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Physics Major Requirements
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Non-Physics Electives and General Education Requirements
The courses listed below constitute the required Kernel for all physics majors. Sample programs of study are shown in the next section which illustrate how these courses can be integrated with General Education requirements and Physics Electives to make a four-year degree program.
I. Lower Division Courses
Physics
- 95.112 Fresh Phys Sem 1 cr
- 95.161 Physics I (H) 4 cr
- 95.164 Physics II (H) 4 cr
- 95.269 Physics III (H) 4 cr
- 96.161 Physics I Lab (H) 2 cr
- 96.164 Physics II Lab (H) 2 cr
- 95.210 Intro Modern Physics 3 cr
- 96.260 Physical Instrumentation 2 cr
- 96.295 Interm Exper Phys 2 cr
Non-Physics
- 42.101 College Writing I 3 cr
- 42.102 College Writing II 3 cr
- 84.121 Chemistry I 3 cr
- 84.122 Chemistry II 3 cr
- 84.123 Chemistry I/II Lab 1 cr
- 84.124 Chemistry II Lab 1 cr
- 92.131 Calculus I 4 cr
- 92.132 Calculus II 4 cr
- 92.231 Calculus III 4 cr
- 92.234 Differential Equations 3 cr
II. Upper Division Courses*
Physics
- 95.310 Quantum Physics 3 cr
- 95.338 Optics and Waves 3 cr
- 95.353 Elect - Magn I 3 cr
- 96.393 Adv Exper Phys I 2 cr
- 96.394 Adv Exper Phys II 2 cr
- 95.411 Sen Phys Sem 1 cr
- 95.413 Mechanics 3 cr
- 95.421 Statistical Thermo 3 cr
- 95.452 Contemporary Physics 3 cr
Non-Physics
- 92.301 Applied Math I 3 cr
- 92.302 Applied Math II 3 cr
Any waivers or substitutions for these requirements must be approved by the Undergraduate Coordinator.
*Upon completion of the Lower Division courses (Freshman and Sophomore Level) the students’ records will be reviewed by a committee of at least three faculty members. A recommendation will be made to proceed to Upper Division courses (Junior and Senior Level) or to take remedial courses or repeat courses as deemed necessary to prepare the student for the Upper Division courses. A revised program will be formulated for each student requiring remedial work which may extend his/her program by one or more semesters. In appropriate cases the student will be advised to change major. The student attains the status of physics baccalaureate degree candidate when admitted to the Upper Division.
Non-Physics Electives and General Education Requirements
In addition to the Kernel Program in Physics, courses to satisfy the General Education requirement and the physics elective requirement must be chosen from among all of the course offerings of the University subject to the following conditions:
1. All elective courses must be approved by the student’s faculty advisor.
2. General Education Guidelines (36-38 credits)
Students must conform to the General Education guidelines as outlined elsewhere in this document. These include:
- College Writing 2 courses – 42.101/42.102
- Mathematics 1 course (met by required math courses in major)
- Art and Humanities 3 courses
- Social Sciences 3 courses
- Science and Technology 3 courses, two of which must contain an experimental learning component (met by required science courses in major)
3. Technical electives required by the major
At least 13 credits (of which six must be from the Physics Electives list) in technical elective courses must be taken in a specialty field. These electives may include courses outside the department. Elect - Magn II (3) [95.354] is strongly recommended for students intending to pursue a graduate degree in physics, as well as Introductory Quantum Mechanics I and II (3,3) [95.435/436]. Experimental Analysis for Physicists (1) [95.191] is required for students who have not taken 96.161 and 96.164 and have an insufficient background in experimental error analysis.
If the Optics Option is chosen, then included in the Physics Electives the student must take the courses listed below.
- 95.337 Geometrical Optics 3 cr
- 96.337 Geometrical Optics Lab 2 cr
- 96.338 Physical Optics Lab 2 cr
- 95.439 Electro-Optics w Lab 4 cr
- 95.440 Image Processing 4 cr
Successful completion of the Optics option will be certified by the Department on the student’s transcript provided an official declaration form is filed at the end of the lower division program. See Physics Electives list for additional courses in optics.
1. General Physics - Upper Division (all but 95.191)
- 95.191 Exper Analysis for Physics Majors** 1 cr
- 95.212 Sophomore Physics Seminar 1 cr
- 95.312 Junior Physics Seminar 1 cr
- 95.354 Elect - Magn II* 3 cr
- 95.383 Astronomy & Astrophysics I 3 cr
- 95.384 Astronomy & Astrophysics II 3 cr
- 95.435 Intro Quantum Mechanics I* 3 cr
- 95.436 Intro Quantum Mechanics II* 3 cr
- 95.461 Nuclear Physics I 3 cr
- 95.472 Solid State Physics 3 cr
- 95.483 Relativity and Cosmology 3 cr
- 95.484 Relativity and Cosmology 3 cr
- 95.494 Elementary Particle Theor 3 cr
- 96.497 Senior Thesis 3 cr
- 96.498 Senior Thesis 3 cr
- 95.605 Mathematical Physics I 3 cr
- 95.606 Mathematical Physics II 3 cr
Note: *Courses that are strongly recommended for students intending to pursue a graduate degree in physics.
**Experimental Analysis for Physics Majors (1) [95.191] is required for students who have not taken 96.161 and do not have a background in experimental error analysis and technical report writing
2. Optics - Upper Division
- 95.337 Geometrical Optics 3 cr
- 96.337 Geometrical Optics Lab 2 cr
- 96.338 Physical Optics Lab 2 cr
- 95.439 Electro-Optics w Lab 4 cr
- 95.440 Image Processing 4 cr
- 95.447 Laser Physics & Applic 3 cr
- 96.447 Experimental Laser Optics 2 cr
- 95.451 Fiber Optics 4 cr
- 96.453 Optics Project*** 3 cr
- 96.454 Optics Project*** 3 cr
***supervisor needed before registering
3. Radiological Health Physics
Upper Division
- 95.355 Phys of Rad & Nucl 4 cr
- 95.401 Rad Safety & Control I 4 cr
- 95.402 Rad Safety & Control II 4 cr
- 95.411 Radiochemistry 3 cr
- 95.422 Env Rad & Nucl Site Cri 3 cr
- 95.462 Radiation Biology 3 cr
- 95.481 Math Methods of Rad Sci 3 cr
- 95.482 Numerical Methods in RS 3 cr
- 96.306 Nuclear Instrumentation 4 cr
Gen Ed Elect - general education elective
Physics Elect - physics elective - upper division
Special Elect - specialty elective (specialization)
Elective - free elective
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