Physics (BS)
This program was approved for students entering the university in the Fall 2008 - Summer 2009 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.
Bachelor of Science in Physics (BS)
Major: PHYS
Degree: BS
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
The B.S. Degree is intended as preparation for entry into graduate programs in physics and other scientific or engineering fields. It also provides suitable training for entering the workforce in a technical position.
Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.
| Type | Semester Hours | Total |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | 34 |
All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program; see General Education requirements and the courses that fulfill them. Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.
Arts & Sciences Programmatic Requirements
| Type | Semester Hours |
Total |
|---|---|---|
| General 101: A&S Orientation | 1 | |
| Foreign Language (completion of the second semester of a single foreign language; hours will vary depending on the language taken) |
6-8 | |
| Electives in Humanities or Social Sciences at 300 level or above, in addition to courses counted toward General Education | 6 | |
|
WR—two approved courses at the 300 level or above |
||
| Total | 13-15 |
Department of Physics
| Type | Semester Hours |
Total |
|---|---|---|
| Physics 2951, 296, 301 | 3 | |
| Physics 2981, 299, 300 | 11 | |
| Physics 351 | 2 | |
| Physics 390, 450, 460, 541, 555 | 15 | |
| Professional, Applied Optics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Computational Science, or Materials Science concentration (see below) | 11-14 | |
| Total | 42-45 |
Physics Concentrations
Professional
| Type | Semester Hours |
|---|---|
| Physics 530 | 3 |
| Physics 542 | 3 |
| Physics 556 | 3 |
| Physics 498 | 3 |
Applied Optics
| Type | Semester Hours |
|---|---|
| Physics 355, 356 | 5 |
| Physics 542 or Electrical & Computer Engineering 540 | 3 |
| Physics 545 or Electrical & Computer Engineering 545 | 3 |
Astronomy and Astrophysics
| Type | Semester Hours |
|---|---|
| Physics 307 | 3 |
| Physics 308 | 1 |
| Physics 355 | 3 |
| Physics 589 | 3 |
| Physics 590 | 3 |
Computational Science
| Type | Semester Hours |
|---|---|
| Physics 565 | 3 |
| Computer Engineering & Computer Science 120 | 1 |
| Computer Engineering & Computer Science 121 | 2 |
| Computer Engineering & Computer Science 303 | 1 |
| Computer Engineering & Computer Science 306 | 1 |
| Electrical & Computer Engineering 210 | 3 |
| Electrical & Computer Engineering 412 | 3 |
Materials Science
| Type | Semester Hours |
|---|---|
| Chemical Engineering 251 | 4 |
| Chemical Engineering 253 | 3 |
| Electrical & Computer Engineering 542 | 3 |
| Physics 575 | 3 |
Supporting Courses
| Type | Semester Hours |
Total |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry 201 and 2021 | 6 | |
| Mathematics 2051, 206, 301 | 12 | |
| Total | 18 |
Electives & Total Hours
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Minimum Electives | 9-14 |
| Minimum Total | 121 |
Only 60 hours in the major department may be applied toward the Bachelor of Science degree.
At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above.
1 Fulfills General Education requirement.
