Fast Track to a Master's Degree

xraymancs
Thu, 03 May 2018 05:14:15 +0000

For quantum mechanics in particular, a solid undergraduate sequence is usually a full year covering the Griffiths book entirely. In a graduate quantum course, the same material is covered in a single semester and the second semester is much more in depth material. In our experience, students who have a rigorous undergraduate sequence can move directly to the second semester of graduate quantum mechanics. So, doing this accelerated MS will not compromise the material you cover too much. It gives you a first shot at graduate level material which you might have to take again in a Ph.D. program.

All that being said, if the accelerated MS costs you an extra year in your undergraduate program, it is not necessarily the best course of action. It might be more valuable for your Ph.D. applications for you to not have an M.S. and instead have more research experience and one less year at your undergraduate institution.