwide and one of only two on the east coast. The PSM degree is an innovative graduate degree that represents a recent national trend, advocated and promoted by agencies such as the Council of Graduate Schools, National Research Council and the Sloan Foundation, in response to the work force needs in science and technology sectors. Following the PSM concept, the program is designed to deliver a  strong graduate education in applied physics,  together with skills related to project management, team work, advanced communication and interdisciplinary problem solving. The physics content of the program aims at imparting specialized knowledge in selected areas of applied physics, while also emphasizing a broad set of skills including a range of laboratory techniques involving materials fabrication and characterization, physical measurements employing advanced  instrumentation, mathematical modeling, data analysis and automation. The program imparts knowledge and skills associated  with management and  communication through courses in project management and technical writing. In addition, there are internship and   research components that allow students to acquire real life problem solving experience by  working on-site at technology enterprises or by  participating in faculty-led research in applied areas.

Admission Requirements

• A baccalaureate degree in physics or a related field such as chemistry, mathematics or engineering.   Students who have not majored in physics will qualify for admission if their undergraduate education included two calculus based courses in physics and at least two upper level physics courses. Students without a degree in physics and/or adequate preparation may be required to take remedial courses and/or additional 500 level electives from the curriculum based on a case-by-case analysis.

• An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 is required for full admission and at least 2.75 for provisional admission.

Degree Requirements

The degree will require completion of a minimum of 37 total units of course work. Students with inadequate undergraduate preparation in physics may be required to take more than 37 units due to additional courses that may be needed to remedy deficiencies in undergraduate coursework.   19 of the 37  units of course work will consist of the physics content courses, split between 10 units for core courses from Group A and 9 units for electives from Group B.  Another 9 units are assigned for courses in Group C which belong to the ‘plus’ category. The remaining 9 units are distributed among the group D courses that comprise of  3 units of research with faculty and 6 units for thesis and/or internship.