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Physics Major Requirements
The total major requirement consists of 39 credits and should begin no later than the second year: 27 credits from section A (below and 12 credits from section B (below). While not required, the one credit course, PHYS 196, senior Thesis, is strongly recommended for all students.
In addition to the physics requirements, there are other suggested courses in the program. CHEM 003 and 004 are strongly suggested. Prerequisites for all of the upper-level physics courses are Math 156, 157, 158 and 159 ( Calculus I, II, & III and Differential Equations). If students are not ready to take calculus on entering the University, they should take MATH 007. Advanced Calculus I & II or two semesters of upper level mathematics courses are strongly recommended. The college language requirement may be satisfied with French, German, or Russian. Substitution of any other language will require department approval.
Students who earn an A grade in a senior thesis approved by the Department and in the senior comprehensive exam and who maintain the grade point average designated by the College of Arts and Sciences, are eligible for departmental honors. Courses listed with two or more numbers must be taken in the sequence indicated. The student should consult the "Undergraduate Bulletin" for additional University and College of Arts and Sciences requirements.
A. Required Courses. 3-semester introductory sequence and five upper-division courses.
a. PHYS 013/023 General Physics for Science and Engineering Students I (Lecture/Lab) (3 credits/ 1 credit)
b. PHYS 014/24 General Physics for Science and Engineering Students II (Lecture/Lab) (3 credits/ 1 credit)
c. PHYS 015/025 Introduction to Modern Physics (Lecture/Lab) (3 credits/ 1 credit)
d. PHYS 175 Thermodynamics (3 credits)
e. PHYS 178 Electricity and Magnetism I (3 credits)
f. PHYS 182 Physical Mechanics I (3 credits)
g. PHYS 190 Quantum Physics I (3 credits)
h. PHYS 194 Experimental Physics I* (3 credits)
*WRTG 702 is the same as PHYS 194, but satisfies the College's third writing requirement.
B. Elective courses. Four more courses are required to complete the physics major These courses must be coherent and satisfy one of the following areas of concentration. The choices are (1) Professional Physics, and (2) Applied Physics. The requirements are listed on the follwoing pages. Applied Physics has several tracks for the student to choose from.
(1) Professional Physics
This track is primarily intended for those students who are planning to continue in graduate school in physics, astronomy, or a related field. First, two courses from the following four are required:
a. PHYS 179 Electricity and Magnetism II (3 credits)
b. PHYS 183 Physical Mechanics II (3 credits)
c. PHYS 191 Quantum Physics II (3 credits)
d. PHYS 195 Experimental Physics II (3 credits)
Second, choose any two of the remaining courses, including those from the above group (a-d) that the student has not yet taken. In practice, the student has the choice of any of the 3-credit, 100-level courses offered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
e. PHYS 154 Introduction to Digital Computer Programming I (3 credits)
f. PHYS 176 Optics (3 credits)
g. PHYS 180 Electronic Physics I (3 credits)
h. PHYS 192 Introduction to Mathematical Physics I (3 credits)
i. PHYS 193 Introduction to Mathematical Physics II (3 credits)
(2) Applied Physics
These tracks are primarily intended for those students who are not planning to continue in graduate school in physics, astronomy, or a related field. Three tracks are listed below. The student is required to choose their scheme carefully in consultation with a member of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Courses other than those listed below (e.g., courses which are listed as prerequisites to those below) might also qualify.
I. Atmospheric Physics Track
This track is intended primarily for those students who plan a career in any of the atmospheric sciences: meteroology, or graduate study in atmospheric physics. Choose four courses from below, with PHYS 150 required and PHYS 251 strongly recommended.
a. PHYS 150 Introduction to Atmospheric Physics (3 credits)
b. PHYS 251 Atmospheric Physics II (3 credits)
c. ATMS 330 Atmospheric Chemistry I** (3 credits)
d. ATMS 331 Atmospheric Chemistry II** (3 credits)
e. ATMS 340 Geophysical Fluid Dynamics I** (3 credits)
f. ATMS 341 Geophysical Fluid Dynamics II** (3 credits)
g. PHYS 154 Introduction to Digital Computer Programming I (3 credits)
h. PHYS 253 Atmospheric Radiation** (3 credits)
i. PHYS 254 Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere** (3 credits)
**Denotes a current graduate course that can be taken at an undergraduate level. Of course, different work will be required for undergraduate and graduate students.
II. Pre-Medical Physics Track
This track is intended primarily for those students who lan to apply to medical school. Choose any four of the courses below with PHYS 174 required. The student is responsible for determining the requirements for medical school. it is recommended that the student receive advising from a "pre-medical program, concerning those requirements.
a. PHYS 174 Introductio to Biophysics (3 credits)
b. CHEM 141 Organic Chemistry I (3 credits)
c. CHEM 142 Organic Chemistry II (3 credits)
d. CHEM 152 Biochemistry I (3 credits)
e. CHEM 153 Biochemistry II (3 credits)
f. BIOL 101 Biology I (4 credits)
g. BIOL 102 Biology II (4 credits)
h. BIOL 320 Molecular Biology (4 credits)
i. HHPL 102 Human Anatomy (3 credits)
j. HHPL 103 Physiology (3 credits)
III. Computational Physics Track
This track is intended primarily for those students who plan a career in the computer and/or information sciences. First, choose two of the following introductory level courses:
a. MATH 131 Computer Programming II (3 credits)
b. MATH 132 Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis (3 credits)
c. SYCS 164 Elementary Computing I (3 credits)
d. SYCS 165 Elementary Computing II (3 credits)
e. SYCS 205 Algorithmic Problem Solving (3 credits)
f. SYCS 250 Applied Systems Programming (3 credits)
Second, choose two of the following advance courses, with 154 required.
g. PHYS 154 Introduction to Digital Computer Programming I (3 credits)
h. PHYS 155 Introduction to Digital Computer Programming II (3 credits)
i. SYCS 375 Systems Engineering I (3 credits)
j. SYCS 376 Systems Engineering II (3 credits)
k. SYCS 410 Computer Simulation and Modeling (3 credits)
l. SYCS 472 Systems Management Analysis (3 credits)