The University recently announced a collaboration that would allow UH-Clear Lake physics students an opportunity to enroll in UH’s doctoral program.
"We are excited about this new relationship with our fellow campus," UH Professor and Chair of Physics Lawrence S. Pinsky said in a release.
UHCL students can apply to the master’s program at their campus and if they are interested in pursuing a doctorate, a student can apply to joint admissions committee made up of UH and UH-Clear Lake faculty.
"This is a great opportunity for us to join forces with our sister system university," UH-Clear Lake Faculty Chair and Assistant Professor of Physics David Garrison said.
"This partnership allows some of the local Clear Lake area scientists to work and to continue their education part-time or full-time without having to travel to downtown Houston to complete their degrees."
The Ph.D. program’s classes are taught by faculty members of both campuses and can be completed at either campus. Instructors will be available to serve on thesis committees. Once the program is completed, the eventual degree will be awarded by UH.
"(The partnership) will not only provide opportunities for students from the Clear Lake area to pursue Ph.D. degrees in physics, but it will also allow us to add the expertise of our colleagues at UH-Clear Lake to our faculty mix," Pinsky said.
Garrison also said that the partnership was developed as a way to respond to a number of requests made from surveys conducted in a five-year period for a more conveniently located campus that offered the program to students.
"With the many scientists in the Gulf Coast region, we are not surprised by the support from the community for this partnership," Garrison said. "The average doctoral program in physics has a graduate rate of approximately 65 students. Our enrollment could exceed 100 graduate students within a few years based on current UH-Clear Lake physics enrollment, national trends and survey results."
Pinsky also said that the partnership could open up new relationships between both universities.
"Hopefully, this arrangement will act as an archetype for similar associations between other departments and colleges at our two institutions," Pinksy said.
Unlike most other programs that have an average of six years for students to complete, the UH doctoral program allows students to earn their degrees within a 10- year period, as a way to accommodate those with hectic schedules who cannot attend class full time.
"This type of program is the first of its kind for those seeking advanced degrees in physics," Garrison said. "I look forward to working with the UH physics faculty."
