2025-2026 Undergraduate General Catalog

Physics Major

41 credit hours

Required Courses: 30 credit hours

PHYS 1610General Physics I

4

PHYS 1620General Physics II

4

PHYS 2600Computational Physics

3

PHYS 3610Modern Physics I

3

PHYS 3601Intermediate Laboratory

3

PHYS 3611Modern Physics Lab

1

PHYS 4601Advanced Laboratory

3

PHYS PHYS Elective courses 3000-level or above (excluding PHYS 3950)

9

Required Supportive Courses: 11 credit hours

MATH 1501Calculus I

4

MATH 1502Calculus II

4

MATH 2510Differential Equations

3

Recommended course: MATH 2503

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.

Physics Sample Plan of Study [This will open a Google Sheet, which you can view as well as make and save a copy of.]

Teacher Certification – physics:

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

PHYS 1310Astronomy

4

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 3000-level.

Distinction in Physics:

A student may graduate with Distinction in Physics by: 1) Completing the physics major, including PHYS 3630, PHYS 3640, PHYS 3650, PHYS 3610 and PHYS 3680. A major with distinction shall include completion of 24 credit hours in the department at the 3000-level; 2) Maintaining a department grade point average of 3.0; 3) Completing two research credits, one of which will be PHYS 4910; 4) Completing the Graduate Record Exam in Physics and 5) Completing and defending a senior thesis (PHYS 4910) based on the student’s research, as described in the PHYS 4910 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.