Undergraduate Degree

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