{"id":4174,"date":"2015-10-08T16:52:16","date_gmt":"2015-10-08T20:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/physics.cos.ucf.edu\/?page_id=4174"},"modified":"2025-09-23T15:48:01","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T19:48:01","slug":"ucf-bridge-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sciences.ucf.edu\/physics\/graduate\/ucf-bridge-program\/","title":{"rendered":"UCF Physics Bridge Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t\t
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Program Overview<\/h2>\n

UCF\u2019s Physics Department became an APS Bridge Program site in 2015 with the goal to expand access to Physics PhD programs.\u00a0 UCF is the second-largest university in the USA and is located in the 2.3 million-strong metropolitan area of Orlando, Florida.<\/p>\n

At UCF, Bridge Program (BP) Fellows not only join the department with their cohort but are also fully integrated into the graduate program from the time they join the department.\u00a0 Hence, BP Fellows at UCF are formally full-fledged graduate students, with the same financial support and departmental research opportunities as any graduate student, while also having the BP’s specialized mentoring and advising designed to help them achieve professional success both in the classroom and in a research group.\u00a0 Depending on their preparation, BP Fellows take either core graduate courses or a mix of graduate and undergraduate courses. First year BP Fellows benefit from peer mentoring from the more senior BP Fellows.\u00a0 In addition, each BP Fellow is also matched with a faculty mentor for enhanced research experience.<\/p>\n

Our BP Fellows participate in professional development workshops offered by the College of Graduate Studies.\u00a0 BP Fellows have the option to apply to the Physics PhD program at UCF or other institution of their choice.\u00a0 To apply to the UCF Physics PhD program by the Fall priority deadline of January 15th*, click here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

*Note:<\/strong> The priority application deadline i<\/span>f applying to the Planetary Sciences Track is December 1st.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t

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Research<\/h2>\n

We offer a veritable cornucopia of research topics in both experimental and theoretical physics to choose from (e.g.\u00a0 Condensed Matter, Atomic\/Molecular\/Optical Physics, Biological Physics, Planetary Science, Quantum Information, Physics Education). Further research opportunities are offered by our affiliated faculty from related units, such as the College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL), the Nanoscience Technology Center, the Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center (AMPAC), Florida Solar Energy Center and the Florida Space Institute (FSI).<\/p>\n

Additional information about our Physics faculty and their research areas can be found\u00a0here<\/a><\/strong>. We encourage prospective\u00a0Bridge Fellows\u00a0to contact faculty to discuss their research interest as they develop their application.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t

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Coursework and Advising<\/h2>\n

A Physics MS student is required to take a minimum 30 credit hours graduate level courses – a combination of core courses, electives, thesis, directed research and\/or independent study. On arrival, the BP Fellow will take a diagnostic test (equivalent to a Physics GRE), following which the graduate program director will advise students individually to identify the courses they should take.\u00a0During their first year in the program, BP Fellows have the option of applying to the PhD program at UCF or seeking admission elsewhere, through the normal process. Additional information about the Physics MS program can be found here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t

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Meet the UCF Bridge Program Team<\/h4>\n
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