哲学博士或科学博士的候选人应参加那些为普通考试做好准备的基础研究生科目，必须在首次入学后的第七个学期通过。没有规定具体的研究科目，除了要求该候选人的博士研究领域有两个科目，并且要求该候选人的专业领域以外的两个科目（广度要求）。宽度要求的一半可以通过部门认可的工业实习来满足。博士学位论文必须代表大量的原创性研究，并且要在系主任的监督下进行。物理系的教职人员提供教学课程，并从事实验和理论物理学各个领域的研究。这些广泛的活动是在部门的部门结构中组织的，如下所示。鼓励研究生与他们所选择的部门的教职人员联系，以询问
Candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy or Doctor of Science are expected to enroll in those basic graduate subjects that prepare them for the general examination, which must be passed no later than in the seventh term after initial enrollment. Students are required to take two subjects in the candidate's doctoral research area (specialty requirement) and two subjects outside the candidate's field of specialization (breadth requirement). In addition, all students in the first year of the PhD program must enroll in two semesters of 8.398, a seminar specifically for first-year students. Half of the breadth requirement may be satisfied through a departmentally approved industrial internship. The doctoral thesis must represent a substantial piece of original research, carried out under the supervision of a department faculty member.<br><br>The Physics Department faculty members offer subjects of instruction and are engaged in research in a variety of fields in experimental and theoretical physics. This broad spectrum of activities is organized in the divisional structure of the department, presented below. Graduate students are encouraged to contact faculty members in the division of their choice to inquire about opportunities for research, and to pass through an apprenticeship (by signing up for Pre-Thesis Research) as a first step toward an engagement in independent research for a doctoral thesis.