Nov 23, 2024

2020-21 Undergraduate Bulletin

2020-21 Undergraduate Bulletin ARCHIVED

Physics, B.S.

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Programs for physics majors vary with the student’s goals and interests. The recommended curriculum for the student preparing for graduate study in physics or employment as a professional physicist is detailed below. Students interested in both physics and engineering may wish to consider the Physics/Engineering Dual Degree, B.S. or engineering physics programs described on the department’s page. The minimum course requirements for a major in physics consist of 37 hours of physics, astronomy and engineering, of which 26 hours must be advanced. This must include PHYS 2325 , PHYS 2326 , PHYS 3421 (or ENGR 3421 ), PHYS 3333 , PHYS 3347 , PHYS 4330 , PHYS 4331 , PHYS 4340 , PHYS 4441 and PHYS 4170 plus three hours from PHYS 2401 (or ENGR 2401 ), PHYS 2305 (or ENGR 2305 ), PHYS 3343 (or ENGR 3343 ), ASTR 3305 or ASTR 3335 , or special problems (PHYS 4175 or PHYS 4176 ). CHEM 1311 and CHEM 1312 also are required.

Recommended Curriculum for Majors in Physics

During the summer prior to beginning the program outlined below, students unprepared for MATH 2313 are encouraged to enroll for preparatory mathematics courses equivalent to MATH 1316 , MATH 1314 and MATH 1318 . Students who cannot obtain the preparatory mathematics before beginning this program may, in consultation with the physics faculty, work out an alternate plan, that leads to the B.S. with a major in physics.

Students majoring in physics regularly minor in mathematics. Many elect to pursue a double major in physics and mathematics. The following recommended curriculum includes courses meeting the requirements for a major in physics and a minor in mathematics. To obtain a double major in physics and mathematics, students should take additional mathematics courses in place of electives to meet the requirements listed in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics .

1. University Core Curriculum Requirements

A. Communication

Three hours from:

ENGL 1301 - Rhetoric and Composition Credit(s): 3
or
ENGL 1303 - Honors Composition: Analysis, Argument and Research Credit(s): 3

Three hours from:

SPCH 1315 - Public Speaking Credit(s): 3
SPCH 1318 - Interpersonal Communication Credit(s): 3
SPCH 2333 - Teamwork and Group Communication Credit(s): 3

B. Mathematics

Three hours from:

MATH 2313 - Calculus I Credit(s): 3

C. Life and Physical Sciences

Six hours from:

CHEM 1311 - General Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 1312 - General Chemistry II Credit(s): 3

D. Language, Philosophy and Culture

Three hours from:

ENGL 2341 - Introduction to Literature Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2309 - Introduction to Mythology Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2332 - World Literature to 1650 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2333 - World Literature from 1650 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2322 - British Literature to 1800 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2323 - British Literature from 1800 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2327 - American Literature to 1865 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2328 - American Literature from 1865 Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2335 - Literary Genres Credit(s): 3
HIST 2311 - Western Civilization I Credit(s): 3
HIST 2312 - Western Civilization II Credit(s): 3
HIST 2321 - World Civilizations I Credit(s): 3
HIST 2322 - World Civilizations II Credit(s): 3
PHIL 1301 - Introduction to Philosophy Credit(s): 3
PHIL 2306 - Introduction to Ethics Credit(s): 3

E. Creative Arts

Three hours from:

ARTS 1301 - Art Appreciation Credit(s): 3
ARTS 1303 - Art History I (Prehistoric to the 14th century) Credit(s): 3
ARTS 1304 - Art History II (14th Century to the present) Credit(s): 3
DANC 2303 - Dance Appreciation Credit(s): 3
MUMH 1307 - Intro to Music Literature Credit(s): 3
MUSI 1306 - Music Appreciation Credit(s): 3
DRAM 1310 - Theatre Appreciation Credit(s): 3
DRAM 2366 - Film and Culture Credit(s): 3

F. American History

Six hours from:

HIST 1301 - United States History I Credit(s): 3
HIST 1302 - United States History II Credit(s): 3

G. Government/Political Science

Six hours from:

GOVT 2301 - Introduction to American Government: Theory and Politics Credit(s): 3
GOVT 2302 - Introduction to American Government: Structure and Functions Credit(s): 3

H. Social and Behavioral Sciences

Three hours from:

ANTH 2351 - Cultural Anthropology Credit(s): 3
ECON 2301 - Principles of Macroeconomics Credit(s): 3
ECON 2302 - Principles of Microeconomics Credit(s): 3
GEOG 1303 - World Regional Geography Credit(s): 3
PSYC 2301 - General Psychology Credit(s): 3
SOCI 1301 - Introduction to Sociology Credit(s): 3

I. Component Area Option

Three hours from:

ENGL 1302 - Research and Argument Credit(s): 3

Three hours from:

BUSI 2304 - Business Communication Credit(s): 3
ENGL 2311 - Technical and Scientific Writing Credit(s): 3
FREN 1311 - Elementary French Credit(s): 3
FREN 1312 - Elementary French Credit(s): 3
GERM 1311 - Elementary German I Credit(s): 3
GERM 1312 - Elementary German II Credit(s): 3
PORT 1311 - Elementary Portuguese I Credit(s): 3
PORT 1312 - Elementary Portuguese II Credit(s): 3
SPAN 1311 - Elementary Spanish I Credit(s): 3
SPAN 1312 - Elementary Spanish II Credit(s): 3
SGNL 1301 - Beginning American Sign Language Credit(s): 3
SGNL 1302 - Intermediate American Sign Language Credit(s): 3

Curriculum (120 hours)

Freshman Year (29 hours)

Fall

CHEM 1311 - General Chemistry I Credit(s): 3
CHEM 1111 - General Chemistry I Lab Credit(s): 1
MATH 2313 - Calculus I Credit(s): 3
MATH 2113 - Calculus I Lab Credit(s): 1
PHYS 1308 - Introduction to Engineering/Physics Credit(s): 3
Required English Credit(s): 3

14 hours

Spring

CHEM 1312 - General Chemistry II Credit(s): 3
CHEM 1112 - General Chemistry II Lab Credit(s): 1
MATH 2314 - Calculus II Credit(s): 3
MATH 2114 - Calculus II Lab Credit(s): 1
PHYS 2325 - Technical Physics I Credit(s): 3 *
PHYS 2125 - Technical Physics I Laboratory Credit(s): 1
Required English Credit(s): 3

15 hours

Sophomore Year (32 hours)

Fall

Elective Credit(s): 3
HIST 1301 - United States History I Credit(s): 3
MATH 3315 - Calculus III Credit(s): 3
MATH 3115 - Calculus III Lab Credit(s): 1
PHYS 2326 - Technical Physics II Credit(s): 3 *
PHYS 2126 - Technical Physics II Laboratory Credit(s): 1

14 hours

Spring

Core requirements Credit(s): 6
CSCI 1302 - Computer Science Principles Credit(s): 3
HIST 1302 - United States History II Credit(s): 3
PHYS 3421 - Engineering Dynamics Credit(s): 4

16 hours

Junior Year (31-33 hours)

Fall

Core requirements Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3
MATH 3365 - Linear Algebra Credit(s): 3
PHYS 3333 - Modern Physics Credit(s): 3
PHYS 3133 - Modern Physics Laboratory Credit(s): 1
GOVT 2301 - Introduction to American Government: Theory and Politics Credit(s): 3

16 hours

Spring

Core requirements Credit(s): 3
Elective Credit(s): 3
MATH 3330 - Differential Equations Credit(s): 3
PHYS 4330 - Thermodynamics Credit(s): 3
or
PHYS 4441 - Optics Credit(s): 4
GOVT 2302 - Introduction to American Government: Structure and Functions Credit(s): 3

15-16 hours

Senior Year (25-28 hours)

Fall

Core requirement Credit(s): 3
Electives Credit(s): 6
PHYS 3347 - Mathematical Applications in Physics I Credit(s): 3
PHYS 4331 - Introductory Quantum Mechanics Credit(s): 3

15 hours

Spring

Electives Credit(s): 6
PHYS 4340 - Introduction to Electricity and Magnetism Credit(s): 3
PHYS 4330 - Thermodynamics Credit(s): 3
or
PHYS 4441 - Optics Credit(s): 4
PHYS 4170 - Undergraduate Research and Technical Presentations Credit(s): 1-2

14-15 hours

Note:

For the electives listed, three to four hours must be department electives from PHYS 2305 , PHYS 2401 , PHYS 3343 , PHYS 4175 , PHYS 4176 , ASTR 3305 or ASTR 3335 .

*Not open to students with junior and senior physics major or minor standing without approval of the chair of the department.