Physics (B.S.)

Freshman Year

Total Semester Hours: 30

• Social Science Elective² - 3

• CHEM 101 - General Chemistry I
• CHEM 102 - General Chemistry II

•  

• CSCI 102 - Introduction to Programming with BASIC

• or

• CSCI 104 - Introduction to Computing through FORTRAN

•  

• ENGL 101 - English Composition I
• ENGL 102 - English Composition II
• FFND 101 - Freshman Foundations
• MATH 170 - Precalculus College Algebra
• MATH 175 - Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry
• MATH 190 - Calculus I
• ORIN 101 - Freshman Orientation

Sophomore Year

Total Semester Hours: 32

• English - 6
• Social Science Elective² - 3
• Communications Elective³ - 6

• HIST 201 - American History to 1877

• or

• HIST 202 - American History since 1877

•  

• MAAP 200 - Midpoint Assessment of Academic Progress Examination
• MATH 291 - Calculus II
• MATH 292 - Multivariable Calculus
• PHYS 211 - University Physics I
• PHYS 211L - University Physics Laboratory I
• PHYS 212 - University Physics II
• PHYS 212L - University Physics Laboratory II

Junior Year

Total Semester Hours: 29

• Technical Electives⁴ - 3
• Communications Electives³ - 6
• Electives⁵ - 3

• MATH 301 - Differential Equations
• MUSC 315 - Music Appreciation
• PHYS 321 - Optics
• PHYS 341 - Modern Physics
• PHYS 370 - Advanced Physics Laboratory I

Senior Year

Total Semester Hours: 34

• Physics Electives - 6
• Technical Electives⁴ - 3
• Electives⁵ - 14
• 300+ Math

• PHYS 401 - Principles of Electricity and Magnetism
• PHYS 431 - Physics Seminar
• PHYS 451 - Classical Mechanics
• PHYS 470 - Advanced Physics Laboratory II

Total Hours for Degree: 125

Notes

Students who intend to apply for admission to medical school must expect to attend at least one summer session if they wish to complete the requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree within four years. As part of their capstone experience students are required to take the ETS Major Field Achievement Test in Physics during the second semester of their senior year.

²Restricted to Economics, Geography, Anthropology, Political Science, Government, Psychology, or Sociology.
³Restricted to French, German, Russian, Speech 101, 201, or Computer Science.
⁴Technical electives may be taken in Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Chemistry, or (with the approval of the department head) Biology.
⁵At least 6 hours to be taken from Foreign Languages (above intro-level), Philosophy, religious studies, history, speech communication, and literature. At least 3 hours to also be taken from Biological and Environmental Sciences. At least 3 hours must meet international education requirement.

Double Major in Physics and Mathematics

A student may obtain a double major in Physics and Mathematics by including the following Mathematics courses among the courses for the Physics degree:

• In addition, 12 hours of electives must be chosen from Mathematical Sciences.

• MATH 304 - Numerical Methods I
• MATH 322 - Linear Algebra and Matrix Theory
• MATH 403 - Numerical Methods II
• MATH 411 - Advanced Calculus
• MATH 421 - Modern Algebra
• MATH 431 - Mathematical Statistics and Probability