Physics BA and BS

PHYS – Physics course descriptions

Faculty

Wendy Weber (chair), Elizabeth Golovatski, Viktor Martisovits, Alexey Pronin Kristen Thompson, Anudeep Reddy Vedire

 

Statement of philosophy, BA

As the most fundamental physical science, physics, is concerned with the basic principles of the universe. It is the foundation on which engineering, technology and the other sciences are based. Housed in the department of Analytical and Physical Sciences, A Bachelor of Arts with a major in physics is a problem-solving degree, preparing students for careers in many fields. A Bachelor of Arts with a major in physics has the flexibility to support preparation for graduate study in fields that go far beyond the physical sciences. It pairs well with majors or minors as far ranging as math, computer science, or data science (software design, big data, machine learning) to English (academic publishing) and music (acoustics). Students bound for graduate work in health fields, law or engineering have the flexibility to take the additional courses required or recommended for graduate admission in those fields. Our mission is to teach physics theory, problem-solving skills, and experimental techniques with an emphasis on science as a method for exploring the world. We prepare our students to be able to reason from the general fundamental principles to specific applications in physics and engineering.

*Students interested in pursuing graduate study in physics, astrophysics, or astronomy should consider the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Physics. Students cannot obtain both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science with majors in Physics.

 

Statement of philosophy, BS

As the most fundamental of the physical sciences, physics is concerned with the basic principles of the universe. It is the foundation on which engineering, technology, and other sciences are based. Research in physics today spans from the smallest of the small (fundamental particles) to the largest of the large (cosmology and astrophysics), answering questions both practical and awe-inspiring. Housed in the department of Analytical and Physical Sciences, a Bachelor of Science with a major in physics offers both a deeper dive into physics (compared to the Bachelor of Arts with a major in physics) and a branching out into related fields that prepares students for complex work in science and technology industries, research, or academia. This major is especially well-suited for students wanting to pursue doctoral work in physics, astrophysics, astronomy, or engineering specialties. Our mission is to teach physics theory, problem-solving skills, and experimental techniques with an emphasis on science as a method for exploring the world. We prepare our students to be able to reason from the general fundamental principles to specific applications in physics and engineering.

* Students interested in pursuing graduate study in health fields or law should consider a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Physics to accommodate the additional courses required or recommended for graduate admission in those fields. Students cannot obtain both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science with majors in Physics.

 

Study abroad opportunities

Students majoring in physics have been able to study abroad with careful planning, especially during the summer.

 

Major Communication Skills

The department believes that it is important that students in physics can listen, speak, read, and write both within the discipline and outside it. Many courses throughout the major include activities evaluating students’ communication skills, including PHYS 331 Advanced Laboratories. PHYS 331 has sufficiently high standards of technical writing that passing both semesters is evidence of a student’s writing skills. Students in highly technical majors are often best served in gaining oral communication skills outside the sciences, leading the department to require physics majors to pass either COMM 160 Communication in Everyday Life or COMM 272 Professional Communication. 

 

Physics Major Requirements, BA (minimum of 57 credits)            

  1. Complete all of the following:
    PHYS   111       General Physics I with Lab (5)

    PHYS   112       General Physics II with Lab (5)
    PHYS   225       Modern Physics I (3)
    PHYS   331       Advanced Labs (4) (2 semesters)
    CHEM   111       General Chemistry I with Lab (4)

    MATH   131       Calculus I (4)
    MATH   132       Calculus II (4)
    MATH   231       Multivariable Calculus (3)
    MATH   250       Differential Equations (3)

 

  1. Complete 19 credits from the following elective courses:
    PHYS    211       Analog Electronics (3)

    PHYS    215       Theoretical and Experimental Methods (2)
    PHYS    216       Waves (2)
    PHYS    322       Optics (3)
    PHYS    325       Modern Physics II (3)
    PHYS    326       Analytical Mechanics (4)
    PHYS    412       Quantum Mechanics (4)
    PHYS    421       Electricity and Magnetism II (3)
    ENGR    212       Dynamics (3)*
    ENGR    311       Thermodynamics (3)
    ENGR    321       Electromagnetism (3)
    *requires ENGR 211 as a pre-requisite, but does not count as an elective in the major
  1. Complete one of the following:
    COMM    160       Communication in Everyday Life (3)

    COMM    272       Oral Communication in Professional Contexts (3)

 

Physics Minor Requirements (18 credits)           

  1. Complete all of the following:
    PHYS   111           General Physics I with Lab (5)

    PHYS   112          General Physics II with Lab (5)
    PHYS   225          Modern Physics I (3)
    PHYS   331          Advanced Laboratories (2)
  1. Complete an additional 3 credits of PHYS courses numbered 211 or above

 

Physics Major Requirements, BS (minimum of 75 credits)

  1. Complete all of the following (64 sh):
     PHYS          111       General Physics I with Lab (5)

     PHYS          112       General Physics II with Lab (5)
     PHYS          215       Theoretical and Experimental Methods (2)
     PHYS          216       Waves (2)
     PHYS          225       Modern Physics I (3)
     PHYS          322       Optics (3)
     PHYS          325       Modern Physics II (3)
     PHYS          331       Advanced Labs (4) (2 semesters)
     PHYS          412       Quantum Mechanics (4)
     PHYS          421       Electricity and Magnetism II (3)
     CHEM          111       General Chemistry with Lab (4)
     ENGR          211       Statics (3)
     ENGR          212       Dynamics (3)
     ENGR          311       Thermodynamics (3)
     ENGR          321       Electromagnetism (3)
     MATH          131       Calculus I (4)
     MATH          132       Calculus II (4)
     MATH          231       Multivariable Calculus (3)
     MATH          250       Differential Equations (3)

 

  1. Take four of the following elective courses (11-15 credits, including any additional pre-requisites for engineering courses):
    CHEM          112       General Chemistry II with Lab (4)

    CHEM          361       Physical Chemistry I (3)*
    CHEM          461       Physical Chemistry II (3)*
    COSC          110       Intro to Computer Science (3)
    ENGR          112       Matlab (2)
    ENGR          221       Electric Circuits (3)
    ENGR          222       Electronic Devices (4)
    ENGR          312       Fluid Dynamics (3)
    MATH          240       Linear Algebra (4)
    *Requires instructor permission