IU/USPAS Master's Degree Details

Master of Science Degree in
Beam Physics and Technology

Indiana University and the U.S. Particle Accelerator School

The U.S. Particle Accelerator School together with Indiana University offer an opportunity to earn a Master of Science Degree in Beam Physics and Technology. Students may earn credit toward the Indiana University diploma at USPAS/university-sponsored courses. Participants would select their USPAS course for Indiana University credit instead of the host university credit. The following information will outline this opportunity in more detail. Please read the information below. If you have questions, feel free to contact the USPAS Office (uspas@fnal.gov, phone 630-840-3896).

Course Requirements

Award of a Master of Science Degree requires 30 hours of credit with a grade point average of B or above; a maximum of 8 credit hours may be transferred; some credits earned at previous USPAS courses may be eligible for transfer. There is a strict five year limit to obtain the Master of Science degree. The requirement for both the Classical Mechanics and the Electromagnetism courses can be fulfilled by taking one 2-week USPAS course on "Classical Mechanics and Electromagnetism in Beams."

3-6 cr
Classical Mechanics (3 credit hours) with a grade of B or above and Electromagnetism (3 credit hours) with a grade of B or above [each transferred in from a previous university] or
IU/USPAS P570 Classical Mechanics and Electromagnetism for Accelerators and Beams (3 credit hours)

6 cr
IU/USPAS P570 Accelerator Physics course at the graduate level (3 credit hours), or
IU/USPAS P570 Linear Accelerators course at the graduate level (3 credit hours), and
IU/USPAS P571 Laboratory hands-on course (3 credit hours) or
IU/USPAS P571 Computational Methods course (3 credit hours)

12 cr
IU/USPAS P500 series, and/or
IU/USPAS P600 series

3-9 cr
IU/USPAS P802 Master's thesis. Oral defense of the thesis (at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.A) or a written final examination under special circumstances.

Generally, students may complete this degree program within 3 years. The maximum completion time is 5 years. At this time, we are unable to accept international students into the IU/USPAS Master's Degree Program.

Fees/Financial Assistance

Participants in the USPAS/IU Master's Degree Program qualify for financial assistance for USPAS sessions. This financial assistance generally covers housing, the USPAS Registration Fee and 2 meals per day. Travel is not included nor are the fees to Indiana University included. Students are responsible for the $55.00 application fee (payable by credit card to Indiana University) which must accompany your IU application. If accepted into the IU master's degree program, you will also be required to pay the $150.00 per credit hour fee.

Application

To apply for this program please complete an IU Online Admissions Application. Send a copy of your undergraduate transcripts and provide three letters of recommendation. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores are strongly recommended. It is very important that you indicate in the "statement of purpose" and in the "student comments section" that the distance M.S. in Beam Physics is desired. Applications may be submitted any time, but they should arrive before October 1 to ensure the ability to register and get credit for courses taken after Jan 1.

IU's "How to Apply" instructions

Advisors

Students are encouraged to have a qualified advisor assigned at their home institution. If one is not available one will be assigned by the USPAS. The ASAC will review all students annually.

Deadline

Applications may be submitted any time, but they should arrive before October 1 to ensure the ability to register and get credit for courses taken after Jan 1.