🚀 go-pugleaf

Hi folks,
		I am contemplating a return to grad school, probably in
Fall 1993 or Spring 1994, to get a Ph.D in Electrical Engineering or
Physics.  
	I have a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the U. of Illinois,
where I plan to return.  My M.S. work was in the field of compound
semiconductor devices, especially high speed transistors.  Therefore,
apart from the usual E.E. background in circuits and so on, I have a
reasonably deep exposure to solid state theory, laser physics, quantum
theory, etc.  However, most of this exposure has been with a decidedly
EE bias, namely high on the practical aspects and low on the rigorous
physics.
	What I wish to do is to beef up my fundamentals before my return
to grad school.  I therefore took a grad level classical thermodynamics
class at the local university, to help me progress to get me ready for
statistical thermodynamics and surface physics a little better.  At the
same time, I would like to do something similar in mechanics and optics.
Note that I have had most of this stuff before, but always with a
engineering flavor.  I have a hankerin' for the rigorous treatment that
a physics course would provide!
	So, if YOU had a year's time to prepare for a Physics-oriented 
Ph.D, how would you go about it?  I have thought about it and here is
what I have come up with:
i) Classical Mechanics
ii) Electromagnetics
iii) Optics and Quantum Theory
iv) Some Applied Mathematics - diff eqns, transforms, vector calculus,
theory of functions, etc.  

	This would enable me to register for Quantum Mechanics 1 and
possibly a course in Statistical Thermodynamics in Fall 1993.  
	I would like to hear your collective opinions on what you think
my preparatory schedule should be like.  I would also appreciate
recommendations of textbooks.  Goldstein seems to be a perennial
favorite for Classical Mechanics.  I especially would like
recommendations for mathematics books that cover some of the topics I
mentioned above, especially special functions.
	E-mail is fine, although I think this topic could generate a
lively thread.
	Thanks!

--
                                  | "I am not a satanist!  I find it hard
Sam Sivakumar                     | enough to conjure myself out of bed
ssivakum@hopi.intel.com           | every morning, leave alone conjure up
                		  | the devil!"  --  Ozzy Osbourne