Northern Illinois University
Department of Physics
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

This page describes the Ph.D. candidacy exam required for students in the physics Ph.D. program. The exam is usually taken upon completion of the Ph.D. core courses and after passing the M.S. qualifying exam. Students have two graded attempts to pass the exam and must do so within two years of completing the core courses.

The exam consists of three separate tests covering material in classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and quantum mechanics. The questions are at the level of advanced undergraduate physics and the Ph.D. core courses and cover topics outlined in the exam syllabus (PDF). A standard list of formulas and constants (PDF) will be available on each exam. Use of calculators will not be allowed while taking this exam. Any calculation will be one that can be done by hand.

A link to recent exams is given below. Copies of exams from previous years are available in the department office. One of the best ways to prepare for this exam is to "take" the old exams; that is, try to solve the problems under exam conditions. Solutions for the problems on old exams will not be provided.

Archive

Additional Exam Information

• The Ph.D. candidacy exam now consists of three sections. Previously passed Modern Physics sections will be taken into account for average scores.
• The duration for each section is now three hours. All exam problems can be solved, but only the three highest-graded solutions will count toward the final score.

Important Notes:

• Register with Dr. Glatz by email (aglatz@niu.edu) at least two weeks before the exam. Walk-ins might not be possible. If you require accommodations, you must start the process at least six weeks before the exams (see below).
• No cell phones or other electronic devices are allowed during the exams! If one of these devices is seen being used by a student during the exam, their exam will be disqualified.
• Accommodations for this examination will only be allowed with official documentation from the university’s Disabilities Resource Center (DRC). Contact the DRC well before the exam date, as it may take several weeks to obtain official documentation. The DRC is located on the 4th floor of the Health Services Building and can be reached at 815-753-1303 (V) or drc@niu.edu. Also, please contact Dr. Glatz privately to discuss your accommodations.