CMU’s brand new Master’s in Modern Physics, launching in 2025, is designed to help students who intend to apply for a PhD prepare for future employment in technical fields.
Students will gain the professional skills and knowledge needed for PhD applications, meet the growing demand for experts in the U.S. semiconductor industry and beyond, and help solve the world’s most pressing problems.

The two-year Modern Physics program includes 147 credits and offers a summer research or internship opportunity. The curriculum focuses on areas such as condensed matter physics, biophysics, high-energy physics, and astrophysics (condensed matter physics, biophysics, high-energy physics, astrophysics, etc.), providing rigorous foundational training in modern physics and cultivating logical thinking, problem-solving ability, and critical thinking.
The Physics master’s and PhD programs share a unified application system with identical requirements, including strict undergraduate prerequisite courses. GRE and GRE Subject scores are recommended. Admitted U.S. domestic students have the opportunity to participate in the CMU Rales Fellows program, which provides full tuition and a living stipend from the university.
Online Application
Transcript
Letters of Recommendation
TOEFL, IELTS or DET*
GRE General or GRE Subject Test scores are recommended if available but not required.
Recommended Preparation Level:
Intermediate Mechanics (Thornton & Marion)
Electricity and Magnetism (Griffiths)
Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics (Callen, Guenalt)
Atomic Physics (Eisberg & Resnick)
Elementary Quantum Mechanics (Griffiths)
Modern Physics Laboratory
Electronics
Advanced Calculus









