• Completion, with a B average or better, of at least 24 credit hours of formal course work, of which at least six hours must be in a minor field or fields related to the major, and of which at least 9 hours must be course work above the 300 level.
  
• Completion of a research project approved by the Department, and submission and acceptance of a thesis on this work. The degree requires one academic year or its equivalent of residence at Vanderbilt University.

• Earn a B average in 42 credit hours of graduate study, four hours of which must be in Physics 399 and the candidate must submit a brief report on his or her research experience.
• Pass the Ph.D. Core Examination.