UH-CLEAR LAKE AND UH ANNOUNCE COLLABORATIVE
PHYSICS PROGRAM
HOUSTON, — Area future physicists hoping to attain a Ph.D.
will have another option with the help of a new collaborative program
between University of Houston-Clear Lake and University of Houston.
The agreement, which will allow students to begin the program as
early as fall 2007 semester, offers a smooth transition for students
in UH-Clear Lake’s Master of Science in Physics program into
UH’s Ph.D. program.
“This is a great opportunity for us to join forces with our
sister system university,” said UH-Clear Lake Faculty Chair
and Assistant Professor of Physics David Garrison. “This partnership
allows some of the local Clear Lake area scientists to work and
to continue their education part-time or full-time without having
to travel to downtown Houston to complete their degrees.”
Students initially apply to the master’s program at UH-Clear
Lake. If the student then decides to go on for a doctorate, he/she
will apply to a joint admissions committee comprising UH and UH-Clear
Lake faculty. The student can then complete the UH Ph.D. program
at UH-Clear Lake and/or UH.
Classes will be taught by UH and UH-Clear Lake faculty, with both
universities’ instructors available to serve on thesis committees.
The doctoral degree would be conferred by UH.
“We are excited about this new relationship with our fellow
campus,” said UH Professor and Chair of Physics Lawrence S.
Pinsky. “It will not only provide opportunities for students
from the Clear Lake area to pursue Ph.D. degrees in physics, but
it will also allow us to add the expertise of our colleagues at
UH-Clear Lake to our faculty mix.
“Hopefully, this arrangement will act as an archetype for
similar associations between other departments and colleges at our
two institutions.”
Garrison says the program was developed after requests from the
community and responses to several surveys completed during the
past five years. Responses to the surveys overwhelmingly supported
such a partnership.
“With the many scientists in the Gulf Coast region, we are
not surprised by the support from the community for this partnership,”
said Garrison. “The average doctoral program in physics has
a graduate enrollment of approximately 65 students. Our enrollment
could exceed 100 graduate students within a few years based on current
UH-Clear Lake physics enrollment, national trends and survey results.”
While most Ph.D. physics programs have an average completion time
of six years, this program has a 10-year cap, allowing for those
with busy schedules to complete the program without having to attend
class full time.
“This type of program is the first of its kind for those
seeking advanced degrees in physics” added Garrison. “I
look forward to working with the UH physics faculty.”
For more information about the UH-Clear Lake/UH collaborative physics
program, call Garrison, 281-283-3796, or e-mail garrison@uhcl.edu.
University of Houston-Clear Lake’s School of Science and
Computer Engineering offers 23 degree programs in 14 fields to prepare
graduates for careers in natural sciences, mathematics, computing
and computer and software engineering. For more information about
the School of Science and Computer Engineering, visit http://sce.uhcl.edu
or call 281-283-3700.
For more information about UH visit the universitys Newsroom
at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
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