Qualifying Exam

Last modified on May 26, 2025.

All degree-pursing graduate students in the Physics program at Montana State University must pass a qualifying exam.  The exam is held semi-annually, once at the beginning of the fall semester and once at the beginning of the spring semester.

This web page provides current information on the upcoming qualifying exam.

This is the updated qualifying exam policy: New Qualifying Exam Policy

Current Qualifying Exam Committee

The exam is organized, written, and graded by the Qualifying Exam Committee.

For the 2025/2026 academic year, the committee is composed of:

• Dana Longcope (Chair)
• Bennett Link
• Jiong Qui
• Anton Vortonsov
• Hang Yu

Guidelines and committee policy

This year's Qualifying Exam Committee has authored a publicly available set of general guidlines for the exam. 

Fall 2025 Qualifying Exam

Topic List

A summery topic list for the Spring 2025 exam has been provided.

Schedule

Dates: The Fall 2025 qualifying exam will be held August 14-15

Location: TBD

Detailed Schedule

*Any student eligible to take any or all sections of the exam are expected to be present for that session. If you are unable to attend for any reason, please contact stephanie.mclaren@montana.edu and/or the exam chair, longcope@montana.edu.

Permitted note sheets

You are allowed to have one (1) 8.5" x 11" sheet of hand-written notes (front and back) per subject. You will be required to submit your notes with your exam.

Special accommodations

Accommodations will be made for students on a case-by-case basis in accordance to needs determined by the Office of Disability Services.

Requirements on the day of the exam

1. Follow current MSU policy with regard to masks.
2. Devices for music, noise cancelling headphones, or earplugs are allowed.
3. If you choose to listen to music through headphones, please use a moderate volume that does not disturb others.
4. Calculators are not allowed.

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Virtual Review Sessions

• Virtual review sessions will be held on WebEx (in-person with significant demand).
• They will be held four times per week beginning Mon. June 2
  • Mon/Wed: Classical mechanics
  • Tues/Thurs: Quantum mechanics
• Test takers should receive a WebEx invitation. If you do not receive one please e-mail longcope@montana.edu 

Previous Qualifying Exams

Prior qualifying exams are archived for reference:  archive of past qualifying exams.