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2010–2012 Undergraduate Catalog

Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics

The Bachelor of Science degree in Physics provides opportunities for preparation for careers in industry and governmental agencies and for graduate study in physics or related fields.

The minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree, including the Core Curriculum requirements, is 120. Thirty-nine of the total semester credit hours required for the degree must be at the upper-division level.

All majors in physics are required to complete all required and elective physics courses with a grade of “C” or better.

All candidates seeking this degree must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements and the degree requirements, which are listed below.

Core Curriculum requirements: Students seeking the Bachelor of Science degree in Physics must fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements in the same manner as other students. The courses listed in the table below satisfy both major requirements and Core Curriculum requirements; however, if these courses are taken to satisfy both requirements, then students may need to take additional courses in order to meet the minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree. For a complete listing of courses that satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements see pages 5–9 of this catalog.

Degree Requirements

1. 54 semester credit hours of physics and astronomy courses:
   
   1. 45 semester credit hours of required courses completed with a grade of “C” or better:
      
      PHY  1943, 1951  Physics for Scientists I and Laboratory
      PHY  1963, 1971  Physics for Scientists II and Laboratory
      PHY  1983, 1991  Physics for Scientists III and Laboratory
      PHY  3103           Modern Physics
      PHY  3203           Classical Mechanics I
      PHY  3293           Thermal Physics
      PHY  3343           Advanced Physics Laboratory
      PHY  3423           Electricity and Magnetism
      PHY  3443           Modern Optics
      PHY  3513           Electrodynamics
      PHY  3823           Mathematical Physics I
      PHY  4263           Quantum Mechanics I
      PHY  4423           Quantum Mechanics II
      PHY  4823           Mathematical Physics II
      
      
   2. 9 additional approved semester credit hours selected from the following (a maximum of 6 hours from either PHY 4911-3 or PHY 4953 may apply to this requirement):
      
      AST  3003  Introduction to Astrophysics
      PHY  3143  Introduction to Computational Physics
      PHY  3313  Materials Physics
      PHY  3453  Lasers: Theory and Applications
      PHY  4013  Relativity: Special and General
      PHY  4033  Cosmology
      PHY  4133  Numerical Methods for Physicists
      PHY  4203  Classical Mechanics II
      PHY  4563  Biophotonics
      PHY  4603  Crystallography and Materials Characterization
      PHY  4623  Nanotechnology
      PHY  4653  Introduction to Micro and Nanotechnology
      PHY  4703  Renewable Energy: Solar Energy Convertors
      PHY  4833  Molecular Biophysics
      PHY  4843  Condensed Matter Theory
      PHY  4911-3  Independent Study
      PHY  4953  Special Studies in Physics
      PHY  4993  Honors Research
   
   
2. 33 semester credit hours required in the College of Sciences:
   
   1. 29 semester credit hours of required courses (excluding physics):
      
      CHE  1103  General Chemistry I
      CHE  1113  General Chemistry II
      CHE  1132  General Chemistry II Laboratory
      CS    1073  Introductory Computer Programming for Scientific Applications
      MAT  1214  Calculus I
      MAT  1224  Calculus II
      MAT  2214  Calculus III
      MAT  2233  Linear Algebra
      MAT  3613  Differential Equations I
      
      
   2. 4 additional approved semester credit hours in the College of Sciences

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