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Bulletins

PHY - Physics

PHY 501 Careers in the Physical Sciences

Career planning and job application skills for students in physics, astronomy, or a closely related area. Prerequisite: Completion of at least 20 credit hours of coursework in the physical sciences or mathematics, or admission to the PHY M.S. program.

Credits
1(0-2)

Prerequisites

Completion of at least 20 credit hours of coursework in the physical sciences or mathematics, or admission to the PHY MSprogram

Corequisites

None.

PHY 505 Teaching Chemistry and Physics in the Secondary School

This course exposes pre-service secondary chemistry and physics teachers to theory and practice of teaching in secondary schools, design of instructional units, and safety practices. Must be completed prior to student teaching. Identical to CHM 505. Credit may not be earned in more than one of these courses. Prerequisites: CHM 132; PHY 131 or PHY 146; admission into the Teacher Education Program; signed major or minor in chemistry or physics (secondary education); Junior or Senior standing. Graduate students must be enrolled in a teaching master’s program.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

CHM 132; PHY 131 or 146; admission into the Teacher Education Program; signed major or minor in chemistry or physics (secondary education); Junior or Senior standingGraduate students must be enrolled in a teaching master’s program

Corequisites

None.

Cross Listed Courses

CHM 505

PHY 507 Field Experience in Teaching Chemistry/Physics

Supervised experience in high school chemistry and/or physics classes. Identical to CHM 507. Credit may not be earned in more than one of these courses. CR/NC only. Prerequisites: admission into the Teacher Education Program; Junior or Senior standing. Graduate students must be enrolled in a teaching master’s program. Pre/Co-requisite: CHM 505 or PHY 505.

Credits
1(Spec)

Prerequisites

Admission into the Teacher Education Program; Junior or Senior standingGraduate students must be enrolled in a teaching master’s program

Corequisites

None.

Cross Listed Courses

CHM 507

PHY 511 Fundamentals of Quantum Computing

This course introduces the fundamental concepts of quantum information technology and quantum computing. Prerequisites: PHY 247 and junior standing or higher; or graduate standing in Physics.

Credits
2(2-0)

Prerequisites

PHY 247 and junior standing or higher; or graduate standing in Physics.

Corequisites

None.

PHY 517 Computational Physics

Introduction to standard numerical techniques applied to problems in physics, including numerical differentiation and integration, systems of differential equations, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, and Monte-Carlo simulations. Prerequisites: MTH 233; or graduate standing. Pre/Co- requisites: PHY 322, MTH 334; or graduate standing. Recommended: Basic knowledge of a programming language such as FORTRAN, Java, C, Python, or others.

Credits
3(2-2)

Prerequisites

MTH 233; or graduate standing

Corequisites

None.

PHY 552 Nuclear Physics

Radioactive transformations, detection of radiation, methods of producing high-speed particles, nuclear structure, fission, cosmic radiation and applications of radioactivity. Prerequisite: PHY 442 or graduate standing in Physics.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

PHY 442 or graduate standing in Physics

Corequisites

None.

PHY 554 Optics

Geometrical and physical optics, electromagnetic theory of light, interference and diffraction from standpoint of Huygens' principle, Fourier formalism, polarized light, principles and applications of lasers. Prerequisites: PHY 332.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

PHY 332

Corequisites

None.

PHY 556 Solid State Physics

Vibrational and electronic properties of crystalline materials as well as more specialized selected topics such as magnetism, optical, and transport properties. Prerequisites: PHY 442 or graduate standing in Physics. Pre/Co-requisites: PHY 450 or graduate standing in Physics.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

PHY 442 or graduate standing in Physics

Corequisites

None.

PHY 578WI Experimental Physics

Selected experiments utilizing the techniques of modern experimental physics. Writing Intensive. Prerequisites: PHY 277, PHY 322 or graduate standing in Physics. Pre/Co-requisites: PHY 332 or graduate standing in Physics.

Credits
3(1-5)

Prerequisites

PHY 277, PHY 322 or graduate standing in Physics

Corequisites

None.

PHY 580 Special Topics

Special topics not included in standard courses in physics. Course may be taken more than once; total credit not to exceed six hours. Prerequisite: PHY 442 or graduate standing.

Credits
1-9(Spec)

Prerequisites

PHY 442 or graduate standing

Corequisites

None.

PHY 596 Research Practices in Physics, Astronomy, and Astrophysics

Directed research supervised by a Physics faculty member. Prerequisite: PHY 332 or graduate student standing and permission of advisor.

Credits
1-9(Spec)

Prerequisites

PHY 332 or graduate student standing and permission of advisor.

Corequisites

None.

PHY 619 Continuing Registration for Final Research Project

A non-credit course intended for students who have completed all program credits but still need to use university resources to complete their degree requirements.

Credits
1(1-0)

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

PHY 624 Advanced Mechanics

Special relativity, kinematics, and dynamics of rotational motion, coupled oscillations, canonical transformation, Hamilton-Jacobi theory, classical fields. Prerequisite: graduate standing in Physics.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

Graduate standing in Physics

Corequisites

None.

PHY 634 Advanced Electricity and Magnetism

Boundary value problems, time-varying fields and the initial value problem. Covariant description of electrodynamics and radiation by point charges. Pre/Co-requisite: Graduate standing in Physics.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

PHY 643 Quantum Mechanics I

Mathematical formalism of quantum mechanics; quantum dynamics; theory of angular momentum. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in physics.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

Graduate standing in physics

Corequisites

None.

PHY 644 Quantum Mechanics II

The concepts and mathematical framework of advanced quantum mechanics, including approximation methods, symmetry, identical particles, and applications of quantum mechanics. Prerequisite: PHY 643.

Credits
3(3-0)

Prerequisites

PHY 643

Corequisites

None.

PHY 685 Seminar: Contemporary Physics

Discussion of recent research in various subfields of physics. Emphasis on oral presentation and literature searches. Offered in one-hour blocks. May be taken four times. Prerequisite: graduate standing in physics.

Credits
1-4(Spec)

Prerequisites

Graduate standing in Physics

Corequisites

None.

PHY 698 Plan B Project

A project in an area of physics related to, but extending beyond material covered in required coursework. May be taken for credit more than once. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Physics.

Credits
1-2(Spec)

Prerequisites

Graduate standing in Physics

Corequisites

None.

PHY 780 Topics in Physics

Topics not ordinarily covered in regular courses. May be taken for credit more than once; total credit not to exceed nine hours. Prerequisite: one physics course at the 500 or 600 level.

Credits
1-9(Spec)

Prerequisites

One physics course at the 500 or 600 level.

Corequisites

None.

PHY 781 Topics in Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics

Advanced topics in nuclear physics and astrophysics not included in standard courses. Course may be taken for credit more than once; total credit not to exceed six hours. Prerequisite: Admission to the Physics Ph.D. program.

Credits
1-6(Spec)

Prerequisites

Admission to the Physics PhD program.

Corequisites

None.

PHY 782 Topics in Condensed Matter Physics

Advanced topics in condensed matter physics not included in standard courses. Course may be taken more than once; total credit not to exceed six hours. Prerequisite: Admission to the Physics Ph.D. program.

Credits
1-6(Spec)

Prerequisites

Admission to the Physics PhDprogram

Corequisites

None.

PHY 790 Independent Study

Individual study in an area not covered by regular courses. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

Credits
1-6(Spec)

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor

Corequisites

None.

PHY 796 Directed Research in Physics

Directed research in close collaboration with instructor on a research topic in physics. May be repeated to a maximum of 36 hours. Prerequisite: Admission to the Physics Ph.D. program.

Credits
1-36(Spec)

Prerequisites

Admission to the Physics PhDprogram

Corequisites

None.

PHY 798 Thesis

Individual research, with thesis. Directed by a committee. CR/NC only.

Credits
1-6(Spec)

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None.

PHY 899 Dissertation

Completion of the doctoral dissertation. May be repeated for a total of 12 credit hours. CR/NC Only. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.

Credits
1-12(Spec)

Prerequisites

Permission of instructor.

Corequisites

None.