The graduate programs in physics and astronomy at the University of Pittsburgh have as their primary goals the training of creative and productive scientists and/or teachers of science. To accomplish these goals, the department has assembled an outstanding faculty, expert in a variety of research specializations that encompass nearly all fields of current interest in physics and astronomy. Several different programs are offered, leading to the PhD or MS degrees, and also to joint degrees with other departments. The degree programs are designed to ensure that the graduates are well trained in theoretical and experimental physics or astronomy, and are educated broadly enough to adapt to new fields and to be effective teachers of physics and/or astronomy. For the PhD programs, the students must also carry out independent research and must be able to effectively express the results in both oral and written reports.