The Comprehensive Exam is administered every year in August near the start of the fall semester. The exam consists of three sections: Classical & Statistical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, and Electromagnetism & Special Relativity.
Next Exam
The 2025 Comprehensive Exam dates are:
- Monday, ______, 0900 - 1200 (Classical and statistical mechanics)
- Wednesday, ______, 0900 - 1200 (Quantum mechanics)
- Friday, ______, 0900-1200 (E&M and special relativity)
For each of the three sections, students will generally select a subset of around three problems to solve. Mathematical/integral table handbooks are not allowed as the problems will give any necessary "obscure" information.
The level of the exam is as follows:
- Classical and statistical mechanics: Goldstein and Mandl
- Quantum mechanics: Griffiths through Merzbacher
- E&M and special relativity: Griffiths and Jackson
The content and administration of the exam is the sole discretion of the Physics & Astronomy Department.
To register, email Krissy in OPB 201 by August 1.
Past Exams
At present, past exams are distributed to current graduate students.
Past exams are available via Google Drive here (must access with UAH credentials).