Available as a major or minor on the B.A. and B.S. degrees
with options listed below.
UCR requirements for B.S. programs in Physics and Astronomy
are: Writing Workshop (6 hrs.), Social Science (9 hrs.), Cultural Heritage
(15 hrs.), Languages and Literature (9 hrs.), Physical Education (2 hrs.), Writing
emphasis (6 hrs. usually combined with other requirements) for a minimum total
of 41 hours; Science and Mathematics requirements are fulfilled in the Physics
and Astronomy programs.
I) Requirements for the B.S. Degree with a major in
Physics. Thirty-six hours of physics are required, including PHYS 20473,
20471, 20483, 20481, 30493, 30491, and twenty- four hours selected from 30013,
30553, 30603, 30703, 40113, 40653, 40663, 50703, 50713, 50723, 50733, 50743,
and either 40103 or 40003. It is recommended that students planning to attend
graduate school take PHYS 30553, 30603, 40113, 40653 and 40663. Twenty-two
hours of mathematics are required, including MATH 10524, 20524, 30224 and
30524. Students planning to attend graduate school should take MATH 50623
and 50633. Also required are: COSC 10403 or an approved substitute; CHEM 10113,
10123 and 10122 (or 10114 and 10124). Study of a modern language is recommended.
A total of 132 hours is required for a B.S. Degree in Physics.
II) Requirements for the B.S. degree with a major
in Astronomy and Physics. Thirty-six semester hours of Physics and Astronomy
including 10153, 10151, 10163, 10161, (or 20473, 20471, 20483, 20481), 30493,
20073, 20083, 30113, 30111, and 50743 also twelve hours selected from PHYS
30013, 30553, 30603, 30703, 40113, 40653, 40663, 50703, 50713, 50723, 50733,
and either 40103 or 40003. It is recommended that students planning to attend
graduate school take PHYS 30553, 30603, 40113, and 40653. Sixteen hours of
mathematics are required including MATH 10524, 20524, 30224, 30524. It is
recommended that students planning to attend graduate school take MATH 50623
and 50633. Also required are COSC 10403, and either (a) CHEM 10113, 10123,
and 10122 (or 10114 and 10124), or (b) CHEM 10113, GEOL 10113 and 30213. Study
of a modern language is recommended. A total of 132 hours is required for
a B.S. degree in Astronomy and Physics.
III) Requirements for the B.S./M.B.A. program in
Physics and Business. Thirty hours of physics are required including 20473,
20471, 20483, 20481 (or 10153, 10151, 10163, 10161), and 30493, plus nineteen
selected from 20073, 20083, 30013, 30113, 30111, 30491, 30553, 30603, 40113, 40653,
40663, 50703, 50713, 50723, 50633, 50743, and either 40103 or 40003. Sixteen hours
of mathematics are required including MATH 10524, 20524, 30224, and 30524. Also
required are COSC 10403, CHEM 10113, ECON 10223, 10233, and BUAD 10013. In the
fourth year, students take twenty-four hours of approved M.B.A. courses.
The total requirement for the B.S. in Physics
is 132 hours, which includes twenty-seven hours of M.B.A. courses taken in
the fourth year. In the fifth year the student takes M.B.A. courses to complete
the requirements for the M.B.A degree. If the specified requirements were
fulfilled at a reasonable rate, the student would be eligible to receive a
B.S. degree in physics in four years and an M.B.A degree in five years. Students
must apply to the MBA program in their junior year. For admission to the MBA
program refer to the School of Business section of this Bulletin.
IV) Requirements for a B.S. degree in Physics
with a secondary concentration in another field. Thirty hours of physics are
required, including eleven hours of PHYS 20473, 20471, 20483, 20481 (or 10153,
10151, 10163, 10161), and 30493, also nineteen hours selected from PHYS 30013,
30113, 30111, 30491, 30553, 30603, 30703, 40113, 40653, 40663, 50703, 50713, 50723,
50733, 50743, and either 40103 or 40003. (It is recommended that nine or more
hours be selected from 30553, 30603, 40113, and 40653). Associated requirements
are: Sixteen hours of MATH 10524, 20524, 30224, and 30524; COSC 10403 or an approved
substitute; CHEM 10113; and an approved Secondary Concentration with a minimum
of 24 hours. The total requirement for a B.S. degree in physics with a secondary
concentration is 132 hours. The approved concentrations with respective additional
requirements are:
A) B.S. degree in Physics with secondary concentration
in the Bio-Medical Field. (For students interested in Pre-Med or in Biophysics
graduate programs.) The same requirements as in Section IV, plus CHEM 10113,
10123, 10122, 30123, 30122, 30133, 30132; BIOL 10504, 10514 (an additional
six hours selected from BIOL 30404, 30603, 40123, 40223 are recommended).
B) B.S. degree in Physics with secondary concentration
in Environmental Science. (This option prepares students for graduate
work in Physics or Environmental Science.) The same requirements as in Section
IV, plus CHEM 10123; BIOL 10504, 10514, 30403, and three hours of approved
upper level biology courses; GEOL 10113, 10143, 30393, and three hours selected
from 30113, 30323, 50712, 50721, or 50783.
C) B.S. degree in Physics with secondary concentration
in Computer Modeling. (This option prepares students for graduate work
in Physics). The same requirements as in Section IV except that PHYS 50733
and an approved project in either PHYS 40103, or 40003 are required. Additional
requirements are COSC 20101, 20203, 20803, 30203 30403, also three hours selected
from COSC 30803, 40503, 40903, or 50123; MATH 30613, 50613, and 40663.
D) B.S. degree in Physics with secondary concentration
in Electronics. (This option prepares students for graduate studies in
Electrical Engineering or Physics.) Same requirements as in Section IV except
that PHYS 40113 and 40653 (or ENGR 30543) are required, and PHYS 40663 is
recommended. Additional requirements are, ENGR 10042, 20404, 20413, 30013,
30444, 30454, 40454, and MATH 30613.
V) Requirements for the B.A. degree with a major
in Physics. Twenty-six hours in Physics including PHYS 20473, 20471, 20483,
20481 (or with permission 10151, 10153, 10161, 10163), 30493. Twelve hours of
mathematics are required including MATH 10524, 20524 and 30224. The total number
of hours for the B.A. in Physics is 124. Students planning graduate study in physics
should seek the B.S. degree.
VI) Requirements for a minor in Physics. Eighteen
hours of Physics including PHYS 10153, 10151, 10163 and 10161 (or PHYS 20473,
20471, 20483 and 20481), and 6 hours of upper division courses (30000 or above).
VII) Requirements for a minor in Astronomy. Required
courses: PHYS 10153, 10151, 10163, 10161, Astronomy 20073, 20083, 30113, and 30111,
plus 2 additional upper division hours of Physics and Astronomy.
Honors Program. Physics and Astronomy majors
who plan to pursue Departmental Honors must be enrolled in the Honors Program.
Students should take PHYS 30003 during their junior year and PHYS 40003 during
their senior year.
Honors Societies. The department sponsors
Sigma Pi Sigma, the national honor society in Physics and Sigma Xi, the Honor
Society for Research in the Natural Sciences.
Pass/No Credit Option. Courses for the major and
minor may be taken on the Pass/No Credit basis.
The following is a complete list of courses offered by this department. Go
to Class Search on Registrar's Page to see which courses are being taught this
semester.
Courses of Instruction
GROUP I - Introductory Physics Courses for Non-Science Majors
10073 CONCEPTS IN PHYSICAL SCIENCE.
A laboratory science course for those with no previous background in physics,
designed to stress the formulation of physical concepts at different levels
of abstraction. Especially useful for education majors to gain insight and experience
with science content and for music majors as a prerequisite to an understanding
of musical acoustics.
10153 GENERAL PHYSICS I. Prerequisites: High
school algebra and trigonometry or MATH 10053 and MATH 10052 or approval of
instructor. Part of a two-semester survey of general physics recommended
for students in the life sciences and premedical program. Topics covered in
the sequence will include mechanics of solids and fluids, thermodynamics, sound
and wave motion, optics, electricity and magnetism, atomic and nuclear physics.
Emphasis will be given to the application of these concepts to problems in the
life and health sciences.
10151 GENERAL PHYSICS I LABORATORY. Three hours
laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 10153, which is normally taken concurrently.
Part one of a two semester sequence recommended for students enrolled in PHYS
10153. The sequence consists of selected experiments associated with PHYS 10153
and 10163.
10163 GENERAL PHYSICS II.Prerequisite: PHYS
10153. Continuation of Physics 10153.
10161 GENERAL PHYSICS II LABORATORY. Three hours laboratory. Prerequisite:
PHYS 10163, which is normally taken concurrently.
20053 PHYSICS OF MUSIC AND SOUND. Two hours lecture and 3 hours laboratory.
Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or approval of instructor. Nature and transmission
of sound characteristics of musical instruments and speech, musical intervals,
musical scales, musical temperament, and architectural acoustics. The laboratory
includes experiments on vibration, resonance, objective and subjective characteristics
of sound, and sound synthesis.
GROUP II- Introductory Astronomy Courses for Non-Science and Science Majors
20013 INTRODUCTORY ASTRONOMY.
Structure and origin of the solar system. (Students may receive credit for PHYS
20013 or 20073, but not both).
20023 INTRODUCTORY ASTRONOMY. Stars, galaxies, stellar
evolution, and cosmology. (Students may receive credit for PHYS 20023 or 20083,
but not both).
20073 INTRODUCTORY ASTRONOMY. Three hours lecture and laboratory assignments.
Structure and origin of the solar system. Laboratory assignments may be scheduled
in the evening.
20083 INTRODUCTORY ASTRONOMY. Three hours lecture and laboratory assignments.
Stars, galaxies, stellar evolution, and cosmology. Laboratory assignments may
be scheduled in the evening.
GROUP III - Introductory Physics Courses for Science Majors
Credit will be given for only one of 10153, 20473 or for
only one of 10163, 20483.
10153 GENERAL PHYSICS I. Prerequisites: High
school algebra and trigonometry or MATH 10053 and MATH 10052 or approval of
instructor. Part of a two-semester survey of general physics recommended
for students in the life sciences and premedical program. Topics covered in
the sequence will include mechanics of solids and fluids, thermodynamics, sound
and wave motion, optics, electricity and magnetism, atomic and nuclear physics.
Emphasis will be given to the application of these concepts to problems in the
life and health sciences.
10151 GENERAL PHYSICS I LABORATORY. Three hours
laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 10153, which is normally taken concurrently.
Part one of a two semester sequence recommended for students enrolled in PHYS
10153. The sequence consists of selected experiments associated with PHYS 10153
and 10163.
10163 GENERAL PHYSICS II.Prerequisite: PHYS
10153. Continuation of Physics 10153.
10161 GENERAL PHYSICS II LABORATORY. Three hours
laboratory. Prerequisite: PHYS 10163, which is normally taken concurrently.
20473 PHYSICS I MECHANICS.Prerequisites: MATH
10524 which may be taken concurrently or permission of the instructor. The
first of a three-semester survey recommended for students majoring in the physical
sciences. Newton's laws of motion, the conservation of momentum, angular
momentum, and energy; and the theory of gravitation.
20471 PHYSICS I LABORATORY. Three hours laboratory.
Prerequisite: PHYS 20473, which is normally taken concurrently. A sequence
of experiments selected to reinforce the concepts of Physics I.
20483 PHYSICS II ELECTROMAGNETISM AND OPTICS.Prerequisites:
PHYS 20473 and MATH 20524 which is normally taken concurrently or permission
of instructor. The second of a three-semester sequence recommended for students
of physical sciences. Electric charge, current and field; magnetism, time varying
electromagnetic fields; physical and geometric optics.
20481 PHYSICS II LABORATORY. Three hours laboratory.
Prerequisite: PHYS 20483, which is normally taken concurrently. Selected
experiments that demonstrate the Concepts of Physics II.
30493 PHYSICS III MODERN PHYSICS.Prerequisites:
PHYS 20473 and 20483 or 10153 and 10163, MATH 20524. Relativity, introduction
to quantum mechanics, atomic structure, nuclear physics, and modern physics.
30491 PHYSICS III LABORATORY. Three hours laboratory. Prerequisite:
PHYS 30493, which may be taken concurrently. Selected topics in modern physics.
GROUP IV - Advanced Undergraduate Physics and Astronomy Courses.
30003 JUNIOR HONORS RESEARCH IN PHYSICS OR ASTRONOMY.
Prerequisites: Admission to Honors Program
and junior standing in Physics or Astronomy. The first of two courses required
for Honors in Physics or Astronomy in which the candidate will carry out a program
of research under the direction of a faculty member. The results of this research
must be satisfactorily communicated to the department in an oral presentation
and/or a written report.
30013 MATERIAL SCIENCES (ENGR 30013) Prerequisite:
CHEM 10113. Introduction to the structure and properties of metals, polymers,
and ceramics. Crystal structure. Phase equilibria. Microstructures. Deformation
and fracture. Polymers and composites. Electrical conductors. Magnetic properties.
Dielectric properties.
30111 EXPERIMENTAL ASTRONOMY.Prerequisites: PHYS 20073 and 20083, 10153,
10163. Selected experiments in telescope properties and resolution, astrophotography,
spectroscopy, planetarium studies, geometrical optics, physical optics, atomic
physics, and studies of experimental data available in research journals.
30113 INTERMEDIATE ASTRONOMY.Prerequisites: PHYS 20073 and 20083 or
20013 and 20023, PHYS 20473 and 20483 or 10153 and 10163. Physical properties
of planets, stars, and galaxies.
30553 MECHANICS.Prerequisites:
PHYS 20473 and MATH 30524 or permission of instructor. Particle motion in
one and three dimensions including oscillatory motion and motion under a central
force. Dynamics of many particle systems. Lagrange's and Hamilton's
equations.
30603 THERMAL PHYSICS.Prerequisite: PHYS 30493,
MATH 30524 or permission of instructor. Statistical formulation of the laws
and applications of thermodynamics.
30703 DIGITAL ELECTRONICS. Prerequisites: First
year physics, MATH 10524, COSC 10403. An introduction to DC and AC circuits,
diodes, transistors, amplifier circuits, basic digital circuits, logic circuits,
digital readouts, counters, timing circuits, AD converters, microprocessors,
and microcomputers.
40003 SENIOR HONORS RESEARCH IN PHYSICS OR ASTRONOMY.Prerequisites: Admission to Honors Program and senior standing in Physics
or Astronomy. A candidate for honors in Physics or Astronomy will carry
out a program of research under the direct supervision of a faculty member.
The results of the research must be presented in the form of an acceptable paper.
40050 THE TEACHING OF PHYSICS. Prerequisite: 14 semester hours, 3 of
which may be taken concurrently. Members of this class serve one day each
week as physics laboratory assistants and share in departmental conferences. (1
1/2 - 3 sem. hrs.)
40103 SENIOR RESEARCH IN PHYSICS OR ASTRONOMY. Prerequisites:
Senior Standing in Physics or Astronomy. The student will carry out a program
of research under the direction of a faculty member. The results of the research
will be presented in the form of an acceptable paper.
40113 ELEMENTS OF QUANTUM MECHANICS. Prerequisites:
PHYS 30493 and MATH 30524 or permission of instructor. The Schrödinger
equations, operators, stationary states; Quantum theory of angular momentum;
the harmonic oscillator and the hydrogen atom; quantum spin formulation.
40653 ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS. Prerequisites:
PHYS 20483 and MATH 30524 or permission of instructor. Electric and magnetic
fields, potential; dielectrics; relativity applied to electricity and magnetism;
development of Maxwell's Equations in covariant form.
40663 ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION AND OPTICS. Prerequisite:
PHYS 40653. Electromagnetic radiation in free space and in materials; introduction
to nonlinear optics.
50030 SEMINAR IN CONTEMPORARY PHYSICS. Prerequisite:
Permission of instructor. Students enrolled will be expected to participate
in, prepare, and lead discussions on selected topics in physics as suggested
by the current journal literature. (1-4 sem. hrs.)
50703 NONLINEAR DYNAMICS.Prerequisites: Permission
of instructor, PHYS 30553 is recommended. Characterization of Chaos, Routes
to Chaos, Dissipative Dynamical Systems, Hamiltonian Systems.
50713 CONTEMPORARY TOPICS IN PHYSICS. Prerequisite:
Departmental permission. Regularly scheduled course on subjects of interest
to students and faculty. Possible topics may include but are not limited to:
Atomic and molecular physics, Atom optics, Biophysics, Mathematical physics
and High-energy nuclear physics.
50723 INTRODUCTION TO SOLID STATE PHYSICS.Prerequisite:
PHYS 30493; MATH 30524. Crystal structure, lattice dynamics, free electron
theory, band theory, optical, electric and magnetic properties of solids.
50733 COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS. Prerequisites: PHYS
20483 and MATH 30524. Computational methods used in physics, systems of
linear equations, eigenvalues problems, numerical solution of differential equations
using different computing environments.
50743 ASTROPHYSICS. Prerequisite: Departmental
permission. The distance scale, applications of dynamics, statistical mechanics,
relativity and quantum theory to astrophysical phenomena, theory of stellar
structure, and evolutionary processes in the interstellar medium, and selected
topics in cosmology.
50970 SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN PHYSICS.Prerequisite: Departmental permission.
Advanced work in physics the nature of which is to be determined by the previous
preparation and interest of the individual. Credit will depend upon the nature
of the study and the amount of work taken. (1-12 hrs.)
