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Bilkent University

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Undergraduate and Graduate Programs 2024-2025


PHYSICS

Ceyhun Bulutay, Ph.D., Chair

Academic Staff
Courses

The Department of Physics offers courses that lead to B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees.

The Department pursues a state-of-the-art research program. Research areas include the study of condensed matter physics, optoelectronic devices, nanoscience, lasers and photonics, statistical physics, material science, semiconductor physics, computational physics, ultrafast photonics, surface physics, mesoscopic physics, quantum optics, ultracold atomic physics. The department facilities compound semiconductor research and technology laboratory consisting of Class 100 and Class 10 000 clean rooms housing a mask aligner, SEM, PECVD, RIE, UHV evaporator, magnetron sputterer, RTP, I-V, C-V and microwave measurement setups. Experimental research areas include photonics, nanocrystals, lasers and optoelectronic device technologies.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

The aim of the Physics Department is to educate the future scientists who can make original and advanced research at international level in fundamental physics or in its high technology applications in close relationship with other basic science and engineering departments. The undergraduate program is structured with the assumption that the all of the students will continue his or her education towards an M.S. and a Ph.D. degree in Physics. The Department therefore admits a small number of talented and highly qualified students every year. The program enables the student to attain a solid background in all areas of physics. A number of elective courses are offered for students whose interests developed in various areas of physics.

CURRICULUM

FIRST YEAR

Autumn Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
CHEM 101  Principles of Chemistry I  3  4  4  6.5
ENG 101  English and Composition I  5    3  5
GE 100  Orientation      1  2
MATH 101  Calculus I  4    4  6.5
PHYS 101  General Physics I  3  3  4  6.5
PHYS 120  Orientation for Physics Majors  1    1  2
TURK 101  Turkish I      2  3.5

Spring Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
CS 115  Introduction to Programming in Python  3  4  4  6.5
ENG 102  English and Composition II  5    3  5
MATH 102  Calculus II  4    4  6.5
PHYS 102  General Physics II  3  3  4  6.5
PHYS 124  Freshman Project  1  3  2  3.5
TURK 102  Turkish II      2  3.5

SECOND YEAR

Autumn Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
CHEM 201  Materials Science and Technology  3    3  5
GE 250  Collegiate Activities Program I      -  1
HIST 200  History of Turkey  3    4  6.5
MATH 241  Engineering Mathematics I  4    4  6.5
MBG 110  Introduction to Modern Biology  3    3  5
PHYS 211  Waves, Optics and Thermodynamics  3    4  6.5

Spring Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
GE 251  Collegiate Activities Program II      1  2
MATH 242  Engineering Mathematics II  4    4  6.5
PHYS 212  Modern Physics  3    4  6.5
PHYS 218  Analytical Mechanics  3    3  5
PHYS 242  Advanced Calculus for Applications in Physics  3    3  5
  Elective      3  -

THIRD YEAR

Autumn Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
COMD 358  Professional Communication  3    3  5
HUM 111  Cultures Civilizations and Ideas I  3    3  5
PHYS 291  Summer Practice      -  7
PHYS 315  Electromagnetic Theory I  3    3  5
PHYS 325  Quantum Mechanics I  3    3  5
PHYS 371  Numerical Methods in Physics  3    3  5

Spring Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
HUM 112  Cultures Civilizations and Ideas II  3    3  5
PHYS 334  Statistical Physics  3    3  5
PHYS 374  Experimental Methods of Physics  3  3  4  6.5
  Elective      3  -
  Physics Elective      3  -

FOURTH YEAR

Autumn Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
PHYS 491  Senior Project I    4  4  6.5
  Elective      3  -
  Physics Elective      3  -
  Social Science Core Elective      3  -
  Technical Elective      3  -

Spring Semester

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
PHYS 492  Senior Project II    4  4  6.5
  Arts Core Elective      3  -
  Elective      3  -
  Physics Elective      3  -
  Technical Electives (2)      6  -

PHYSICS ELECTIVE COURSES

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
PHYS 316  Electromagnetic Theory II  3    3  5
PHYS 326  Quantum Mechanics II  3    3  5
PHYS 333  Classical Thermodynamics  3    3  5
PHYS 372  Methods in Computational Physics  3    3  5
PHYS 375  Experimental Optics  3  4  4  6.5
PHYS 405  Theory of General Relativity  3    3  5
PHYS 415  Optics  3    3  5
PHYS 420  Nanoscience and Nanotechnology I  3    3  5
PHYS 421  Nanoscience and Nanotechnology II  3    3  5
PHYS 434  Quantum Measurements and Sensing  3    3  5
PHYS 438  Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics  3    3  5
PHYS 440  Introduction to Quantum Transport Phenomena in Solids  3    3  5
PHYS 442  Quantum optics  3    3  5
PHYS 445  Condensed Matter Physics I  3    3  5
PHYS 446  Condensed Matter Physics II  3    3  5
PHYS 447  Optical Properties of Solids  3    3  5
PHYS 448  Magnetic Properties of Solids  3    3  5
PHYS 449  Group Theory  3    3  5
PHYS 451  Introduction to Many Body Theory  3    3  5
PHYS 452  Elementary Excitations in Solids  3    3  5
PHYS 453  Nuclear and Particle Physics  3    3  5
PHYS 457  Special Topics in Theoretical Physics  3    3  5
PHYS 458  Introduction to the Physics of Low- Dimensional Systems  3    3  5
PHYS 464  Optical Trapping and Optical Manipulation  3  4  3  5
PHYS 465  Semiconductor Device Physics  3    3  5
PHYS 467  Optoelectronic Innovative Designs  3    3  5
PHYS 475  Semiconductor Device Physics  3    3  5
PHYS 476  Quantum Electronics  3    3  5
PHYS 477  Ultrafast Lasers and Nonlinear Optics  3    3  5
PHYS 478  Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos  3    3  5
PHYS 479  Complex Adaptive Dynamic Systems  3    3  5
PHYS 480  Field Theory  3    3  5
PHYS 481  Theory of Relativity  3    3  5
PHYS 482  Elementary Particles  3    3  5

SOCIAL SCIENCE CORE ELECTIVE COURSES

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
ECON 107  Principles of Microeconomics  3    3  5
ECON 108  Principles of Macroeconomics  3    3  5
HCIV 101  History of Civilization I  3    3  5
HCIV 102  History of Civilization II  3    3  5
HIST 205  An Introduction to the History of the Ottoman Empire  3    3  5
IR 101  Introduction to World Politics  3    3  5
IR 214  Global Environmental Issues  3    3  5
LAW 211  Basic Concepts of Law  3    3  5
POLS 101  Politics I: What is it?  3    3  5
PSYC 100  Introduction to Psychology  3    3  5
PSYC 102  Introduction to Social Psychology  3    3  5
SOC 101  Introduction to Sociology  3    3  5

ARTS CORE ELECTIVE COURSES

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
ADA 265  How Houses Build People  3    3  5
COMD 203  Media Studies I  3    3  5
FA 171  Introduction to Art, Design and Culture I  3    3  5
HART 117  Ways of Seeing: Approaches to Art and Architectural History  3    3  5
MSC 110  The Culture and Basics of Music Making  3    3  5
THR 110  Introduction to Theatre  3    3  5

Double Major with Physics

The double major program in physics is an option for exceptional undergraduate students enrolled in a host undergraduate program to pursue a second bachelor's degree from the Physics Department to prepare them for interdisciplinary research. Students are closely supervised and are responsible for all courses in the physics undergraduate curriculum except common or equivalent courses with their host undergraduate programs.

Admission Requirements: Students with a cumulative grade point average of 3.30/4.00 and higher can start after completing two or three semesters in their host undergraduate programs.

Degree Requirements: Students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00/4.00 and higher in their host undergraduate programs while continuing in the double major physics program and finishing it within ten semesters after enrolling in their host undergraduate programs.

MINOR PROGRAM

The minor program is designed to attract bright students from other majors and provide them with a strong background in the main concepts that are usually found in a physics undergraduate curriculum. The program is designed to expose the students to both theoretical and experimental methods in physics and lead them towards interdisciplinary research areas. The strong physics background provided by the minor program will be advantageous to students who choose to go on to graduate study in Physics as well as other science and engineering disciplines.

Prerequisite Courses:

  • PHYS 101 General Physics I
  • PHYS 102 General Physics II
  • MATH 101 Calculus I
  • MATH 102 Calculus II

CURRICULUM

Courses

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
PHYS 218  Analytical Mechanics  3    3  5
PHYS 325  Quantum Mechanics I  3    3  5
PHYS 334  Statistical Physics  3    3  5
PHYS 374  Experimental Methods of Physics  3  3  4  6.5
  Electives (2)      6  -

ELECTIVE COURSES

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
PHYS 211  Waves, Optics and Thermodynamics  3    4  6.5
PHYS 212  Modern Physics  3    4  6.5
PHYS 252  Introductory Astronomy  3    3  5
PHYS 315  Electromagnetic Theory I  3    3  5
PHYS 316  Electromagnetic Theory II  3    3  5
PHYS 326  Quantum Mechanics II  3    3  5
PHYS 415  Optics  3    3  5
PHYS 445  Condensed Matter Physics I  3    3  5
PHYS 446  Condensed Matter Physics II  3    3  5
PHYS 453  Nuclear and Particle Physics  3    3  5

GRADUATE PROGRAM

The graduate program aims to develop students into scientists who can pursue original and creative research activities. This program is an important part of the research activity which aims to produce significant scientific output on an international level. The graduate program emphasizes research in various fields of condensed matter physics, in relation to the rapidly developing high technology fields such as photonics, nanoscience and nanotechnology. Presently, research is in progress in the physics of electrons in lower dimensionalities, nanoscience, statistical mechanics, many-body physics, strongly correlated electrons, properties of new materials, fabrication and theoretical analysis of new devices, computational physics, ultrafast photonics, optoelectronic devices, quantum optics, ultracold atomic physics.

Master of Science in Physics

Admission: All Applicants are required to have a B.S. degree in physics, or in a related field of science or engineering. Students with a B.S. degree in areas other than physics may be requested to take several undergraduate courses in the field to acquire the necessary background. Evaluation of applicants is based on their ALES (Akademik Personel ve Lisansüstü Eğitimi Giriş Sınavı - Academic Personnel and Postgraduate Education Entrance Examination) scores, past academic records, reference letters and an interview. Applicants who are not Turkish citizens and Turkish citizen applicants who are residents of another country may take GRE instead of ALES. All non-native speakers of English are required to submit a proof of satisfactory knowledge of English.

Degree Requirements:In addition to at least 21 credit units of course work, the M.S. degree candidate must prepare and successfully defend a thesis. Expected duration to complete the M.S. program is four semesters; the maximum duration is six semesters.

CURRICULUM

Courses

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
GE 500  Research Methods and Academic Publication Ethics      -  1
GE 590  Academic Practices      -  12
PHYS 541  Electromagnetic Theory I  3    3  5
PHYS 542  Electromagnetic Theory II  3    3  5
PHYS 543  Advanced Quantum Mechanics I  3    3  5
PHYS 599  Master's Thesis      -  71
  Graduate Elective MSs (4)      12  -
  Graduate Seminar in Physics      -  -

The descriptions provided here for different elective course groups are only for guidance. The complete list of courses in each elective group are given in the electronic registration system.

Graduate Elective Courses: All 5XX or higher level courses with at least 3 credits offered by Graduate School of Engineering and Science. Graduate School of Engineering and Science comprises graduate programs of the departments of Computer Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, Mathematics, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Physics, Architecture, and the interdisciplinary graduate programs Material Science and Nanotechnology, and Neuroscience.

Doctor of Philosophy in Physics

Admission: All applicants are required to have a bachelor's degree in physics, or in a related field of science or engineering. Evaluation of applicants is based on their ALES (Akademik Personel ve Lisansüstü Eğitimi Giriş Sınavı - Academic Personnel and Postgraduate Education Entrance Examination) scores, past academic records, reference letters and an interview. Applicants who are not Turkish citizens and Turkish citizen applicants who are residents of another country may take GRE instead of ALES. All non-native speakers of English are required to submit a proof of satisfactory knowledge of English.

Degree Requirements: 21 credit units of course work beyond the M.S. level or 42 credits of course work beyond the B.S. level is required. Ph.D. candidates must pass a qualifying exam and then must prepare a thesis work proposal. Preparing and defending a dissertation based on original research is the essence of the program. A paper based on the candidate's thesis must be accepted or published in a reputable journal before the dissertation can be defended. The expected duration to complete the Ph.D. program is eight semesters for students who enter the program after an M.S. degree, and ten semesters for those who enter after a B.S. degree. The maximum durations are twelve and fourteen semesters, respectively.

Doctor of Philosophy in Physics

CURRICULUM

Courses

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
GE 500  Research Methods and Academic Publication Ethics      -  1
GE 690  Academic Practices      -  24
PHYS 544  Advanced Quantum Mechanics II  3    3  5
PHYS 552  Statistical Physics  3    3  5
PHYS 580  Experimental Methods in Applied Physics  2  4  3  5
PHYS 699  Ph.D. Dissertation      -  203
  Graduate Elective PhDs (4)      12  -
  Graduate Seminar in Physics      -  -

Doctor of Philosophy in Physics (After a Bachelor's Degree)

CURRICULUM

Courses

Code Course Name Hours Credit ECTS
Credit
Lec. Other
GE 500  Research Methods and Academic Publication Ethics      -  1
GE 690  Academic Practices      -  24
PHYS 541  Electromagnetic Theory I  3    3  5
PHYS 542  Electromagnetic Theory II  3    3  5
PHYS 543  Advanced Quantum Mechanics I  3    3  5
PHYS 544  Advanced Quantum Mechanics II  3    3  5
PHYS 552  Statistical Physics  3    3  5
PHYS 580  Experimental Methods in Applied Physics  2  4  3  5
PHYS 699  Ph.D. Dissertation      -  203
  Graduate Elective PhDs (8)      24  -
  Graduate Seminar in Physics (2)      -  -

The descriptions provided here for different elective course groups are only for guidance. The complete list of courses in each elective group are given in the electronic registration system.

Graduate Elective Courses: All 5XX or higher level courses with at least 3 credits offered by Graduate School of Engineering and Science. Graduate School of Engineering and Science comprises graduate programs of the departments of Computer Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemistry, Mathematics, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Physics, Architecture, and the interdisciplinary graduate programs Material Science and Nanotechnology, and Neuroscience.

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