Physics Major

41 credit hours

Required Courses: 30 credit hours

PHYS 221	General Physics I (NS)	4
PHYS 222	General Physics II	4
PHYS 281	Intermediate Laboratory	3
PHYS 321	Computational Physics	3
PHYS 370	Modern Physics Lab	1
PHYS 371	Modern Physics I	3
PHYS 381	Advanced Laboratory (W)	3
PHYS	PHYS Elective courses 300-level or above (excluding PHYS 395)	9

Required Supportive Courses: 11 credit hours

MATH 151	Calculus I (MT)	4
MATH 152	Calculus II	4
MATH 310	Differential Equations	3

Recommended course: MATH 153

Physics Sample Plan of Study

Following is one possible way to complete the major.  

Students should fill in gaps with coursework required for the core curriculum and other majors/minors to take an average of 14 credit hours each fall and spring, and 3-4 credit hours each Interim.  Total credit hours needs to be 124 for degree completion.

First Year

Fall Semester

FYS 110	First Year Seminar I (FS)	4
MATH 151	Calculus I (MT)	4
PHYS 221	General Physics I (NS)	4
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4

Interim

Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4

Spring Semester

MATH 152	Calculus II	4
PHYS 222	General Physics II	4
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4

Second Year

Fall Semester

MATH 310	Differential Equations	3
PHYS 321	Computational Physics	3
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4

Interim

Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4

Spring Semester

MATH 153	Calculus III	3
PHYS 371	Modern Physics I	3
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4

Third Year

Fall Semester

PHYS 281	Intermediate Laboratory	3
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4

Interim

Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4

Spring Semester

PHYS	Elective Course	3-4
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4

Fourth Year

Fall Semester

PHYS	Elective Course	3-4
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4

Interim

Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course

3-4

Spring Semester

PHYS 381	Advanced Laboratory (W)	3
PHYS	Elective Course	3-4
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4
	Core, Major, Minor or Elective Course	3-4

Teacher Certification – physics:

The requirement for teaching physics at the secondary level is a physics major that also includes:

PHYS 190	Astronomy (NS)	4
PHYS 372	Modern Physics II	3

These may be used as two of the three elective courses. For students intending a career in secondary education, only 6 of the 9 credit hours of electives need be at the 300-level.

Distinction in Physics:

A student may graduate with Distinction in Physics by: 1) Completing the physics major, including PHYS 341, PHYS 351, PHYS 361, PHYS 371 and PHYS 373. A major with distinction shall include completion of 24 credit hours in the department at the 300-level; 2) Maintaining a department grade point average of 3.0; 3) Completing two research credits, one of which will be PHYS 391; 4) Completing the Graduate Record Exam in Physics and 5) Completing and defending a senior thesis (PHYS 391) based on the student’s research, as described in the PHYS 391 course description.

Applications for Distinction in Physics must be received by the department chair and accepted by the third class day of the student’s last semester. Application forms are available from the department chair.