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The Department boasts global recognition for its outstanding work in both experimental and theoretical astronomy, biology, condensed matter physics, nuclear physics, and particle physics. These research efforts are enhanced through partnerships with scholars at Virginia Tech and other academic institutions worldwide. The Physics Department provides graduate programs culminating in M.S. (with optional thesis) and Ph.D. degrees. To earn these degrees, students must complete mandatory and elective courses, along with passing a qualifying exam. The program offers two tracks: thesis and non-thesis, each demanding 32 credit hours of study. Students pursuing the thesis option must additionally produce and defend a research thesis, similar in scope to a preliminary examination.