Physics Major, B.A., B.S.

B.A. degree or B.S. degree

Admission Requirements, Retention & Termination Standards

Several MTH courses are required as prerequisites for the physics courses listed below. Prospective majors are urged to begin their study of mathematics in the fall of the freshman year with MTH 132 (or MTH 130, if necessary), and to consult with a departmental advisor as soon as possible for help in scheduling additional MTH courses.

No more than 5 semester hours of credit taken on a credit/no credit basis may be counted toward the physics major or minor. Since the department permits credit/no credit registration only for beginning physics courses, the restriction refers specifically to PHY 145QR and PHY 175.

Although not recommended, the following course substitutions can be allowed for a student who successfully completes PHY 247QR:

Transfer students from two-year colleges can complete a major in physics in two additional years if they have satisfactorily completed a one-year course in calculus and a one year course in general physics (preferably utilizing calculus). Transfer students should consult the chairperson of this department at their earliest opportunity, and in any case, prior to initial registration.

Program Requirements

Core Courses (41 hours)

PHY 145QR	University Physics I	4(4-0)
PHY 146	University Physics II	4(4-0)
PHY 175	University Physics Laboratory I	1(0-2)
PHY 176	University Physics Laboratory II	1(0-2)
PHY 247QR	Introduction to Modern Physics	4(4-0)
PHY 277	Modern Physics: Experimental Methods and Data Analysis	2(1-3)
PHY 312	Introduction to Mathematical Physics	3(3-0)
PHY 322	Intermediate Mechanics	3(3-0)
PHY 332	Electricity and Magnetism	3(3-0)
PHY 442	Introductory Quantum Theory	4(4-0)
PHY 450	Thermal Physics	3(3-0)
PHY 491WI	Senior Physics Project	3(Spec)
PHY 517	Computational Physics	3(2-2)
PHY 578WI	Experimental Physics	3(1-5)

Electives (3 hours)

One additional PHY course at the 500 level (Strongly recommended for students planning to attend graduate school in PHY) or one cognate course at the 300 level or higher in a closely related discipline, selected with the approval of a departmental advisor.

Cognate Courses (18-21 hours)

Computer Science Prerequisite (3 hours)

CPS 190

Introduction to Programming in Python

3(3-0)

Mathematics Prerequisites I (12 hours)

MTH 132	Calculus I	4(4-0)
MTH 133	Calculus II	4(4-0)
MTH 233	Calculus III	4(4-0)

Mathematics Prerequisites II (3-6 hours)

Select one of the following options:

Option 1 (6 hours)

(Strongly recommended for students planning to attend graduate school in PHY)

MTH 223	Linear Algebra and Matrix Theory	3(3-0)
MTH 334	Differential Equations	3(3-0)

Option II (3 hours)

MTH 232

Linear Algebra and Differential Equations