Does QFT cover theoretical particle physics?

[drkatzin]

There's a course at my institution called "Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics." I know it covers a lot of the experimental methods, but it also goes through theoretical topics like isospin/SU(2), quark model/SU(3), charm/beauty, etc., using the proper mathematical machinery (Lie algebras, representation theory). It goes through QED and QCD, but I'm sure not as in depth as a QFT course.

In my future graduate program, I intend to take a full QFT sequence, as well as specialized courses on strong and weak interactions, supersymmetry, string theory. Would these courses contain the theoretical topics from the intro to nuclear and particle physics class? I'd like to skip out on the experimental stuff if possible.

 

[R.Mesri]

Yes, most courses on quantum field theory (QFT) will cover the same theoretical topics as an introduction to nuclear and particle physics course. However, these topics are usually covered in greater depth and complexity in a QFT course. These courses will also likely cover additional topics such as scattering theory, path integrals, and renormalization that are not typically covered in an introductory course. Additionally, some specialization courses may cover topics such as supersymmetry and string theory that are not covered in an introduction to nuclear and particle physics course.