Physics

BS degree

The Physics program prepares students for pure or applied research into the physical phenomena of nature, from the subatomic to the cosmic realm. The curriculum provides students with a powerful array of scientific skills, including mathematical analysis, computer modeling, and hands-on experimentation.

The first two years of the physics program provide the core scientific and mathematical background required for advanced courses taken during the third and fourth years. The selection of advanced courses should be consistent with students’ interests and career goals. Many courses are designed to prepare students for graduate study in the field. Students must consult with their advisors at least once each semester to plan their schedule. Students are encouraged to work on faculty-sponsored research or independent study projects, which carry course credits that can be applied to their physics major program. Students have the option of selecting one of two concentrations within the BS degree, Astronomy/Astrophysics or Computational Physics. The department also offers a graduate program leading to the Master of Science Degree in Physics.

Calculation of GPA in the Physics Major

Students must have earned a minimum 2.000 cumulative grade point average (GPA) for all courses taken at the university in order to graduate. Students must also have a minimum 2.000 cumulative GPA in the major. For purposes of this computation:

All courses with a PHY prefix at the 300-level or higher together with PHY courses 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 213, 225, 227, 234 and 252 count in calculating the GPA for a physics major.
Courses required for the major but taken outside the major discipline are not counted in the calculation of the major cumulative GPA.
If a course is repeated, only the most recent course grade (whether higher or lower) shall be used to calculate the major cumulative GPA.

Requirements

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, a minimum of 120 university credits are required. Of these, 45 credits are approved courses in physics; 12 credits in specified courses in mathematics; 6 credits in courses in a second science, mathematics or engineering; and 30 credits at the 300 level or higher are required. Students are required to consult with their advisor before registering for courses.

Students who earn below a grade of C in PHY 111/113, PHY 112/114, or PHY 213 must consult with their advisor before the start of the following semester to develop a strategy for academic improvement.

First Year (Recommended Sequence)

First Semester: 17 credits

University Studies requirement Credits: 3 (see Footnote 1 below)

ENL 101 - Critical Writing and Reading I Credits: 3
see Footnote 2 below
MTH 151 - Calculus I Credits: 4
PHY 109 - Freshman Seminar I Credits: 3
see Footnote 3 below
PHY 113 - Classical Physics I Credits: 4

Second Semester: 17 credits

University Studies requirement Credits:3 (see Footnote 1 below)
Free Elective Credits:3

ENL 102 - Critical Writing and Reading II Credits: 3
see Footnote 2 below
MTH 152 - Calculus II Credits: 4
PHY 114 - Classical Physics II Credits: 4
see Footnote 4 below

Second Year (Recommended Sequence)

First Semester: 13 credits

University Studies requirement Credits:3 (see Footnote 1 below)

MTH 211 - Analy Geom & Calc III Credits: 4
PHY 115 - Intro Classical Physics Credits: 3
see Footnote 5 below
PHY 225 - Introductory Experimental Physics I Credits: 3
see Footnote 6 below

Second Semester: 13 credits

MTH 212 - Differential Equation Credits: 3
MTH 280 - Introduction to Scientific Computation Credits: 3
PHY 213 - Applied Modern Physics Credits: 3
PHY 227 - Intro Experiment Phys II Credits: 1
see Footnote 7 below
PHY 234 - Intrm Math Physics Credits: 3

Third Year (Recommended Sequence)

First Semester: 15 credits

Free Elective Credits:3
Second Science elective I Credits:3 (see Footnote 8 below)

PHY 313 - Mechanics Credits: 3
PHY 322 - Elec Device & Circuit II Credits: 3
see Footnote 9 below
PHY 343 - Mathematical Physics I Credits: 3
see Footnote 7 below

Second Semester: 15 credits

Second Science elective II Credits:3 (see Footnote 8 below)
University Studies requirement Credits:3 (see Footnote 1 below)

PHY 341 - Mod Phys & Quant Mech I Credits: 3
PHY 411 - Elect & Magnetc Fields I Credits: 3
PHY 441 - Statistic Thermodynamics Credits: 3
see Footnote 10 below

Fourth Year (Recommended Sequence)

First Semester: 15 credits

University Studies requirement Credits:3 (see Footnote 1 below)
Physics Elective (300+ level) Credits:3

PHY 342 - Mod Phys & Quant Mech II Credits: 3
PHY 412 - Elec & Magnt Fields II Credits: 3
PHY 421 - Advanced Physics Lab I Credits: 3
see Footnote 9 below

Second Semester: 15 credits

PHY 300+ University Studies Capstone Project Credits:3 (see Footnote 11 below)
Physics Electives (300+ level) Credits:3
Free Elective Credits:3
Free Elective Credits:3

PHY 442 - Elem Solid State Physics Credits: 3
see Footnote 10 below

Total Credits: 120

Footnotes

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.
ENL 101 and ENL 102 satisfy University Studies Clusters 1A and 1B, respectively.
PHY 109 satisfies University Studies Cluster 1E.
PHY 114 satisfies University Studies Cluster 2A.
PHY 115 satisfies University Studies Cluster 2B.
PHY 225 satisfies University Studies Cluster 1C.
Taken as a Physics Elective. Course selection should be discussed with the faculty advisor.
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.
A minimum of 6 credits of advanced laboratory courses is required. Other courses may be substituted with approval of faculty advisor.
PHY 441 and PHY 442 are typically offered on an alternating basis.
An approved Capstone Study satisfies University Studies Clusters 5A and 5B.

Required Physics Courses (38 credits total)

PHY 113 - Classical Physics I Credits: 4
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

Note

Students who intend to continue their studies in physics at the graduate level should consult frequently with their advisors. Advanced physics courses typically taken by these students are indicated above by this note.

Available Concentrations

Students pursuing the Physics major may select one of the concentrations listed below. These concentrations allow for students to focus their physics electives in a particular area.

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.

Math Placement

Students not starting in Calculus (MTH 153) will be placed in Pre-Calculus (MTH 150), Pre-Calculus Enhanced (MTH 150E), or Introductory & Intermediate Algebra (MTH 100) in the first semester. This delays the start of Calculus a semester or more, which may then extend the program beyond four years.