A good place to start would be to look at the research done in our department. Summaries of the research done in our main research areas can be found at:

• Astrophysics Research Summary
• Atomic, Molecular and Chemical Physics Research Summary
• High Energy Physics Research Summary
• Solid State Research Summary
• Storm Science

After that, you should take a look at the research descriptions of faculty that are doing work in areas that interest you.

Why should you choose OU?

Physics is universal - so why should you choose to study it at OU?

• We're successful in research:  Research expenditures, now at $4.2M/yr, have been growing at at an average rate of 7% each year for the last decade. A third of our faculty have won awards (from the NSF or from OU) for research.
• We provide a great education:  Nearly a third of our faculty has received awards for superior teaching at the University of Oklahoma and two have won the State of Oklahoma Gold Medal in Teaching.
• We’re host to half of CSPIN,  the Center for Semiconductor Physics in Nanostructures. This multimillion dollar NSF funded Materials Research, Science, and Engineering Center is a joint effort between OU and the University of Arkansas to push the boundaries of nanotechnology.
• Our Astrophysics program is spectacular:  while some departments have only a few astrophysicists, nearly one quarter of our faculty work in the field. Their research covers the field from Kuiper Belt Objects to Big Bang Cosmology. Even with wide ranging interests we are interact strongly through our common interest in supernovae, stellar evolution, and spectroscopy.
• The high energy physics group has remarkable strength in both experimental and theoretical physics. It has been an active member of the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron, and is transitioning to a major role in the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), as a Tier 2 center for data analysis when the LHC comes on line.
• The AMC Physics group at OU offers an exceptionally broad range of experimental and theoretical research projects, with close collaborations within the department, across the country, and around the world.

How would you be supported?

Nearly all graduate students admitted to the program are given some form of support. Teaching assistantships are from 10 months and pay $16,000 for domestic applicants (international students make slightly less, and are given a raise once they demonstrate teaching proficiency). Most students supplement this with either research or teaching support during the summer bringing the typical salary to $19,200 for the year. In addition, we offer fellowships (e.g. the Homer  L. Dodge Graduate Fellowship and the C.C. Lin graduate fellowship) to exceptional applicants.

Your out-of-state tuition and most of your in-state tuition is waived - typical graduate student fees and other costs run about $2,400 for the entire year, and half that after candidacy.   A $50,000 student health plan (worth $510) for graduate assistants is also available at no cost.

How should you compare?

When looking at offers between different institutions you need to consider:

• Do they do the research that interests you?  We cover particle, atomic, molecular, solid state, and astrophysics. We even have ancilliary research in storm science.
• What is the real level of support?   Not all salaries are equivalent:   often students have to pay tuition and fees, as well as suffer a high cost of living near many campuses. You should check:
  • Do you have to pay tuition?  At OU typical graduate student fees and other costs run about $2,400 for the entire year.
  • Is the cost of living low or high?  Oklahoma has the lowest cost of living in the nation, 87.9% of the average.

What should you do next?

• Take a look around!  Start by looking at our list of research groups.
• Download application materials: If you'd like to apply, go to our list of Application Materials online.
• Ask us questions using our online inquiry form.