Physics Major (B.A.)
In addition to the courses needed to satisfy the College of Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum requirements, each student in the Physics B.A. program is required to satisfy physics requirements as are listed below for a total of at least 53 credits. Additionally, students are recommended to take specialized elective courses depending on their career paths.
Link to College Core requirement.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHYS 1705 & PHYS 1706 | Principles of Physics I and Principles of Physics II | 6 |
| PHYS 1815 & PHYS 1816 | Physics Lab and Data Analy I and Physics Lab and Data Analy II | 3 |
| PHYS 2112 | Phys Appl of Math Techniques | 4 |
| PHYS 2185 | Intro to Modern Physics | 4 |
| PHYS 2186 | Waves and Oscillations | 3 |
| PHYS 2883 | Electronics I | 3 |
| PHYS 3812 & PHYS 3815 | Advanced Laboratory I and Advanced Laboratory II | 4 |
| MATH 1501 & MATH 1511 & MATH 2511 | Calculus I - Math - Phys Sci and Calculus II - Math - Phys Sci and Calculus III - Math - Phys Sci | 12 |
| CHEM 1107 | Principles of Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHEM 1108 | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 |
| Select two 3000-level courses of the following: | 6-7 | |
| Math Methods of Physics I | ||
| Mechanics I | ||
| Electricity and Magnetism I | ||
| Modern Optics | ||
| Total Hours | 54-55 | |
Model Program for B.S. (Physics, Physics/Engineering) and for B.A. Physics
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| PHYS 1705 | Principles of Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 1815 | Physics Lab and Data Analy I | 2 |
| ENGL 1201 | Core English I | 3 |
| MATH 1501 | Calculus I - Math - Phys Sci | 4 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PHYS 1705 | Principles of Physics I | 3 |
| PHYS 1816 | Physics Lab and Data Analy II | 1 |
| ENGL 1202 | Core English II | 3 |
| MATH 1511 | Calculus II - Math - Phys Sci | 4 |
| Hours | 11 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| PHYS 2185 | Intro to Modern Physics | 4 |
| PHYS 2883 | Electronics I | 3 |
| MATH 2511 | Calculus III - Math - Phys Sci | 4 |
| Select one of the following: * | 4 | |
| Principles of Chemistry I | ||
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Lab I |
||
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PHYS 2112 | Phys Appl of Math Techniques | 4 |
| PHYS 2186 | Waves and Oscillations | 3 |
| Select one of the following: ** | 4-5 | |
| Principles of Chemistry II | ||
| General Chemistry II and General Chemistry II Lab |
||
| Hours | 11-12 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| PHYS 3119 | Math Methods of Physics I | 4 |
| PHYS 3121 | Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 3185 | Electricity and Magnetism I | 3 |
| PHYS 3815 | Advanced Laboratory II | 2 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PHYS 3122 | Mechanics II | 3 |
| PHYS 3217 | Modern Optics | 3 |
| PHYS 3812 | Advanced Laboratory I | 2 |
| PHYS 4211 | Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| Elective Courses (see below) | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| PHYS 4812 | Advanced Laboratory III | 2 |
| Elective courses (see below) | 3 | |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PHYS 4815 | Advanced Laboratory IV | 2 |
| Elective courses (see below) | 3 | |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Total Hours | 85-86 | |
- *
B.A. students must take CHEM 1107 Principles of Chemistry I.
- **
B.A. students must take CHEM 1108 Principles of Chemistry II.
The following electives are recommended:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 2321 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 2315 | Organic Chemistry I-Lab | 1 |
| CHEM 2322 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 2316 | Organic Chemistry II-Lab | 1 |
| CSAS 1113 | Computing for Science Majors | 4 |
| ENGL 3514 | Scientific and Technical Writing | 3 |
| MATH 2111 | Statistics for Science Majors * | 4 |
| PHIL 2700 | Philosophy of Science | 3 |
| PHYS 3186 | Electricity and Magnetism II | 3 |
| PHYS 3894 | Physics Internship I | 3 |
| PHYS 4211 | Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 4212 | Quantum Mechanics II | 3 |
| PHYS 4219 | Statistical Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 4290 | Research in Physics I | 2 |
- *
Prerequisite: MATH 1401 Calculus I
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