Physics Major (Bachelor of Science)

A student majoring in physics must complete 61 quarter hours in the major, the required cognates, the general studies program, and all baccalaureate degree requirements as outlined in this bulletin. Senior students are required to take the Graduate Record Examination, general and subject (Physics) sections and report the results to the Physics Department.

Each Bachelor of Science major is required to perform either: 1) a summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program or equivalent; 2) an industrial co-op experience; or 3) an on-campus project undertaken with departmental faculty under the course listing PHYS 479, Directed Research/Project.

Required Courses:

PHYS 251Principles of Physics

3

PHYS 252Principles of Physics

3

PHYS 253Principles of Physics

3

PHYS 254Principles of Physics Laboratory

1

PHYS 255Principles of Physics Laboratory

1

PHYS 256Principles of Physics Laboratory

1

PHYS 310Modern Physics I

3

PHYS 311Modern Physics II

3

PHYS 313Thermodynamics

4

PHYS 314Modern Physics Laboratory I

1

PHYS 316Modern Physics Laboratory II

1

PHYS 340Introduction to Matlab and Mathematica

2

PHYS 401Electricity and Magnetism

4

PHYS 402Electricity and Magnetism

4

PHYS 414Experimental Physics I

1

PHYS 415Experimental Physics II

1

PHYS 419Graduate Review

1

PHYS 420Classical Mechanics

3

PHYS 421Classical Mechanics

3

PHYS 422Quantum Mechanics

3

PHYS 423Quantum Mechanics

3

Electives

12

Total Credit Hours:61

PHYS 251, PHYS 252, and PHYS 253: Students completing PHYS 211, PHYS 212, PHYS 213 may meet the PHYS 251, PHYS 252, PHYS 253 requirement upon departmental validation

Electives:

Physics electives may be chosen from the following courses or chosen in consultation with advisor:

PHYS 307Astrophysics

4

PHYS 312/ENGR 312Physical Electronics

3

PHYS 315/ENGR 315Physical Electronics Laboratory

1

PHYS 323Modern Optics

3

PHYS 324Modern Optics Laboratory

1

PHYS 331Introduction to Nanotechnology

3

PHYS 332Introduction to Nanotechnology Laboratory

1

PHYS 435/MATH 435Mathematical Physics

4

PHYS 470/BIOL 470Biophysics

4

PHYS 479Directed Research/Project

1-3

A student can also take PHYS 479, Directed Research/Project, as an elective for 1-3 credits.

Required Cognates:

CHEM 141General Chemistry

3

CHEM 142General Chemistry

3

CHEM 143General Chemistry

3

CHEM 144General Chemistry Laboratory

1

CHEM 145General Chemistry Laboratory

1

CHEM 146General Chemistry Laboratory

1

CPTR 141Fundamentals of Programming I

4

CPTR 142Fundamentals of Programming II

4

ENGR 228Circuit Analysis

4

MATH 181Calculus I

4

MATH 281Calculus II

4

MATH 282Calculus III

4

MATH 283Calculus IV

4

MATH 289Introduction to Linear Algebra

3

MATH 312Ordinary Differential Equations

4

Recommended Courses:

ENGR 325Instrumentation

3

ENGR 354Digital Logic

3

MATH 315Probability and Statistics

4

MATH 341Numerical Analysis

4

MATH 413Partial Differential Equations

4