Overview
The Accelerated Master’s Program (AMP) at The University of Alabama is intended for highly-motivated undergraduates and allows students to pursue a Master’s degree and take graduate-level courses that simultaneously count toward their undergraduate degree. More information on this program can be found from the Graduate School AMP page.
In the Department of Physics & Astronomy, AMP students would still pursue a regular Master’s degree, requiring at least 30 credit hours of appropriate graduate-level courses. In principle, for an AMP student, up to 15 credit hours of graduate-level courses can also count toward the undergraduate degree. In Physics & Astronomy, students are still be expected to take the vast majority of the normal undergraduate courses for their major, because these courses form the foundation for any graduate work in the subject. In practice, therefore, for a Physics & Astronomy AMP student, at most 6 credit hours of graduate courses can count toward their undergraduate major, and any additional credit hours from the AMP program would have to count toward non-major credit, if at all.
Learn more about our graduate degrees on the Graduate Program page.
Suggested Class Schedules for AMP in Physics/Astronomy
To be successful in the AMP program and earn the Master’s degree in the intended 5 years, students will need to plan well ahead to ensure that they have taken all undergraduate prerequisites in advance of the needed graduate classes. Here we outline some possible schedules that would allow students in either the Physics or Astronomy AMP program to complete the requirements in 5 years.
Physics Graduate School Track
| Year | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | MATH 125
|
MATH 126
PH 105 |
| Year 2 | MATH 227
PH 106 |
MATH 238
PH 253 |
| Year 3 | PH 255
PH 331 |
PH 302
PH 332 |
| Year 4 | PH 441
PH 501 PH 531 |
PH 442
PH 471 PH 541 |
| Year 5 | Grad Elective
Grad Elective Grad Elective |
PH 571
Grad Elective Grad Elective Grad Elective |
Astrophysics Track
| Year | Fall | Spring |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | MATH 125
|
MATH 126
PH 105 |
| Year 2 | MATH 227
PH 106 AY 203 AY 204 |
MATH 238
PH 253 AY 206 |
| Year 3 | PH 255
PH 331 |
PH 302
PH 332 |
| Year 4 | PH 441
PH 501 PH 531 |
PH 442
PH 541 Grad Elective |
| Year 5 | Grad Elective
Grad Elective Grad Elective |
AY 521 or AY 533
Grad Elective Grad Elective |
How to Apply for AMP in Physics & Astronomy
For the minimum requirements to enter the Accelerated Master’s Program in the Department of Physics & Astronomy, please consult the AMP table in the Graduate School Catalog.
To apply for AMP, students should complete an application to the UA Graduate School.
The deadline for an AMP application is 1 April each year.
For an AMP application compared to a regular Master’s application, please note the following:
- Students should submit a Statement of Purpose and arrange for at least two letters of reference to be provided
- The GRE score requirement is waived for AMP applicants
- Please be sure to indicate Accelerated Masters Program as your intended program in the application