Undergraduate Degree

Physics - Bachelor of Science

Program:
Physics - Bachelor of Science
Plan Code:
PHYSIC_BS1
Program Level:
Undergraduate
Award Type:
Bachelor of Science
College:
College of Natural Science
Department:
Physics Astronomy


Excerpt from the official Academic Programs Catalog:

Listed below are the approved requirements for the program from the official Academic Programs Catalog.
Students must consult their advisors to learn which specific requirements apply to their degree programs.


College of Natural Science

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Undergraduate Programs
Physics - Bachelor of Science

The Bachelor of Science degree with a major in physics is designed to provide a thorough foundation in the field of physics together with considerable background in mathematics and a balanced program in the liberal arts. It is designed for those with an interest in:

  1. Graduate Study. Within the requirements listed below, the student's electives should emphasize theory in such areas as electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics, additional mathematics, and computer programming.
  2. Experimental Physics as a preparation for positions in government and industry.  Students taking this program have an opportunity to obtain a basic background in mechanics, electricity and electronics, thermodynamics, optics, and modern physics. They will also have an opportunity to acquire strong experimental training in at least two and probably three of the following areas: electronics, modern optics, nuclear physics, and solid state (materials) physics. Computer programming courses and experience are strongly recommended.

Recommended programs of study are available in a Department of Physics and Astronomy brochure.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics

  1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Science degree in Physics.

    The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Physics major is met by completing one of the clusters of courses referenced in item 3. b. (4) below.

    Students who are enrolled in the College of Natural Science may complete the alternative track to Integrative Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences that is described in item 1. under the heading Graduation Requirements in the College statement.  Certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be used to satisfy the alternative track.
  2. The requirements of the College of Natural Science for the Bachelor of Science degree.

    The credits earned in certain courses referenced in requirement 3. below may be counted toward College requirements as appropriate.
    1. The following requirements for the major:
      a. The following courses outside the Department of Physics and Astronomy (35 to 40 credits):
      (1) One of the following courses (3 to 5 credits):
      BS 161 Cell and Molecular Biology 3
      BS 162 Organismal and Population Biology 3
      BS 181H Honors Cell and Molecular Biology 3
      BS 182H Honors Organismal and Population Biology 3
      ENT 205 Pests, Society and Environment 3
      IBIO 150 Integrating Biology: From DNA to Populations 3
      LB 144 Biology I: Organismal Biology 4
      LB 145 Biology II: Cellular and Molecular Biology 5
      MMG 141 Introductory Human Genetics 3
      MMG 201 Fundamentals of Microbiology 3
      PLB 105 Plant Biology 3
      PSL 250 Introductory Physiology 4
      (2) One of the following groups of courses (8 to 10 credits):
      (a) CEM 141 General Chemistry 4
      CEM 142 General and Inorganic Chemistry 3
      CEM 161 Chemistry Laboratory I 1
      (b) CEM 151 General and Descriptive Chemistry 4
      CEM 152 Principles of Chemistry 3
      CEM 161 Chemistry Laboratory I 1
      (c) CEM 181H Honors Chemistry I 4
      CEM 182H Honors Chemistry II 4
      CEM 185H Honors Chemistry Laboratory I 2
      (d) LB 171 Principles of Chemistry I 4
      LB 171L Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I 1
      LB 172 Principles of Chemistry II 3
      (3) One of the following groups of Mathematics courses (14 or 15 credits): 
      (a) MTH 132 Calculus I 3
      MTH 133 Calculus II 4
      MTH 234 Multivariable Calculus 4
      MTH 235 Differential Equations 3
      (b) MTH 152H Honors Calculus I 3
      MTH 153H Honors Calculus II 4
      MTH 254H Honors Multivariable Calculus 4
      MTH 235 Differential Equations 3
      or
      MTH 340 Ordinary Differential Equations I 3
      (c) LB 118 Calculus I 4
      LB 119 Calculus II 4
      LB 220 Calculus III 4
      MTH 235 Differential Equations 3
      or
      MTH 340 Ordinary Differential Equations I 3
      (4) The following course (4 credits):
      CMSE 201 Computational Modeling and Data Analysis I 4
      (5) Two additional mathematics courses at the 300-level or above of at least 3 credits each. PHY 415 Methods of Theoretical Physics may be used towards the fulfillment of this requirement.
      b. The following courses in the Department of Physics and Astronomy (33 to 38 credits):
      (1) One of the following groups of courses (8 to 10 credits):
      (a) PHY 183 Physics for Scientists and Engineers I 4
      PHY 184 Physics for Scientists and Engineers II 4
      PHY 191 Physics Laboratory for Scientists, I 1
      PHY 192 Physics Laboratory for Scientists, II 1
      (b) PHY 191 Physics Laboratory for Scientists, I 1
      PHY 192 Physics Laboratory for Scientists, II 1
      PHY 193H Honors Physics I - Mechanics 4
      PHY 294H Honors Physics II - Electromagnetism 4
      (c) PHY 173 Studio Physics for Scientists and Engineers I 5
      PHY 174 Studio Physics for Scientists and Engineers II 5
      (d) LB 273 Physics I 4
      LB 274 Physics II 4
      (2) All of the following courses (18 credits):
      PHY 215 Thermodynamics and Modern Physics 3
      PHY 321 Classical Mechanics I 3
      PHY 410 Thermal and Statistical Physics 3
      PHY 451 Advanced Laboratory 3
      PHY 471 Quantum Physics I 3
      PHY 481 Electricity and Magnetism I 3
      (3) One of the following courses (3 or 4 credits):
      PHY 431 Optics I 3
      PHY 440 Electronics 4
      (4) One of the following groups of courses (4 or 6 credits):
      (a) PHY 490 Physics Senior Thesis 4
      Students must complete two enrollments of this course for a total of 4 credits.
      (b) Two of the following courses:
      PHY 491 Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics 3
      PHY 492 Introduction to Nuclear Physics 3
      PHY 493 Introduction to Elementary Particle Physics 3
      PHY 494 Survey of Physics Education Research (W) 3