Physics

First Year (Recommended Sequence)

Second Year (Recommended Sequence)

Third Year (Recommended Sequence)

Fourth Year (Recommended Sequence)

Total Credits: 120

Footnotes

1. These courses must be selected from approved courses in Clusters 3 and 4 of the University Studies curriculum and should be discussed with your advisor.
2. ENL 101 and ENL 102 satisfy University Studies Clusters 1A and 1B, respectively.
3. PHY 109 satisfies University Studies Cluster 1E.
4. PHY 114 satisfies University Studies Cluster 2A.
5. PHY 115 satisfies University Studies Cluster 2B.
6. PHY 225 satisfies University Studies Cluster 1C.
7. Taken as a Physics Elective. Course selection should be discussed with the faculty advisor.
8. Students must complete 6 credits in a second science, mathematics, or engineering. Both courses must be from the same department (BIO, BNG, CEN, CHM, CIS, ECE, MTH, or MNE) or in Astrophysics (PHY 252, PHY 363) or in Computational Physics (PHY 343, PHY 410). Courses must satisfy the major requirement for the respective department and be approved by the faculty advisor.
9. A minimum of 6 credits of advanced laboratory courses is required. Other courses may be substituted with approval of faculty advisor.
10. PHY 441 and PHY 442 are typically offered on an alternating basis.
11. An approved Capstone Study satisfies University Studies Clusters 5A and 5B.

Required Physics Courses (38 credits total)

• PHY 111 - Physics for Science and Engineering I Credits: 4

•     or

• PHY 113 - Classical Physics I Credits: 4
• PHY 112 - Physics for Science & Engineering II Credits: 4

•     or

• PHY 114 - Classical Physics II Credits: 4
• PHY 115 - Intro Classical Physics Credits: 3
• PHY 213 - Applied Modern Physics Credits: 3
• PHY 225 - Introductory Experimental Physics I Credits: 3
• PHY 234 - Intrm Math Physics Credits: 3
• PHY 313 - Mechanics Credits: 3
• PHY 322 - Elec Device & Circuit II Credits: 3
• PHY 341 - Mod Phys & Quant Mech I Credits: 3
• PHY 342 - Mod Phys & Quant Mech II Credits: 3
• PHY 411 - Elect & Magnetc Fields I Credits: 3
• PHY 421 - Advanced Physics Lab I Credits: 3

Physics Electives (at least 7 credits from this list)

• PHY 109 - Freshman Seminar I Credits: 3
• PHY 110 - Freshman Seminar II Credits: 1
• PHY 196 - Directed Study Credits: variable; 1.00 to 6.00
• PHY 210 - Special Topics in Physics Credits: 3
• PHY 227 - Intro Experiment Phys II Credits: 1
• PHY 252 - Elementary Astrophysics Credits: 3

•    (not PHY 151 or PHY 152)

• PHY 296 - Directed Study Credits: variable; 1.00 to 6.00
• PHY 300 - Undergraduate Seminar I Credits: 3
• PHY 343 - Mathematical Physics I Credits: 3
• PHY 363 - Intermed Astrophysics Credits: 3
• PHY 396 - Directed Study Credits: variable; 1.00 to 6.00
• PHY 410 - Special Topics in Physics Credits: 3
• PHY 412 - Elec & Magnt Fields II Credits: 3

• see Note below

• PHY 430 - Meth&Strat for Phy Teach Credits: 3
• PHY 441 - Statistic Thermodynamics Credits: 3

• see Note below

• PHY 442 - Elem Solid State Physics Credits: 3

• see Note below

• PHY 480 - Undergraduate Research Credits: variable; 1.00 to 3.00
• PHY 490 - Senior Thesis Credits: 3
• PHY 495 - Independent Study Credits: variable; 1.00 to 6.00
• PHY 496 - Directed Study Credits: variable; 1.00 to 6.00

Astrophysics Concentration

The Astrophysics Concentration has students complete the 38-credits of required courses in physics along with the mathematics and University Studies requirements for the physics major, together with 9-credits of elective courses (or equivalent) in astrophysics. Students are required to consult with their advisor before registering for these courses.

• PHY 252 - Elementary Astrophysics Credits: 3
• PHY 363 - Intermed Astrophysics Credits: 3
• PHY 410 - Special Topics in Physics Credits: 3

• One of the courses below will be completed as PHY 410 Special Topics in Physics:

  • PHY 510 – Special Topics in Physics: High-Energy Astrophysics Credits: 3
  • PHY 510 – Special Topics in Physics: Stellar Structure & Evolution Credits: 3
  • PHY 565 – Black Holes, General Relativity & Gravitational Waves Credits: 3
• PHY 480/490 - Up to 3 credits may be applied. Research and Capstone must be on an Astrophysics or closely related topic.

Computational Physics Concentration

The Computational Physics Concentration offers a course of study for students interested in problem solving with computation. Computation is an integral part of modern science and engineering that is regarded as the third pillar of science along with experimentation and theory. Students will complete the 38-credits of required courses in physics along with the mathematics and University Studies requirements for the physics major, together with a three-course sequence at introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels on scientific computing and computational modeling as applied to physical systems. With permission, a capstone research or thesis project (taken as 3 credits of PHY 480 or PHY 490) that has a significant component with computation can be considered as equivalent to a third course in the sequence. Students are required to consult with their advisor before registering for these courses.

• MTH 280 - Introduction to Scientific Computation Credits: 3
• PHY 343 - Mathematical Physics I Credits: 3
• PHY 410 - Special Topics in Physics Credits: 3

• PHY 410 topic must be an approved topic for the concentration. PHY 521 may be substituted for PHY 410.