Graduate Program in Physics

The Physics Graduate Program

The MA program in Physics at Fisk University seeks to prepare its students to be successful in any area requiring knowledge of advanced physics. Student preparation includes a variety of experiences, all of which are aimed at creating well-rounded critical thinkers. The program is built on a combination of formal course work, laboratory training and active graduate-level research.

The program illustrates the mission of the University through emphasis on physics and interdisciplinary research. The program’s goal is to provide research activities and courses in physics and related areas to allow graduate students to be able to successfully enter Ph.D. programs or careers in the sciences.

Students and Professor in classroom
DEPARTMENT CHAIR Arnold Burger, PhD.

Chair's Welcome Statement

Arnold Burger obtained the B.Sc. degree in Physics-Mathematics (1976), M.A. in Materials Science (1981), and Ph. D. in Materials Science (1986), all from the The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 1986 he joined the Department of Physics at Fisk University and since then he has developed at Fisk a program in crystal growth of wide bandgap semiconductor materials and their use in electronic and optical devices. He participates presently in the research at the Center for Physics and Chemistry of Materials. Currently, Dr. Burger is a Professor in the Department of Life and Physical Sciences and the Director of the Materials Science and Applications Group. He also holds the position of adjunct professor of physics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Burger advised over 70 graduate students and 16 postdoctoral scholars; has published over 400 papers, book chapters, proceedings and invited presentations and was awarded seven patents in these fields. In 2010, Dr. Burger was appointed to a three-year term as a member representative to the Board of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA). Dr. Burger is an elected Phi Beta Kappa Honorary Member and a Fellow of the SPIE optics and photonics society and together with his colleagues and collaborators is a three-time recipient of the R&D 100 Award, in 1998, 2001, and 2010 for developing new methods to grow crystals and various compact sensors to detect and image radiation.

Location of office: 240 DuBois Hall
Contact Information: (615) 329-8516
Fax: (615) 329-8634
aburger@xgcr.net

For URGENT matters allow the phone to ring more than 5 times and your call will be forwarded to my cellphone.

Academic Disciplines

Our academic disciplines allow you to specialize your focus to one area of interest. They are a part of your transition into higher education which involves being aware that each discipline is a distinct discourse community with specific vocabularies, styles, and modes of communication.

Pre-requisites

Requirements for the graduate major of Physics, in addition to the University degree requirements outlined within this Bulletin.

Requirements for the MA degree

Suggested program plan for Graduate Physics Majors--M.A. Degree
Course Descriptions

The course descriptions gives a detailed explanation of all graduate level Physics courses offered at Fisk University.