Students complete their independent study project by enrolling in Phys 600 for typically 3 to 9 hours each week and working with one of the research groups in the Physics Department. They may also work in certain other departments on campus or at their place of employment subject to approval by the Evening MS Program Coordinator. The project should involve experimentation, analysis, or instrumentation related to a problem of current interest. A brief written statement describing the project should be given to the Graduate Adviser before the independent study project commences. A written report and final oral examination on the research project are required. Examples of projects completed so far include:

• Ultrasound Reflections
• Development of a Pre-optics Curriculum for Physical Science Students
• Fabrication and Characterization of Superconducting Tunnel Junctions
• Impurity Effects on Charge Collection in Liquid Argon
• Investigating Student Understanding of Newton's Second Law Among Pre College Teachers and High School Students
• Laser Diode Stabilization Using External Optical Feedback
• Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) Correlations in Annihilation Photon Experiments
• Phased Array Holography
• Spectral Properties of Semiconductor Injection Lasers
• Chirp Sonar System Development and Testing

Policy on Assistantships for Evening MS Students

The Physics Evening MS Degree Program is designed to be a part-time program, so EMS students do not normally qualify for teaching or research assistantships, and such support is not normally offered. In exceptional cases, the Department may offer a TA, or an individual faculty member may propose to offer an RA, but all such exceptions require the explicit prior approval of the Physics Department Chair.