MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN INDUSTRIAL PHYSICS (MIP)
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
The purpose of a Master’s degree in Industrial Physics is to provide students with advanced knowledge and skills in the field of physics and its application to industrial settings. The program aims to bridge the gap between theoretical physics principles and their practical implementation in industries, equipping graduates with the expertise to address complex technical challenges and contribute to the development of innovative solutions in industrial sectors. The programme also prepares students for further studies and research.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Prospective students must hold at least a good first degree in Physics, Applied Physics, Industrial Manufacturing or any other related degree from any university recognized by Midlands State University.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND FURTHER EDUCATION
A Master’s degree in Industrial Physics offers diverse career opportunities in various sectors that require the application of physics principles in industrial settings such as:
- Research and Development (R&D),
- Quality Control and Testing,
- Process Optimization,
Industrial Automation
PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
N.B. *Denotes core modules which are not Minimum Body of Knowledge and Skills
**Denotes core modules which are Minimum Body of Knowledge and Skills
Level 1 Semester 1
| Code | Module Description | Credits |
| **MIP 801 | Semiconductor Device Physics | 18 |
| **MIP 802 | Thermal and Statistical Physics | 18 |
| **MIP 803 | Computational Physics and Scientific Computing | 18 |
| *MIP 804 | Electrodynamics | 18 |
| *MIP 805 | Advanced Optics and Lasers | 18 |
Level 1 Semester 2
Option 1 – Medical Physics
| Code | Module Description | Credits |
| **MIP 806 | Microprocessor and Embedded Systems | 18 |
| **MIP 807 | Radiation Safety and Quality Management | 18 |
| *MIP 808 | Physics of Non-ionizing Radiation | 18 |
| **MIP 809 | Biomedical Electronics and Instrumentation | 18 |
Option 2 – Energy and Environmental Physics
| Code | Module Description | Credits |
| **MIP 810 | Energy Physics | 18 |
| **MIP 811 | Renewable Energies Systems Design | 18 |
| *MIP 812 | Atmospheric Physics | 18 |
| **MIP 813 | Environmental Physics | 18 |
Option 3 – Industrial Automation
| Code | Module Description | Credits |
| **MIP 814 | Instrumentation Electronics and Metrology | 18 |
| **MIP 806 | Microprocessor and Embedded Systems | 18 |
| *MIP 815 | SCADA and Distributed Control Systems | 18 |
| **MIP 816 | Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Automation | 18 |
Level 2 Semester 1
| Code | Module Description | Credits |
| **MIP 901 | Advanced Techniques for Scientific Research and Innovation | 18 |
Level 2 Semester 2
| Code | Module Description | Credits |
| **MIP 902 | Dissertation | 180 |
SYNOPSES
MIP 801 Semiconductor Device Physics
This module provides both fundamental theory and hands-on experience on semiconductor physics, devices, fabrication and analysis techniques. The module will cover first the basic semiconductor physics such as crystal structures, doping and band gaps etc, devices such as diodes and transistors and then various measurement techniques to probe the morphology, compositions, electrical, magnetic and optical properties of materials and devices at nano/atomic scales, along with both conventional nanofabrication techniques (e.g, e-beam lithography) and non-conventional nanofabrication techniques (e.g, self-assembly).
MIP 802 Thermal and Statistical Physics
Identify, critically analyse and describe the statistical nature of concepts and laws in thermodynamics, in particular: entropy, temperature, chemical potential, free energies, partition functions. Expertly use statistical physics methods, such as Boltzmann distribution, Gibbs distribution, Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distributions to solve complex problems in physical systems. Apply the concepts and principles of black-body radiation to analyze radiation phenomena in thermodynamic systems.
MIP 803 Computational Physics and Scientific Computing
This module will introduce a range of computational and analytic methods that can be used to model the properties and dynamics of physical systems. Computational methods in solving problems in physics, Programming tactics, numerical methods and their implementation, together with methods of linear algebra. These computational methods are applied to problems in physics, including the modelling of classical physical systems to quantum systems,
as well as data analysis such as linear and nonlinear fits to data sets.
MIP 804 Electrodynamics
Geometrical vectors and vector fields, Calculating with the div, grad and curl, Index notation, unit vectors and coordinate systems, Maxwell’s equations and the Lorentz Force, Gauge transformations and a particle in an electromagnetic field, The Laplace equation and the method of images, Separation of variables and Legendre polynomials, Electric and magnetic multipole moments, The wave equation, polarisation, phase and group velocities, Energy and momentum in electromagnetic field, Electric and magnetic dipole radiation, Radiation from accelerated charges, Macroscopic media Waves in dielectrics, conductors and plasmas, Frequency-dependent refractivity and anomalous dispersion, Reflection and transmission of waves, Waveguides and coaxial cables, Cavities, Revision of special relativity, Covariant Maxwell’s equations and the transformation of fields
MIP 806 Microprocessor and Embedded Systems
Operating Systems (OS) and Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS). Embedded RTOS. Software and Hardware development methods and tools: Run-time libraries. Writing a library. Porting kernels. Concurrent Programming and Concurrent Programming Constructs. Task Scheduling and Task Interaction. Basic Scheduling methods, scheduling algorithms. Tasks, threads and processes. Context switching. Multitasking. Communication, Synchronisation. Semaphores and critical sections. Example RTOS systems. (E.g. Embedded Linux, Windows CE, Micrium, VxWorks etc.). Programming and debugging Embedded Systems. Practical examples and case studies.
MIP 807 Radiation Safety and Quality Management
Fundamentals of Radiation and Radioactivity, Radiation Biology, Radiation Dose Limits and ALARA, Personnel Monitoring, Access Control and Postings, Emergency and Spill Procedures, Radiation Dose Limits Contamination Control, and Employee Responsibilities. Quality Management Systems, Governance, Risk Management and Compliance
MIP 808 Physics of Non-ionising Radiation
The interaction processes of particles with matter. Interaction of ionising and non-ionising radiation with biological systems. Interaction of ultrasound with tissue, Interaction with red cells, attenuation, absorption, reflection and refraction.
MIP 809 Biomedical Electronics and Instrumentation
Electrical safety for medical devices. The basic building blocks of medical instruments; the
instrumentation amplifier, filters, analogue to digital conversion. Recording and display devices. Physiological measurements; the ECG, EEG, Pulse Oximeter and Evoked Potentials. Electrical therapeutics; the defibrillator and electrical diathermy. Computers in medicine: picture archiving and retrieval; the physiological signals. Telemetry and ambulatory monitoring. Biomedical device development process, involving subject knowledge from electronics, control theory, microcontrollers, MATLAB programming, machine design. Biomaterials and Bio-fabrication. Integration of tissue engineering and bioreactors into biomedical engineering.
MIP 810 Energy Physics
Introduction to Energy Physics, Definition of energy and its significance in physics, Energy forms and their interconversion, Conservation of energy principles, Energy Generation, Fossil
fuel-based energy generation Renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass), Nuclear energy generation (fission and fusion), Energy Conversion and Storage, Thermodynamics and energy conversion processes, Energy storage technologies (batteries, supercapacitors, flywheels, pumped hydro, etc.), Energy efficiency and energy loss considerations. Energy Utilization and Applications, Energy in transportation (electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, fuel cells), Energy in buildings (heating, cooling, lighting, insulation), Industrial energy systems and processes (cogeneration, waste heat recovery), Energy Policy and Economics, Energy policy frameworks and regulations, Economic analysis of energy systems, Environmental and sustainability considerations.
MIP 811 Renewable Energies Systems Design
Introduction to Renewable Energy Systems, Overview of renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass), Environmental and social benefits of renewable energy, Global energy demand and the role of renewables in the energy transition, Resource Assessment and Site Analysis, Techniques for assessing renewable energy resources (solar radiation, wind speed, hydro potential), Site selection criteria and considerations, Data collection and analysis for resource assessment, Design Principles and System Components, Design considerations for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, Design principles for wind energy systems Design of small-scale hydroelectric systems, Biomass energy system design and optimization, Integration and System Design, Grid integration of renewable energy systems, Hybrid renewable energy systems (solar-wind, solar-hydro, etc.), Energy storage and grid management for intermittent renewable, Designing for off-grid and remote applications, System Performance Analysis and Optimization, Performance metrics for renewable energy systems, Modelling and simulation tools for system analysis, Optimization techniques for system design and operations, Economic analysis and feasibility studies, Project Planning and Implementation, Project development lifecycle and stages, Permitting and regulatory requirements, Financial and risk analysis, Project management and execution.
MIP 812 Atmospheric Physics
Introduction to Atmospheric Physics, Overview of Earth’s atmosphere, Composition and structure of the atmosphere, Key atmospheric properties and variables, Atmospheric Thermodynamics, Laws of thermodynamics applied to the atmosphere, Atmospheric stability and lapse rates, Moisture and cloud formation, Atmospheric convection and thunderstorms, Atmospheric Dynamics, Atmospheric circulation patterns, Forces and motion in the atmosphere, General circulation and global weather systems, Synoptic meteorology and weather forecasting, Atmospheric Radiation, Solar radiation and its interaction with the atmosphere, Absorption, scattering, and emission processes, Radiative transfer in the atmosphere, Greenhouse effect and climate change, Atmospheric Chemistry, Composition and sources of atmospheric gases, Chemical reactions and kinetics in the atmosphere, Ozone depletion and stratospheric chemistry, Air pollution and its impacts on human health and the environment, Data Analysis and Modelling, Statistical analysis of atmospheric data, Time series analysis and spectral methods, Numerical modelling techniques for atmospheric simulations, Introduction to climate models and climate projections, Mesoscale meteorology and weather phenomena, Atmospheric boundary layer dynamics, Aerosols and their impact on climate and air quality, Remote sensing and satellite observations.
MIP 813 Environmental Physics
Introduction to Environmental Physics, Overview of environmental physics and its interdisciplinary nature, Key concepts and principles in environmental physics, Measurement techniques and instrumentation in environmental research, Atmospheric Physics and Climate Change, Radiative transfer and the greenhouse effect, Climate patterns and variability, Global climate models and climate projection, Impacts of climate change on ecosystems and society, Air Pollution and Atmospheric Chemistry, Sources and types of air pollutants, Atmospheric chemistry and chemical reactions, Dispersion and transport of air pollutants, Health and environmental impacts of air pollution, Hydrological Processes and Water Resources, Water cycle and its component, Precipitation and evaporation processes, Surface and groundwater dynamics, Water quality and pollution, Environmental Biophysics and Ecosystem Dynamics, Energy and mass transfer in ecosystems, Photosynthesis and carbon cycle, Soil physics and nutrient cycling, Ecological modelling and ecosystem services Environmental Remote Sensing and GIS, Remote sensing techniques for environmental monitoring, Satellite data analysis for climate and environmental studies, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications in environmental research, Integration of remote sensing and GIS for environmental analysis.
MIP 814 Instrumentation Electronics and Metrology
The module combines measurement theory and physics to establish a deep understanding of the leading transducer applications. The focus will be to describe the key features of widely used measurement techniques and will be able to show how transducers are combined with microprocessor devices to create robust and reliable industrial instruments such as pressure transmitters, flow metering systems and temperature transmitters. The module will introduce students to the latest practices in industrial instrument communication networks including wireless technology and field bus.
MIP 815 SCADA and Distributed Control Systems
SCADA systems hardware and software, a review of typical DCS and SCADA systems, DCS controllers and configuration. Structured programming based on the 61131-3 standard. Alarm system management, configuration, reporting, and maintenance. Examination of the implementation of a complete SCADA and DCS system. Case studies of SCADA and DCS projects and operations.
MIP 816 Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Automation
Supervised learning, clustering, regression and time-series analysis. Data pre-processing and system evaluation. Characteristics of commonly used algorithms such as Decision Trees, K-nearest neighbours, Neural Networks, linear regression, and K-means clustering. Different applications of machine learning to industrial automation. Condition monitoring, system identification, and image processing for robotics. Software tools that can be used to implement machine learning algorithms. Apply machine learning to a particular industrial automation problem. understanding how robots perceive the world, build models and plans, and take actions to manipulate their environment. Examine corporate Operations Strategy, Process strategies, Tactical issues, aggregate production planning and master production scheduling
MIP901 Advanced Techniques for Scientific Research and Innovation
The scientific method and systems thinking approach, Mathematical and computational techniques, theoretical and abstractions, statistics, measurement uncertainties and experimental techniques. Basics of IPs, Innovation and Engineering Research.
MIP 902 Dissertation
The module provides students with the opportunity to design, undertake or conduct an independent piece of research of study related to their programme of study under the guidance of a supervisor who is usually a member of the academic staff of the department. Runs over two semesters: Regular report backs to the departmental board by the supervisor. The project is continually assessed throughout two semesters. A student undertakes a viva for the project.