Graduate Certificates

 Prepare yourself to explore future science and technology with our interdisciplinary graduate certificate program. These certificates allow students to learn beyond their graduate research. Current graduate students can also earn these credentials simultaneously with their degrees.

Researcher at computer

Advanced Computational Physics

Numerical programming and computer simulations are ubiquitous through all subjects in physics. Thus, computational physics has grown to be an appealing field for those who wish to acquire advanced and modern skills to solve interdisciplinary problems.

The graduate certificate in Advanced Computational Physics develops a foundation in programming, UNIX computing environment, system libraries, and computer graphics, to enable you to start exploring more advanced computational topics. You will learn basic and advanced numerical algorithms, develop and implement numerical methods and computer simulations using these new skills, and explore the application of advanced computation to scientific problems in your research area.

High-Altitude Water Cherenkov Gamma-Ray Observatory

Big Data Statistics in Astrophysics

Astronomy and astrophysics data are undergoing dramatic growth in size and complexity as detectors, telescopes, and computers become ever more powerful. Modern telescopes produce terabytes of data per observation, and over the next decade the data volume is expected to enter the petabyte domain.

The graduate certificate Big Data Statistics in Astrophysics will help you to develop a foundation of statistical analysis, data mining, and machine learning; understand how to implement algorithms; how to use databases to manage the data; and how to learn from the data with machine learning tools. You will develop and implement new machine learning methods for problems in astrophysics. Based on these skills, you can explore applications of statistical techniques and machine learning tools to analyze and interpret astrophysical data.

Scientists with lab equipment

Frontiers in Materials Physics

Experimental materials physics is an indispensable field for advanced electronic, photonic, energy devices, and future quantum computation and communication. This growing area is expected to meet many academic and industrial needs.

The graduate certificate in Frontiers in Materials Physics aims to help you develop foundational knowledge and techniques in the areas of: low-dimensional materials, quantum and topological materials, energy materials, and atmospheric particles and nanomaterials. You may also explore applications for spectroscopy, photovoltaics, optoelectronic devices, and environmental optics.

Microscopic view of proton filaments

Frontiers in Optics and Photonics

Optical and photonic physics are emerging fields for telecommunication, optical
computing, biophotonics, quantum sensing/communication and computing. This growing field is expected to meet many academic and industrial needs.

The graduate certificate in Frontiers in Optics and Photonics will develop your foundation in integrated photonics, nano optics, computational electromagnetics, quantum optics, and optical wave propagation in complex media. Based on these skills, you can explore applications in telecommunications, biophotonics, quantum computing, sensing and imaging.

Certificate Requirements

Each certificate is comprised of at least one required course, with the remainder of the 9 credits selected from a list of elective courses. The program advisor will help you select courses that fit your interests and skills.

Advanced Computational Physics - Required

Advanced Computational Physics - Electives

Big Data Statistics in Astrophysics - Required

Big Data Statistics in Astrophysics - Electives (4000 level - Maximum 3 credits)

Big Data Statistics in Astrophysics - Electives (5000 level)

Frontiers in Materials Physics - Required - Choose one of the following:

Frontiers in Materials Physics - Electives

Only three credits at the 4000 level may count toward the certificate requirements.

Frontiers in Optics and Photonics - Required

Frontiers in Optics and Photonics - Electives

Contacts


Issei Nakamura

Issei Nakamura

Advanced Computational Physics

Elena Giusarma

Elena Giusarma

Big Data Statistics in Astrophysics

Jae Yong Suh

Jae Yong Suh

Frontiers in Materials Physics

Megan JohnsonMegan Johnson

Graduate Program Coordinator