A master’s degree in physics helps you bridge the gap between your college experience and an exciting career in science or science education.
Ranked among the nation’s top physics departments with the strongest professional master’s degree programs by the American Institute of Physics, our department will provide you with the powerful resources, research-oriented training, and personal attention necessary to make this so.
Our experienced and caring faculty will supply you with opportunities to master the intellectual theory and the problem-solving skills that make you competitive in sophisticated industrial and rigorous academic settings.
Our master’s programs—offered as a master of arts (MA) or master of science (MS)—can help you be a better teacher, prepare you for a career in industry, or assist you as you pursue a doctorate.
As a master’s candidate, you will have:
- small class sizes
- professors who are actively engaged in research
- the opportunity to work on research projects
What It’s Like to Earn an MA or MS in Physics at Ball State
In our department, you’ll have the chance to work alongside your peers and faculty PhD experts on your choice of physics-related research concentrations.
Research actively pursued in our program includes:
- astronomy and astrophysics
- computational nanoscience
- condensed matter physics
- medical physics
- nanomaterials and devices
- nuclear and radiation physics
- particle physics
- physics education
Students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher are eligible to apply for teaching assistantships with the department or through the University’s Learning Center.
These positions come with a tuition waiver, a stipend, and eligibility for student health insurance through the university, among other benefits.
Our students also frequently support themselves through jobs with Ball State’s Office of Information Technology.
Through research projects, you gain valuable professional skills and experience working with modern technical facilities and equipment. These include the College of Science and Humanities supercomputing cluster, a 20-inch diameter telescope in the observatory, Computational Research Laboratory, Nanoscience Laboratory, Biomedical Research Laboratory, Materials Research Lab, and a 3D printing lab.
The Department of Physics and Astronomy is also a member of the SARA consortium that operates three research-grade telescopes located in some of the best sites in the world: southwest Arizona, Chile, and the Canary Islands. Our students (and occasionally high-school students) often make observations with these telescopes and become authors on published scientific papers.
Careers in education and outreach are fostered through the Charles W. Brown Planetarium on campus.
Our Society of Physics Students (SPS) is an active, student-run club that engages in a number of social and outreach programs.
The SPS organizes cooperative events with organizations on campus, including our annual “Clash of the Sciences” demo competition between physics and chemistry student groups.
MS or MA in Physics Program Requirements
This program consists of 33 credits of graduate physics coursework in your choice of concentration (the MA or MS track).
Topics for research leading to an MA or MS degree in Physics may include:
- nuclear astrophysics
- condensed matter physics
- electronic structure of materials and devices
- observational stellar astronomy and galactic structure
- fabrication and characterization of nano-scale devices
- elementary particle physics
- medical physics
- physics education
Master of Arts in Physics
The MA program in physics will help students pursue further education in medical physics, planetarium, museum, teaching, and science technical writing.
This program requires you to write a research paper on a research project in physics or physics education.
Master of Science in Physics
An MS in physics is especially suited for those looking to go on to doctoral study or pursue careers in industry.
This program requires a six-credit thesis, which is normally a formal report on your research in some feature of experimental, theoretical, or computational physics, or physics education.
Credits Required
33
Courses
A few of the classes you will take may include:
- PHYC 534 Thermal Physics
- PHYC 565 Quantum Mechanics
- PHYC 671 Classical Mechanics
- PHYC 673 Electrodynamics
- PHYC 675 Statistical Mechanics
For a complete list of all the courses you will take and their descriptions, please see our Graduate Catalog.
View Catalog
What Can You Do with an MA or MS in Physics?
Our graduates have gone on to attend PhD graduate programs at schools like Ohio University, University of Florida, Colorado State, University of Texas at Dallas, and Purdue, pursuing doctoral degrees in physics, astronomy, and engineering.
Those who earn a master's in physics work in top-notch places like Intel, Experian, the Mayo Clinic, Cummins, and Argonne National Lab as:
Read about Our Alumni
Paying for Your Education
Not only do you get to learn from faculty who are leaders in their fields, but you can do so at one of the most competitive prices in the Midwest.
On top of the dozens of funding options offered through Ball State’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, our department awards scholarships to our own students. Find a scholarship.
A graduate assistantship is an excellent opportunity to gain meaningful professional experience while helping cover the costs of your degree. Learn more.
Ready to Apply?
Are you interested in our program? Then it’s time to apply!
Apply
More Information
If you would like to learn more about this program or about Ball State Graduate School in general, please complete our online form to request more information. Or if you’d like to speak with someone in our department directly by phone or email, please contact us.