Graduates of these programs will be able to:

• Demonstrate cognitive skills important to a physicist. They will learn to think critically and analytically. They will learn how to define and solve problems in physics. The MS students will be exposed to quantitative research in a contemporary area of physics. The doctoral student will learn how to perform research in contemporary areas of physics research at the highest level and with a great deal of independence.
• Demonstrate a core knowledge and understanding of the foundations of physics.
• Communicate results of their work to peers, to various target groups within the physics community, and to people outside the discipline. Teaching skills also come under this heading.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Physics is a highly flexible program consisting of graduate coursework that can be customized according to the constraints of the individual student. This flexibility is a good match for the needs of part-time students who continue to hold full-time employment in secondary education or in industry.