Physics and Astronomy Requirements for the B.S. Degree with a major in Physics
Requirements for the B.S. degree with a major in Astronomy and Physics
Requirements for the B.A. degree with a major in Physics
Requirements for a minor in Astronomy
Requirements for a minor in Physics
Requirements for a B.S. degree in Physics with a secondary concentration in another field
Requirements for the B.S./M.B.A. program in Physics and Business
Honors Societies
Pass/No Credit Option
Courses of Instruction

(PHYS)

Available as a major or minor on the B.A. and B.S. degrees with options listed below.

Requirements for the B.S. Degree with a major in Physics

Thirty-six hours of physics are required, including PHYS 20474, 20484, 30493, 30491, and twenty-four hours selected from 30014, 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 10503 (or an approved substitute); CHEM 10113, 10125 (or 10123 and 10122 or 10123 and 20123. Study of a modern language is recommended. A total of 132 hours is required for a B.S. Degree in Physics.

Requirements for the B.S. degree with a major in Astronomy and Physics

Thirty-six semester hours of Physics and Astronomy including 10154, 10164 (or 20474,20484), 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 10503 (or an approved substitute); and either (a) CHEM 10113,10125 (10123/10122 or 10123/20123 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.

Requirements for the B.A. degree with a major in Physics

Twenty-six hours in Physics including PHYS 20474, 20484 (or with permission 10154, 10164), 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.

Requirements for a minor in Astronomy

Twenty hours of Physics including PHYS 10154, 10164 (or PHYS 20474, 20484), Astronomy 20073, 20083, and 6 hours of upper division courses (30000 or above) including 30113, and 30111.

Requirements for a minor in Physics

Eighteen hours of Physics including PHYS 10154, 10164, (or PHYS 20474, 20484), and 6 hours of upper division courses (30000 or above).

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 20474, 20484 (or 10154, 10164), 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 10503 (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.) General requirements plus CHEM 10113, 10125 (or 10123/10122, 10123/20123) or 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.) General requirements plus CHEM 10125; 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.) General requirements 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.) General requirements 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.

Requirements for the B.S./M.B.A. program in Physics and Business

Thirty hours of physics are required including 20474, 20484 (or 10154, 10164), 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 10503 (or an approved substitute); 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.

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.

Courses of Instruction

PHYS 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.

PHYS 10151 General Physics I Laboratory. One 2-hour laboratory per week. 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.

PHYS 10151 General Physics I Laboratory. One 2-hour laboratory per week. 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.

PHYS 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 include mechanics of solids and fluids, thermodynamics, sound and wave motion, optics, electricity and magnetism, atomic and nuclear physics. Emphasis given to the application of these concepts to problems in the life and health sciences.

PHYS 10154 General Physics I with Laboratory. Three hours lecture and one 2-hour laboratory per week selected to reinforce the concepts discussed in lecture. Prerequisites: High school algebra and trigonometry or MATH 10053 and MATH 10052 or approval of instructor. Part one of a two-semester survey of general physics recommended for students in the life sciences and premedical program. Topics covered include mechanics of solids and fluids, thermodynamics, sound and wave motion. Emphasis will be given to the application of these concepts to problems in the life and health sciences.

PHYS 10161 General Physics II Laboratory. One 2-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: PHYS 10163, which is normally taken concurrently.

PHYS 10163 General Physics II. Prerequisite: PHYS 10153. Continuation of Physics 10153.

PHYS 10164 General Physics II with Laboratory. Prerequisites: PHYS 10154 (or PHYS 10153/10151), high school algebra and trigonometry or MATH 10053 and MATH 10052, or approval of instructor. Three hours lecture and one 2-hour laboratory per week selected to reinforce the concepts discussed in lecture. Part two of a two-semester survey of general physics recommended for students in the life sciences and premedical program. Topics covered include electricity and magnetism, optics, atomic and nuclear physics. Emphasis will be given to the application of these concepts to problems in the life and health science.

PHYS 10433 Freshman Seminar in Physics: Utter Chaos. Chaos Theory plays a fundamental role in many aspects of our lives: from the workings of the human heart; the prediction of the weather; the motion of planets and galaxies; to the development of personality, to name a few. The course follows the development of the "Chaos Revolution" through a study of the personalities of the major contributors and the basic models they used to develop their ideas. Two weekly class meetings are divided between a discussion of the scientists and their ideas, and a computer lab where we explore the models.

PHYS 10443 Freshman Seminar in Physics: The Cosmic Journey: Big Bang to Humans and Beyond. The history of the Universe from the Big Bang 20 billion years ago to the birth of stars, the synthesis of the building blocks for life, the origin and evolution of life on Earth and the emergence of humans and society. The change over the last 300 years in humans' understanding of the cosmos and their role in it: from the static clockwork universe of Newton at the dawn of the age of reason to the expanding universe of Hubble and Einstein in the 20th century and the multidimensional universe of present-day string theory. Future human exploration of the cosmos and the future of the Universe itself.

PHYS 20013 Introductory Astronomy. Structure and origin of the solar system. Students may receive credit for PHYS 20013 or 20073, but not both.

PHYS 20013 Introductory Astronomy. Structure and origin of the solar system. Students may receive credit for PHYS 20013 or 20073, but not both.

PHYS 20023 Introductory Astronomy. Stars, galaxies, stellar evolution, and cosmology. Students may receive credit for PHYS 20023 or 20083, but not both.

PHYS 20053 Physics of Music and Sound. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or approval of instructor. Three hours of lecture and one 2-hour laboratory per week. 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.

PHYS 20073 Introductory Astronomy. Three hours lecture and one 2-hour laboratory per week. Structure and origin of the solar system. Laboratory assignments may be scheduled in the evening.

PHYS 20073 Introductory Astronomy. Three hours lecture and one 2-hour laboratory per week. Structure and origin of the solar system. Laboratory assignments may be scheduled in the evening.

PHYS 20083 Introductory Astronomy. Three hours lecture and one 2-hour laboratory per week. Stars, galaxies, stellar evolution, and cosmology. Laboratory assignments may be scheduled in the evening.

PHYS 20083 Introductory Astronomy. Three hours lecture and one 2-hour laboratory per week. Stars, galaxies, stellar evolution, and cosmology. Laboratory assignments may be scheduled in the evening.

PHYS 20471 Physics I Laboratory. One 2-hour laboratory per week. Prerequisite: PHYS 20473, which is normally taken concurrently. A sequence of experiments selected to reinforce the concepts of Physics I.

PHYS 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; the theory of gravitation; acoustics and wave motion.

PHYS 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; the theory of gravitation; acoustics and wave motion.

PHYS 20474 Physics I with Laboratory: Mechanics. Prerequisite: MATH 10524, which may be taken concurrently, or permission of instructor. Three hours lecture and one 2-hour laboratory per week selected to reinforce the concepts discussed in lecture. 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.

PHYS 20481 Physics II Laboratory. One 2-hour laboratory per week.. Prerequisite: PHYS 20483, which is normally taken concurrently. Selected experiments that demonstrate the concepts of Physics II.

PHYS 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; geometrical optics; interference and diffraction.

PHYS 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; geometrical optics; interference and diffraction.

PHYS 20484 Physics II with Laboratory: Electromagnetism and Optics. Prerequisites: PHYS 20474 (or PHYS 20473/20471), MATH 20524, which may be taken concurrently, or permission of instructor. Three hours lecture and one 2-hour laboratory per week selected to reinforce the concepts discussed in lecture. The second of a three-semester sequence recommended for students of physical sciences. Electric charge, current and field; magnetism, time varying electrmagnetic fields; physical and geometric optics.

PHYS 30003 Junior Honors Research in Physics or Astronomy. Prerequisites: Admission to Honors Program in Physics and junior standing in Physics. The first of two courses required for Honors in Physics 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.

PHYS 30014 Materials Science. Prerequisite: CHEM 10113 or CHEM 10114. Introduction to the physical, chemical, mechanical, electrical, and optical properties of metals, semiconductors, ceramics, and polymers. Emphasis on the relationship between these properties and how performance is influenced by microstructure and processing. Atomic bonding. Crystal structure. Phase equilibria. Deformation and fracture. Composite materials. Electronic, magnetic, dielectric and optical properties. Laboratory methods for characterizing materials emphasized. (Offered as ENGR or PHYS credit.)

PHYS 30111 Experimental Astronomy. Prerequisites: PHYS 20073 and 20083, and 10153 or 10154, and 10163 or 10164. 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.

PHYS 30113 Intermediate Astronomy. Prerequisites: PHYS 20073 and 20083, or 20013 and 20023, PHYS 20473 and 20483, or PHYS 20474 and 20484, or PHYS 10153 and 10163, or PHYS 10154 and 10164. Physical properties of planets, stars, and galaxies.

PHYS 30491 Physics III Laboratory. Three hours laboratory per week. Prerequisite: PHYS 30493, which may be taken concurrently. Selected topics in modern physics.

PHYS 30493 Physics III Modern Physics. Prerequisites: PHYS 20473 and 20483, or 20474 and 20484, or 10153 and 10163, or 10154 and 10164, and MATH 20524. Relativity, introduction to quantum mechanics, atomic structure, nuclear physics, and modern physics.

PHYS 30553 Mechanics. Prerequisites: PHYS 20473 or 20474, and MATH 30524.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.

PHYS 30603 Thermal Physics. Prerequisite: PHYS 30493, MATH 30524 or permission of instructor. Statistical formulation of the laws and applications of thermodynamics.

PHYS 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.

PHYS 40003 Senior Honors Research in Physics or Astronomy. Prerequisites: Admission to Honors Program in Physics and Senior Standing in Physics. A candidate for honors in Physics 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.

PHYS 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 semester hours)

PHYS 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.

PHYS 40113 Elements of Quantum Mechanics. Prerequisites: PHYS 30493 and MATH 30524 or permission of instructor. The Schrodinger equations, operators, stationary states; Quantum theory of angular momentum; the harmonic oscillator and the hydrogen atom; quantum spin formulation.

PHYS 40653 Electromagnetic Fields. Prerequisites: PHYS 20483 and MATH 30524 or permission of instructor. Development of Maxwell's equations; Electrostatics; potential; magnetostatics; electric and magnetic fields in matter; electromagnetic waves.

PHYS 40663 Electromagnetic Radiation and Optics. Prerequisite: PHYS 40653. Electromagnetic radiation in free space and in materials; geometrical optics; interference and diffraction; Fourier optics; introduction to nonlinear optics.

PHYS 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 hours)

PHYS 50703 Nonlinear Dynamics. Prerequisite: permission of the instructor, PHYS 30553 is recommended. Characterization of Chaos, Routes to Chaos, Dissipative Dynamical Systems, Hamiltonian Systems.

PHYS 50713 Contemporary Topics in Physics. Prerequisite: Departmental permission. Regularly scheduled course on a subject of interest to students and faculty. Possible topics: Acoustics, Biophysics, Mathematical Physics, Modern Optics, and Nuclear Physics.

PHYS 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.

PHYS 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 FORTRAN, C++, and Mathematica.

PHYS 50743 Astrophysics. Prerequisite: Departmental permission. Spectra and spectral line formation, stellar atmospheres and interiors, star formation and evolution, structure of the Universe, selected topics in cosmology.

PHYS 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 hours)

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