The doctoral program is designed to give students a broad understanding of classical and modern physics, with intensive training in one of the frontier areas of modern research. A thesis of original research is required to give the students experience in advancing themselves to the leading edge of an important area of physics. Students are encouraged to study several sub-disciplines of physics so that they will be prepared to apply their fundamental knowledge beyond the field of their thesis work. An astronomy option is available that allows students who intend to carry out their thesis work in astronomy to replace several upper-division course requirements with astrophysics courses.