DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY

Admission into Graduate Physics Program

Admission Requirements: To be considered for graduate admissions, an applicant must hold or be completing an earned baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from a college or university of recognized standing. In addition, prerequisite preparation should include a minimum of general college physics with laboratory (equivalent to PHY 2170/2171, 2180/2181, and 3300/3310), fifteen credits in the intermediate physics courses (e.g., those equivalent to PHY 5200, 5600, 6300, 6500, 6600, 6800, 6810, 6850); mathematics through MAT 5070; and CHM 1220/1230 or equivalent courses. Further details about the admissions criteria for the Graduate School can be found by visiting the Graduate School website.

The Graduate Record Examination, both the General and Physics subject tests, is strongly recommended as the scores are important consideration for admission and possible financial support.

For prospective applicants whose first language is not English, a requirement for admission to Wayne State University is a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 or higher on the paper based test or 213 or higher on the computer-based test. You can qualify for a teaching assistantship by receiving a score of 50 or higher on the TSE (Test of Spoken English). Otherwise, if you receive a teaching assistantship you must receive a score of 50 or higher on the SPEAK (Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit) test after arrival at Wayne State.

Application Procedure: There are two ways to apply. The first one is the easiest for all involved, and it requires to have up-to-date computer technology to digitize your documents and send them via the Internet. When you go to the website in the last item below, you will find most of the forms you need. If you can also digitize and submit documents for which forms are not available (typically, your academic records, letters of reference, and GRE/TOEFL scoresheets), submit those as well and your application will be complete the moment you submit it.

The second one is more complicated and is allowed because not everyone can scan and digitize documents. You still need to apply online, and mail a hard copy of the documents that you could not submit online. The mailing address is below. We need the following items.

• departmental application form 
• transcripts (unofficial photocopies are acceptable but official transcripts are required when admitted) 
• GRE, TOEFL, and TSE scores (copies of your score sheets are acceptable) 
• three letters of recommendation
• personal statement (about one page in length) 
• Application to the Graduate School using the online, web-based form at www.apply.wayne.edu . This site has most of the forms you need to apply, and they can be filled online.  

The easiest way for you and us is to submit all items in digitized form via www.apply.wayne.edu .  All the documents that you submit there will be viewable by us. If you manage to submit all documents online, your application will be complete. We encourage you to try to submit everything online. If your computer equipment does not allow it, try to see if a friend has the equipment and if he/she will let you use it just for the submission. Then collect all the documents you need, digitize them all together, and submit them all together.

If you can not submit all documents online, you will have to go through the more complicated second route. You still have to apply online as above. Send the documents that you could not submit online to

Graduate Admissions Committee
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI 48201, U.S.A.
ATTN: LaShara Montgomery

When the Graduate Admissions Committee receives all of the above items, we will inform you of our departmental recommendations for admission and financial support. If the departmental recommendation is to offer you admission and financial support, we will waive the application fee. If you indicate on the Departmental Application that you wish to be considered for admission if financial support is not available, we will inform you of our recommendation regarding admission. It should be noted that since most decisions on support for new students tend to be made considerably in advance (typically early January to March) before the academic year (fall semester begins in late August) for which aid is sought, we strongly advise that you submit your application materials as early as possible.  Admission with financial support beginning in the winter semester (January) will also be considered. 

Application forms and additional information may be requested by: 

        e-mail:            gradadmin@physics.wayne.edu
        telephone:       (313) 577-2720
        fax:                 (313) 577-3932

or application forms can be directly downloaded:

www.apply.wayne.edu

Departmental Application (Adobe PDF)

Letter of Recommendation Form (Adobe PDF)

Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

Financial Aid: Graduate teaching assistant appointments are available to qualified entering and continuing graduate students. The normal teaching load is six-to-eight contact hours per week of laboratory or quiz (recitation) sections per week while taking a graduate course load of eight-to-ten credits. Graduate research assistant appointments, involving no teaching duties, are also available to qualified students. In addition, government fellowships, University Rumble fellowships, and Knoller Physics fellowships are available within the Department. Students applying for either teaching or research appointments are automatically considered for these fellowships.

Stipends associated with teaching and research assistantships and fellowships are set at $14,047 for the 2005-2006 academic year. In addition, these types of support provide: 

• tuition scholarship valued at $6,325 (Michigan residents) or $13,209 (non-residents) 
• dental insurance valued at $123 
• medical insurance valued at $3,500. 

The total minimum value of this support is $23,995 (residents) or $30,879 (non-residents). Incoming students are guaranteed additional support during the summer while continuing students generally find support as teaching or research assistants.