Arba Minch University College of Natural Sciences Department of Physics
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ARBA MINCH UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS PhD CURRICULUM IN PHYSICS (Materials Physics Specialization) JULY, 2020 ARBA MINCH, ETHIOPIA Curriculum Developers: 1. Dr. Paulos Taddesse (Associate Professor) 2. Dr. Sintayehu Mekonnen (Assitant Professor) 3. Dr. Tesfay Gebremariam (Assitant Professor) 2 Table of Contents 1. Background ......................................................................................................................5 2. Program Rationale ..........................................................................................................7 3. Objectives of the PhD Program……………….......…...…………….………………….8 3.1. General Objective……………..………..…………………………...………..……….8 3.2. Specific Objectives ........................................................................................................8 4. Research Thematic Areas…………..........…………………………..…………….…….9 5. Graduate Profile………...…………………………………………….…………………9 6. Program Profile…………………...………………………………………….…..…….10 6.1. Admission Requirements .............................................................................................10 6.2. Graduation Requirement ………….………………………………………….……...11 6.3. Program Duration .........................................................................................................12 6.4. Degree Nomenclature ..................................................................................................12 7. Mode of Delivery…………….…………………………………….…………………..12 8. Educational Philosophy……………………………………………….……………......12 8.1. Teaching and Learning Approaches………………………………………..………..12 8.2. Assessment Strategies and Decisions………………………………………....……..13 8.2.1. Assessment of Course Work……………………….………………….…….……..13 8.2.2. Assessment of the PhD Dissertation ………………………………………....……13 9. Governance and Management of the Program……………………….……….………..14 9.1. Coordinating Bodies of the Program……………………....……………….…….….14 9.2. Advisory committee…………………………….……………………………………14 9.3. The Department Graduate Council ……………………………………….…………14 10. Quality Assurance Mechanisms…….……………………………...…………...……15 11. Resource Profile……………...………………………………………………………16 11.1. Human Resources…………………...………………….…………………………..16 11.2. Infrastructures and Laboratory Facilities Available……..……………………….…16 11.3. Collaborators for the Success of the Program…………………………………....…17 12. Additional Resources Required…………………...……….…….….…………….…..18 12.1. Human Resource……………………….………….………………………….....….18 12.2. Material Resources………..…………………...………………….………….……..18 3 12.3. Office Facility………..…………...…………...………………….…………….…..18 12.4. International Collaboration …………………...………………….…………….…..18 13. Course Coding and Listing……..…...…………………..….…….…………………..19 13.1. Course Coding……………………...………………….…….……………………..19 13.2. List of Courses……………………...………………….……….…………………..19 13.3. Course Breakdown…………….…...…………………..…………………………..20 14. Course Syllabus of the PhD Program…………….…...………………………….…..21 15. References…………….…...……..…………..………….…………….……………..53 4 1. Background For any successful economy development, particularly in today’s quest for knowledge based economies, science and technology are the basic requisites. Development at any phase is always linked with technology, and technology happens when there is advancement in science. This means that for every country to get developed, the application of both science and technology has to go hand in hand. Presently, countries are classified as developed and developing countries. The major categorization is based on economy and the application of science and technology. Various indicators reveal that countries which have a strong base in science and technology are the ones that developed faster. Ethiopia has also given a great emphasis for science and technology to transform the country into a lower middle income economy. In this regard, the government of Ethiopia has been focusing on the development of adequate human resource required in PhD level to generate and apply science and technology to satisfy the needs of the nation. Arba Minch University (AMU) being one of the well-established universities is expected to play a significant role in helping the government’s policies by designing and launching appropriate PhD programs in the areas that the government has serious demands. Physics is one of the core science fields that deals with energy and matter, and their interactions. It contributes greatly to the production of instruments and devices that provide tremendous benefits to the human race. Apart from this, the knowledge of Physics plays a very significant role for technological advancement of any nation. The Department of Physics is one of the seven departments at Natural Science College, actively involved in teaching and research at the undergraduate and graduate levels over a period of more than fifteen years. When the AMU was launched, the university was organized into different Faculties, like the Faculty of Applied Science, and the Faculty of Education. Until 2008 G.C, Applied Physics Department was situated in Applied Science Faculty, and Physics Education Department was also situated in the Education Faculty with a mission of training teachers for secondary schools. In 2008 G.C, the two duplicated departments were merged together, and the physics department was already a joint department under the college of natural science. For several years, the department of physics offers courses at the undergraduate 5 level leading to a bachelor’s degree in physics. The program emphasizes the fundamental concepts and principles of physics and their roles in a variety of disciplines. The Department has started postgraduate program in 2013. Currently, the Department offers postgraduate programs in Pure Physics (with specializations in astrophysics, quantum optics & information, condensed matter physics), Physics Education, and Materials Science & Engineering. Current major research activities of the Department are divided into three main research areas, namely experimental physics, computational physics, and theoretical physics. Under these categories, a large number of research works related to these fields are actively pursued by members of the Department. The courses designed under these programs enable the students to understand, explain and predicate the natural phenomena based on the fundamental principles and theory of physics, chemistry and the like. They are also contributing to produce qualified professionals and researchers for the industry, government or private organizations, and academic settings. Now with the experience it has gained, the department of physics has planned to launch a PhD program in physics with materials physics specializations. In the past few years, very few universities have been started post graduate programs in this field of specialization. The students who receive PhD degrees from this program will have a good chance to work at universities, institutes, companies, industries, and in other related areas. The vision and mission of the depart are discussed as follows: Vision The Department of Physics aspires to be a center of excellence in physics and materials science research and education. Mission The Department of Physics aspires to provide the best scientific methods in teaching a demand driven practical based scientific education in physics and materials science, all experimental theoretical as well as computational, and puts most of time to keep the level of education, scientific research and community service. 6 2. Program Rationale The advanced solid materials we currently know are based on the achievements of modern theoretical, computational and experimental methods, that ensure research and development of numerous processing techniques. The continuous rise in requirements for improvement of material properties and extension of possibilities of devices, created on their base, support tremendous interest to fast development of the theoretical, computational and experimental methods. Nowadays, Materials Physics is one of the most active research areas in both basic science and technological applications through experiments, computational and theoretical analysis in ranges from macroscale to nanoscale. Accordingly, this program is designed with the intention to produce qualified experimentalist as well as theorists who can engage themselves in various research activities at the industry, government or private organizations, and academic settings. This can be accomplished through the program’s core courses, selection of electives, and completion of defendable dissertation work. With the development of new technologies, materials play an increasingly important role in modern society. Thus, Materials Science has now become established as a discipline in its own right as well as an important area in the fields of Physics, Chemistry and Engineering. A sound knowledge in Science and Technology of materials is necessary for the efficient use of materials in industry. This aspect is particularly important for a developing country like Ethiopia in achieving its development goals. The broad aim of this PhD program is to give a basic knowledge in Materials Physics with emphasis on technologically important materials. Therefore, this PhD program will provide an opportunity to train graduate students required for various industries and also to improve the knowledge and skills of personnel already employed in the higher educational institutions and industrial sectors. The department of physics has conducted