Degree Requirements
A major in Physics is achieved by completion of the following requirements, in addition to the General Education and electives required for a degree:
Required Core Courses
| PHY 221 | Intro Physics I with Calculus | 1 Course Credit |
| PHY 222 | Intro Physics II with Calculus | 1 Course Credit |
| PHY 320 | Modern Physics | 1 Course Credit |
| PHY 365 | Thermal Physics | 1 Course Credit |
Required Core Theory Courses
| PHY 460 | Electromagnetic Theory | 1 Course Credit |
| PHY 481 | Classical Mechanics | 1 Course Credit |
Required Advanced Laboratory
| PHY 341 | Advanced General Laboratory | 1/2 Course Credit |
Required Capstone Course
| PHY 492 | Physics Seminar | 1/2 Course Credit |
| or | |
| PHY 495 | Internship | 1 to 3 Course Credits |
| or | |
| UGR 010 | Undergraduate Research (On-Campus) | 0 Course Credit |
| or | |
| UGR 020 | Undergraduate Research (Off-Campus) | 0 Course Credit |
The capstone requirement can be satisfied by completing an
approved physics or engineering research experience, such as
PHY 492,
PHY 495,
UGR 010 or
UGR 020. To receive capstone credit for a research experience other than
PHY 492, students must (1) submit a formal proposal prior to the start date of the research experience or internship; and (2) give an oral presentation and submit a paper summarizing the work accomplished during the project by the end of the semester following the experience. Each research project is approved on a case-by-case basis.
Required Distribution Courses:
Four (4) additional course credits from Physics Department offerings or from the approved cross-disciplinary course list. No more than (1) PHY credit at the 100 level can be used to satisfy the requirement. No more than (2) non-PHY courses can be applied towards the requirement.
Approved Cross-Disciplinary Courses:
| BIO 323 | Principles of Physiology | 1 Course Credit |
| CHM 311 | Analytical Chemistry | 1 Course Credit |
| CHM 361 | Thermochemistry | |
| CHM 362 | Quantum Chemistry | 1 Course Credit |
| CHM 371 | Advanced Lab - Spectroscopy | 1/2 Course Credit |
| CHM 470 | Adv Lab - Nuclear Magnetic Res | 1/2 Course Credit |
| CSC 226 | Software Design & Implement | 1 Course Credit |
| CSC 236 | Data Structures | 1 Course Credit |
| CSC 433/MAT 433 | Numerical Analysis (MAT) | 1 Course Credit |
| ETAD 460 | Digital Electronics | 1 Course Credit |
| MAT 214 | Linear Algebra | 1 Course Credit |
| MAT 312 | Operations Research | 1 Course Credit |
| MAT 337 | Differential Equations | 1 Course Credit |
Required Collateral Courses