Preparing Students for Graduate School

Description Benefits Effective Practices Programmatic Assessments Resources Evidence Glossary

This section provides recommendations for how physics programs can educate their undergraduate students about and prepare them for a variety of graduate programs, including doctoral programs and master’s programs in physics or related STEM fields. While this section focuses on STEM, much of the guidance in this section may also be relevant for preparing students for graduate school in other fields. The sections on High School Physics Teacher Preparation and Career Preparation provide more detailed and specific guidance on preparing students for teaching careers and other careers. See the section on Dual-Degree Programs for information about creating, maintaining, and recruiting students into dual-degree programs, e.g., 4+1 or 3+2 programs, that are hosted at your institution or in partnership with another institution.

Benefits

Many physics students pursue graduate studies, yet preparation for graduate school often falls into the “hidden curriculum” that programs assume students already know or will pick up on their own. Making graduate school preparation an explicit part of your curriculum can help ensure that all your students have the same access to opportunities as those students who have learned about graduate school elsewhere, and as students in other programs that already prepare their students for graduate school. Deliberately preparing students for graduate school in a variety of fields can support equity by enhancing the potential for students, particularly those from

, to attend, persist at, and succeed in graduate school. The practices in this section can help your department improve recruiting and retention in both undergraduate and graduate programs. Improved graduate outcomes can also help your institution recruit students, meet accreditation requirements, and strengthen alumni connections.

Effective Practices

Familiarize undergraduate students with graduate school in physics and related fields
Support students in the admissions process
Help students develop skills for success in graduate school
Support all your students in developing a sense of belonging and identity as potential graduate students

Programmatic Assessments

The Cycle of Reflection and Action

Where are you and what are you trying to accomplish?

Who should be involved?

What will you do?

How did it go and what comes next?

To be intentional about change, a department must have a clear understanding of its present situation and a vision for what it would like to become. Our cycle of self-reflection questions will help your department start conversations and structure thinking about how to get from where you are to where you want to be.

The Cycle of Reflection and Action will help you put the EP3 Guide to work for your department.

Learn more about the Cycle of Reflection and Action and how it can help your department.