Introduction
The Ph.D. placement/qualifying exam is the first major milestone you will encounter on your path to the Ph.D. in physics at FIU. These written exams are often viewed as challenging, not because they test highly specialized or graduate‑level material, but because they require a solid command of the core physics topics typically covered at the advanced undergraduate level. Success on the exam depends on broad foundational knowledge, careful preparation, and the ability to interpret questions and apply standard mathematical and problem‑solving techniques. Although the exact questions vary, the goal remains constant: to assess your grasp of the essential principles that underlie all areas of physics and to ensure that you can use this basic knowledge effectively and efficiently as you progress into more advanced graduate‑level work.
The following material, recommendations, copies of old exams, and links to books and other resources are provided to help you prepare.
Information
- About the exam: General information on what to expect, when exams are administered, the topics covered, length and other exam metadata.
- Past Exams: Below is the list of exams dating back to the begining of the program.
- 2025: Classical Physics and Modern Physics
- 2024: Classical Physics and Modern Physics
- 2023: Classical Physics and Modern Physics
- 2022: Classical Physics and Modern Physics
- 2021: Classical Physics and Modern Physics
- 2020: Classical Physics and Modern Physics
- 2019: Classical Physics and Modern Physics
- 2018: Classical Physics and Modern Physics
- 2017: Classical Physics and Modern Physics
- 2016: Classical Physics and Modern Physics
- 2006 – 2015: Classical Physics and Modern Physics
- 2001 – 2005: Classical Physics and Modern Physics
- The exam problems are collected from faculty in the department, mostly from those currently teaching the advanced undergraduate and graduate courses. Below is a table of topics with associated faculty who currently teach the, the primary textbooks they use, and additional information.
- Notes collected on problems solved by FIU students
Table of Instructors, FIU Courses and Resources
| Level | Course Description | Catalog Number | Instructor | Textbook(s) Used | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introductory | Modern Physics | PHY3106 | K.Kadel/L.Guo | Serway/MosesandMoyer | Syllabus |
| Intermediate/Advanced | Physics Labs | PHY3802L/4821L | L.Guo/J.L.Rodriguez | P.R.Bevington and D.K.Robinson/L.Lyons | Bevinton&Robinson |
| Intermediate | Classical Mechanics | PHY4221 | R.Laird | Thorton&Marion | Syllabus |
| Advanced | Classical Mechanics | PHY5240 | L.Guo | H.Goldstein/D.Morin | Syllabus |
| Intermediate | Electromagnetism | PHY4323/4324 | J.L.Rodriguez | D.J.Griffiths/Wagness | Syllabus PHY4323 / Syllabus PHY4324 |
| Advanced | Electromagnetism | PHY5346/5347 | W.Cosyn | A.Zangwill/J.D.Jackson/L.Landau | None |
| Intermediate | Quantum Mechanics | PHY4604/4605 | R.Narayanan | Shankar/Griffiths | Syllabus |
| Intermediate | Quantum Mechanics | PHY6645/6646 | M.Sargsian | E.S.Abers | Syllabus |
| Intermediate | Thermodynamics | PHY3513 | R.Narajanan | D.V.Schroeder | Syllabus |
| Advanced | Statistical Mechanics | PHY6524 | B.Gerstman | F.Reif | Syllabus |