About
Appalachian’s Master of Science in Engineering Physics program prepares students with the necessary skills to excel in industry, government research labs or a PhD program. Unlike a traditional physics or engineering program, this program is industry driven to be modern and relevant, incorporating hands-on, laboratory-based courses. The curriculum prepares students to work in a broad range of technical career positions including electrical engineers, automation and controls engineers, systems engineers, software engineers and research scientists.
In addition, students develop troubleshooting and problem solving techniques and tools for dealing with sophisticated technical problems and the versatility required for long-term success in a rapidly evolving technical environment.
Students from a variety of backgrounds receive core training in the field of electronics and additional experience in their choice of concentrations.
The program offers three concentrations:
- Systems and Laboratory Automation – designed for the student who is interested in working in a technical environment with a focus on automation, instrumentation and electronics.
- Professional Science Master’s (PSM) in Instrumentation and Automation – a nationally affiliated degree designed for the student who is interested in developing skills in electronics, instrumentation and automation as well as acquiring business and workplace skills.
- Professional Science Master’s (PSM) in Nanoscience for Advanced Materials – a nationally affiliated degree designed for the student who is interested in developing skills in electronics, microscopy, nanotechnology and materials as well as acquiring business and workplace skills.
Courses
Course titles and information can be found in the Graduate Bulletin.
Application Essentials
Required Entrance Exam: GRE (score must be no more than 5 years old)
Required number of references to specify in the online form: 3
Supplemental Information: Resume (Required upload for application submission)
Basic Conditions for Consideration of Admission: Meeting or exceeding the conditions below does NOT guarantee admission. All applications for a given entry term will be weighed based upon the number of seats available and the quality of the complete application packages. With special permission from the Graduate School, a program may admit a limited number of students with exceptional circumstances who do not meet the graduate school minimums.
Graduate School: 3.0 GPA in the last earned degree and official scores from the appropriate admission test(s), OR 2.5 GPA in the last earned degree and official scores at the 25th percentile level from the appropriate admission test(s).
Admission to Engineering Physics: Both qualitative and quantitative aspects of applications are reviewed in comparison to the current applicant pool.
Doctoral and Terminal Degree Programs
Students have gone on to programs at these and other institutions:
- Duke University
- N.C. State University
- University of Tennessee
- Wake Forest University
- and more
Employers
- NASA
- National Instruments
- SpaceX
- Exxon
- Rovisys
- Eaton
- Borg-Warner
- CITI
- Qorvo
- EMC Corporation
- Gemini Observatory
- CERN
- Motorola
- US Patent Office
- Siemens
- AT&T
- and more
Application Deadlines
- Spring: 11/1 (10/1)
- Summer Session 1: 4/1 (3/1)
- Summer Session 2: 4/1 (3/15)
- Fall: 7/1 (3/15)
*See full deadline information below under Application Essentials.
Why Appalachian?
- Students gain the experience that employers demand from the hands-on environment in the labs.
- According to the American Institute of Physics, students with a master’s degree with a science-related career typically receive a higher salary that will pay for the degree within a year or two.
- Students have the flexibility of choosing electives and their concentration to gain skills in electronics, physics, software engineering, technology and business.
- Students have the benefit of working closely with faculty members to perform research and to present at conferences.
- Our students find great satisfaction and fun from working in our hands-on environment.
- Teaching assistantships (stipends) and North Carolina Teaching Scholarship (out-of-state tuition waiver) are available on a competitive basis.
- All graduate programs at Appalachian have small class sizes, providing intimate classroom interaction.
- The School of Graduate Studies offers scholarships, fellowships and assistantships to support eligible, full-time, degree-seeking students.
Method of Delivery
On campus
Careers
- Applications Engineer
- Software Engineer
- SCADA Engineer
- Test Engineer
- NASA Research Physicist
Contacts
Brad Johnson
Program Director
johnsonbg2@appstate.edu
Department of Physics and Astronomy
College of Arts and Sciences