The Physics/CS ABM Program is for exceptional students. The accepted student will have:

• GPA ≥ 3.5 in PH and CS courses,
• GPA ≥ 3.5 in all UAB courses,
• a minimum of 60 credit hours, and 36 of these credit hours must have been taken at UAB, and
• be ready to take an MS course in their next academic year.

Before applying to the Graduate School, the prospective ABM student should meet with Prof. Camata (Physics UG Program Director) and Prof. Chengcui Zhang (M.S. in Data Science Program Director), as well as with the PH and CS undergraduate advisors; students should also meet with a financial aid/scholarship advisors to determine the impact of ABM on their scholarships and/or aid award.

Next, students must complete the UAB Graduate School application for the M.S. in Data Science, which includes a personal essay summarizing their academic interests, career goals, and relevant background experience, as well as the submission of their resume or CV. Students must then complete the ABM Program Form (including all approvals) and pay the application fee. As a student submits their application to the Graduate School, they must also send their ABM form to Mellissa Taylor (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), who is managing ABM applications.

Upon acceptance, a detailed plan for the course of study must be developed that is specific to each Physics/CS ABM student. This plan must be agreed upon by all parties (student; PH undergraduate program director, CS graduate program director, and PH and CS undergraduate advisors). It must be strictly adhered to while in the Physics/CS ABM program to guarantee continued participation in the ABM.

Acceptance into the program is typically at the end of sophomore year. Admission is granted by a committee co-chaired by the CS graduate program director and the PH undergraduate program director. Additional members of the admissions committee include the CS and PH undergraduate academic advisors.

Before the first M.S. course is taken, the student must finish the requirements for the CS minor.

Application deadlines are as follows:

• Fall Admission: August 1
• Spring Admission: December 1
• Summer Admission: May 1

To maintain status in the Physics/CS ABM, the student must:

• maintain a 3.5 GPA average in undergraduate PH and CS courses
• receive a B (or better) in the M.S. courses taken while still an undergraduate student, and
• maintain fulltime-student status at UAB (with exceptions for medical emergencies).

If any of these requirements is violated, the student will be withdrawn from the ABM program. If a student is withdrawn from the ABM program, they will retain credit for the courses already taken in the program.

Once the undergraduate has completed all course requirements for graduation, their undergraduate degree will be awarded.

Once the student graduates from the B.S., they enter the M.S. program as a regular M.S. student and must maintain the requirements of the M.S. program.

Qualified and motivated student may complete the Physics/CS ABM in 5 years without recourse to summer courses. The summers can be devoted to internships to enhance a student’s professional prospects [Frequency of CS 6xx course offerings may require adjustments to this plan.]

The Research-Intensive Physics ABM program encourages interested Freshmen and Sophomores to discuss with faculty whether the Physics ABM is the best path for them. Acceptance into the program is typically granted at the beginning of the junior year.

Before applying, the student must meet with the Physics graduate and undergraduate program directors, as well as with their undergraduate advisor, to discuss program requirements; students should also meet with a financial aid/scholarship advisor to determine the impact of the ABM on their scholarships and/or aid award.

The Academic Requirements are:

• a minimum average GPA of 3.5 in the Physics, Math, Chemistry and Engineering courses required for their Physics B.S.,
• a minimum average GPA of 3.5 in all UAB courses,
• a minimum of 60 credit hours, and 36 of these credit hours must have been taken at UAB

A student interested in entering the Research-Intensive Physics ABM should complete the ABM form AND an application to the M.S. Program in Physics. Both forms are available on the Graduate School website. The ABM application should be sent to Mellissa Taylor (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.); the M.S. application is automatically forwarded to the Graduate School.

If accepted, ABM Students will be enrolled in both the Physics B.S. and M.S. programs. Before the first M.S. course is taken, the student must have finished their Physics course requirements, except for the 400-level Physics courses.

Upon acceptance, a detailed personalized plan of study must be designed for each Physics ABM student. This plan must be approved by the student, the Physics graduate program director, the Physics undergraduate program director, and the student’s physics undergraduate research mentor.

Admission is granted by a committee consisting of at least one member of the graduate admissions committee and the undergraduate program director. The committee will be chaired by the graduate program director or his/her appointed representative.

To accelerate progress through the M.S. degree, a limited number of M.S. courses (up to 12 credit hours) may be counted as a Physics elective towards the completion of the B.S. degree AND towards the completion of the M.S. degree.

• The selected courses are typically courses in the B.S. program that are also cross-listed with graduate level courses for the M.S. program. See the below for a complete list.
• PH 698 (8 credit hours), Nonthesis Research, will be taken instead of undergraduate research courses such as PH 491, PH 491, PH 492, PH 495.
• The selected M.S. courses must be approved by the department.

To maintain status in ABM, the student must:

• maintain a 3.5 GPA average in undergraduate Physics courses
• receive a B (or better) in the M.S. courses taken while still an undergraduate student, and
• maintain fulltime-student status at UAB (with exceptions for medical emergencies).

If any of these requirements is not met, the student will withdraw from the ABM program. However, they will still retain credit for the courses already taken in the program.

Once the undergraduate student has completed all course requirements for graduation, their undergraduate degree will be awarded. Once the student graduates from the B.S., they will complete the remaining requirements of the M.S. Physics Program, and then be awarded a master's degree in Physics.

Further information about these ABM opportunities may be obtained from Dr. Renato P. Camata, Undergraduate Program Director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Dr. Mary Ellen Zvanut, Graduate Program Director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Additional details and online application are available through the UAB Graduate School Web Page.

Any of the PH5xx and PH6xx courses offered, with approval of the department and their research mentor. These courses include the following:

• PH 518 Computational Solid State Physics
• PH 520 Introduction to Methods in Theoretical Physics I
• PH 532 Statistical Thermodynamics I
• PH 545/546 Electromagnetic Theory I/II
• PH 550/551 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics I/II
• PH 553/554 Solid State Physics I/II
• PH 561 Classical Mechanics I
• PH 575 Intro to Biophysics I
• PH 581/2 Laser Physics I/II
• PH 587 Nanoscale Science and Applications
• PH 610 Classical Mechanics I
• PH 618 Computational Solid State Physics
• PH 635 Advanced Statistical Mechanics
• PH 650/651 Electromagnetic Theory I/II
• PH 653/4 Solid State Physics I/II
• PH 660 Methods of Mathematical Physics
• PH 671/2 Quantum Mechanics I/II
• PH 698 Nonthesis Research

In summary, the typical student in the Physics ABM will follow the Junior and Senior four-year plan of their chosen Physics track such as that shown below; however, 600-level courses may be taken instead of the suggested 400-level courses. In addition, a student will enroll in PH 698 (up to 8 credit hours) instead of the undergraduate research courses PH 490, PH 491, PH 492, or PH 495, in order to accelerate their path to the Physics M.S. degree.