Departamento de Física Teórica

General Description

Information about the Master in Theoretical Physics

 

A new Master program in Theoretical Physics was approved by the Ministry in 2013 and a modification of this plan of Master studies approved by ANECA, was established in the academic course 2015-16.

 

Objectives

 

The main objectives of the Master Program are to provide academic training specializing in Theoretical Physics, and an introduction into research. This Master naturally leads to PhD studies. The training received during the Master is equivalent to that of the most demanding European schools, and is similar to that obtained in the postgraduate programs of prestigious North American universities. The skills acquired upon completion of the Master are valuable in competing for jobs of a diverse nature, both in the academic or scientific domain and in applied research in such diverse fields as Economics, IT and Communication technologies, Medicine and many others.

 The graduates of the Master in Theoretical Physics will be trained in a wide variety of professional tasks, such as:

a) Pursuing a scientist career;

b) Working in research institutes, astronomic observatories, etc.

c) Undertaking tasks in secondary teaching

d) Joining technology companies (for example, in the field of accelerators, aerospaces, etc.) as well as consulting firms, telecommunication companies, multi-media corporations, software development, image data processing, etc.

e) Realizing scientific research in diverse sectors (Communication area, planetariums, museums, etc.).

Theoretical Physics stands out with its multidisciplinary character through covering a wide range of scientific and technological knowledge. The research fields are:

• Physics

• Mathematics

• Statistics

• Astronomy

• Astrophysics

• Cosmology

• Space Sciences

• Engineering

• Computer science: software and hardware development

 

The capabilities and competencies acquired during the Master are very diverse, due to the versatile nature of its profile; we would like to point out some of them:

• Development of scientific research in an independent way

• Development and use of new technologies at both the academic and business level.

• Development of instrumentation in Particle Physics and Astronomy, from Earth as well as from Space, etc.

• Perception of physics from a human, scientific and technical perspective

• Distribution of the achievements of Particle Physics, Cosmology and Astrophysics in society.

 

The field "Theoretical Physics" - which is the prime subject of this Master - refers to a wide range of disciplines including Fundamental Physics, Cosmology and Astrophysics. They require a fundamental understanding of the structure of matter as well as a profound knowledge of the origin and evolution of the Universe. Among other disciplines, Theoretical Physics encompasses: Quantum Field Theory, Theoretical and Experimental Physics of Fundamental Particles, Cosmology, Nuclear Physics, Gravitation Theory, Astrophysics, Astroparticle Physics, Condensed Matter Theory, Computational Physics, Quantum Mechanics Physics and others. Those and other more specialized disciplines form the base of the research areas in which the participating professors are currently pursuing their work and which are also the fundamental elements inspiring this Masters´ program.

 

 

 

Contents

 

The Master is subdivided into two specialties; one is “Elementary Particles and Cosmology” (PEC) and the other is “Astrophysics and Physics of the Cosmos” (AFC). There are two obligatory courses for both these specialties, in addition to the “Master thesis”. Every specialty includes additional obligatory courses (two in PEC and three in AFC). There are common optional courses in both specialties as well as individual optional courses. The student has the liberty to select any of the optional courses independent of the specialty, e.g. obligatory courses of one specialty can be selected as optional courses for the other specialty.

 

 

                                               Chart 1: Resume of the courses and division in credits ECTS

 

 

The plan of the Master studies in Theoretical Physics includes:

a)  Common obligatory courses:

a.1) ´Gravitation´ (6 ECTS)

a.2) ´Cosmology´ (6 ECTS)

a.3) ´Master thesis´ (12 ECTS)

 

b)  Obligatory courses for the specialty ´Elementary Physics and Cosmology´

b.1) ‘Quantum Field Theory´ (6 ECTS)

b.2) ´Standard Model of Particle Physics´ (6 ECTS)

 

c)  Obligatory courses for the specialty ´Astrophysics and Physics of the Cosmos´

c.1) ´Stellar Structure and Evolution´ (6 ECTS)

c.2) ´ Interstellar medium´ (6 ECTS)

c.3) ´Radiative processes in astrophysics´ (6 ECTS)

d)  Optional courses for both specialties

d.1) ´Astroparticle Physics´ (6 ECTS)

d.2) ´Advanced Cosmology´ (6 ECTS)

 d.3) ´Nuclear Structure´ (6 ECTS)

 

e) Optional courses orientated to the specialty of “Elementary Particles and Cosmology”

e.1) ´Advanced Quantum Field Theory´ (6 ECTS)

e.2) ´Advanced Mathematics´ (6 ETCS)

e.3) ´Open Problems in the Standard Model´ (6 ECTS)

e.4) ´Experimental Particle Physics´ (6 ECTS)

e.5) ´Quantum Entanglement and Information ´ (6 ECTS)

 

f) Optional courses orientated to the specialty of ´Astrophysics and Physics of the Cosmos´

f.1) ´Galaxy Formation and Evolution´ (6 ECTS)

f.2) ´Stars and Planets Formation´ (6 ECTS)

f.3) ´Observational techniques in Astrophysics´ (6 ECTS)

f.4) ´ Computational Astrophysics´ (6 ECTS)

 

The enrollment in optional subjects will not be definitive until the period of registration has finished and it is proved that the minimal number of students has been reached, so that the subject can be given.

 

Teaching Guides

 

In the download area you can find the actual Schedule of the Master and statistical data about our Master.

 

Recommended profile:

Applicants who already have obtained a “grado” or the “licenciatura” in Physics at a Spanish University (or an equivalent international title) do not have to take additional training courses.

“licenciatura” in Chemistry or Mathematics obtained at a Spanish University (or who have an equivalent international title of a foreign university) additional training courses outside of the Master will be established. The same holds for students with a higher engineering degree (e.g. aeronautics/aerospace, Civil and Territorial, Materials, roads, canals and ports, industrial technologies, Energy, Chemistry, shipping, Naval and Oceanica, Telecommunication or Geomatics and Topography).

 

 

Awards and Quality Control

The official postgraduate program in Theoretical Physics has been singled out with the prestigious “Mencion de Calidad” ("Mentioning of Quality") by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (MEC). This prize offers advantages to students who apply for MEC grants to do a doctoral thesis within the postgraduate program. The doctoral program of Theoretical Physics has received this award since the first academic year 2003-2004 (Refs. MCD2003-00221, MCD2006-00374).

The program is subject to an internal Quality Control system, within the “Sistema de Garantía Interna de Calidad” of the UAM Science Faculty.

 

More information: 

 

Link Admission Procedure to Official Master's Degree Programmes

 

Coordinator:

Juan García-Bellido Capdevila

Department of Theoretical Physics

Tlf. (34) 912 999 812

e-mail: informacion.master.fisicateorica@uam.es