Physics and Astronomy
- Faculty
- Course Work
- Undergraduate Programs in Physics and Astronomy
- Graduate Program in Physics
Professors: Blaisten-Barojas, Dworzecka, Ehrlich, Ellsworth, Kafatos, Lankford, Lieb (Chair), Mielczarek, Trefil (Robinson Professor)
Associate Professors: Ceperley, Evans, Satija
Assistant Professors: Becker, McIntyre, Wallin
Visiting Assistant Professor: Kowalski
Visiting Instructor: Ewell
This department offers all course work designated ASTR and PHYS in the Course Descriptions section of this catalog.
Undergraduate Programs
in Physics and Astronomy
In addition to general requirements for a B.S. degree, candidates must complete 45 semester hours in the major and 20 semester hours in mathematics, divided as follows:
- A 33-hour core in physics, including PHYS 250, 303, 305, 306 or 307, 350, 351, 352, 353, 361, 402, 407, and 416 (may be taken for credit twice). The remaining 12 credits must include at least 5 credits of physics and be elected from the following list or approved in advance by the Physics and Astronomy Department: PHYS 306, 307, 328, 408, 417, 428, 510, 511, 512, 513, 540, 542, 575; ASTR 530, 532, 535; ECE 301, 333, 430, 431, 433, 442, 460; MATH 446 and 447; CHEM 331; CS 112.
- The following mathematics courses: the two-year calculus sequence--MATH 113, 114, 213, and 214; MATH 313 and 314.
The requirements for the B.S. in Physics prepare students for graduate school or for one of the many careers in business or industry where physics graduates are employed. In meeting the requirement for 12 credit hours outside the core, students have the option of electing an area of concentration. The courses required for each concentration are listed below. Students who wish to complete a concentration should plan a program of study in consultation with their adviser.
Graduate School Preparatory Concentration
Although any of the options listed here provide the successful student with a fully adequate background to enter graduate school, this concentration is for the student whose career goals definitely include graduate school in physics. To complete this concentration, the student should take at least nine hours from the following courses: PHYS 510, 512, 540, and ASTR 530. In addition, the student should complete a senior project (PHYS 408) in the specialty that they intend to pursue in graduate school.
Computational Physics Concentration
This concentration is for the student who wishes to pursue a career that applies computers to the solution of physical problems and data analysis. To complete this concentration, the student should take at least nine hours from the following courses: PHYS 510, ECE 442, MATH 446 and 447. In addition, the student should complete a senior project (PHYS 408) on a problem that involves the use of the computer for the solution of a physical problem.
Astrophysics Concentration
This concentration is for the student who is planning to attend graduate school in astrophysics or pursue a career in industry. To complete this concentration, the student should select four courses from the following: PHYS 428, ASTR 328, 530, 532, 535, and MATH 446. In addition, the student should complete a senior project (PHYS 408) on an astrophysics problem.
Electronics Concentration
This concentration is for the student who wishes to pursue a career in industry applying a strong background in electronics to physical problems. To complete this concentration, the student should take at least nine credit hours from the following courses: ECE 301, 333, 430, 431, and 433. In addition, the student should complete a senior project (PHYS 408) on an electronics problem.
Applied Solid State Physics Concentration
This concentration is for the student who wishes to pursue a career in the semiconductor industry. To complete this concentration, the student should take the following courses: PHYS 512, ECE 430, and ECE 431. In addition, the student should complete a senior project (PHYS 408) in applied solid state physics.
In addition to the general requirements for a B.A. degree, candidates must complete 31 semester hours in the major and 17 semester hours of mathematics. The following physics courses are required: PHYS 250, 303, 305, 350, 351, 352, 353, 361, and 416.
A minor in physics requires 20 credits, including PHYS 250, 350, 351, 352, and 353 and any two courses from PHYS 303, 306, 307, 361, 402, 428, and 305 or 513.
A minor in astronomy requires the completion of a physics prerequisite and 15 credits in astronomy. The prerequisite consists of one of the two sequences PHYS 343, 344, 345, 346; or PHYS 250, 350, 351, 352, 353. Following the introductory physics sequence, students are required to take ASTR 111, 112, 113, 114; PHYS 416; and two astronomy courses chosen from ASTR 228, 328, 428, and 530.
The general education requirements (with the exception of foreign language) for the B.A. degree are satisfied by successful completion of the Plan for Alternative General Education (PAGE). See PAGE section in this catalog, and see PAGE office for sample schedule for majors in physics.
The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated "writing intensive" in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in physics may fulfill this requirement by successfully completing PHYS 351 or 407.
Students who want to become elementary, middle, or secondary school teachers should consult the sections on licensure (certification) found in the catalog under the Graduate School of Education. Those planning to become secondary school teachers should consult with the secondary education adviser in their department.
Students who intend to major in physics should take the physics introductory sequence (PHYS 250, 350, 351, 352, 353). However, students who decide to major in physics after completing PHYS 343 and 345 may do so, but only with written permission of the Physics and Astronomy Department. Such students are required to take at least five additional credits in approved physics courses.
|
|
First Semester
MATH 113
CHEM 211 or BIOL 213
ENGL 101
Elective
Total Hours
|
4
4
3
3
14
|
Second Semester
PHYS 250
MATH 114
CS 112
Elective
Total Hours
|
4
4
4
3
15
|
Third Semester
PHYS 350
PHYS 351
PHYS 251
MATH 213
Literature
Electives
Total Hours
|
3
2
2
3
3
3
16
|
Fourth Semester
PHYS 352
PHYS 353
MATH 214
Literature
Computer science
Total Hours
|
3
2
3
3
3
14
|
Fifth Semester
PHYS 303
PHYS 305
PHYS/Math elective
MATH 313
ENGL 302
Total Hours
|
3
3
3
3
3
15
|
Sixth Semester
PHYS 306
PHYS 307
PHYS 361
MATH 314
Elective
Total Hours
|
3
3
3
3
3
15
|
Seventh Semester
PHYS 402
PHYS 407
PHYS 416
PHYS 510
Mathematics elective
Elective
Total Hours
|
3
3
1
3
3
3
15
|
Eighth Semester
PHYS 408
PHYS 540
PHYS 512
Physics elective
Elective
Total Hours
|
3
3
3
3
3
15
|
PHYS 343, 344, 345, and 346 are recommended for biology, chemistry, geology, and premedical students and for mathematics majors who seek a bachelor of arts degree. PHYS 106 and 107 are also recommended for biology majors. PHYS 101, 103, 104, 201, and 300 are intended for nonscience majors. PHYS 250, 350, 351, 352, and 353 are a calculus-based sequence in general physics to be taken by physics and engineering majors and chemistry, computer science, and mathematics students who pursue a bachelor of science degree. Students may receive credit for only one of the following three sequences: 343, 344, 345, 346; or 103, 104; or 250, 350, 351, 352, 353.
Graduate Program in Physics
The Master of Science in Applied and Engineering Physics contains both elements of traditional physics programs and the application of physics to a diversity of critical societal problems. The program is divided into two tracks. The Applied Physics track is intended for those who wish to apply the techniques and subject areas of physics to multifaceted problems encountered in the workplace, particularly in physics, engineering, computational science, and other related areas. The Engineering Physics track, jointly administered with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, allows students to select a larger fraction of courses from electrical engineering.
All courses are offered during late afternoon or evening hours to allow students with full-time employment to attend easily. Persons employed at area high-technology organizations may take up to 6 credits (out of 30) for work done "on the job" under the guidance of a faculty member. This employment-related research may be conducted either under an optional three-credit research project or an optional six-credit master's thesis. Master's students who are not employed full time may apply for financial aid or for a limited number of research assistantships.
Admission Requirements
Those holding a baccalaureate degree in physics or a related field from an accredited institution and who earned a GPA of 2.75 (out of 4.0) in their last 60 hours are invited to apply for admission. If the baccalaureate degree is in a field other than physics, the applicant should have taken several courses beyond the introductory physics courses, such as junior-level classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, or electronics. An applicant may be required to make up one or two deficiencies, based on a graduate physics adviser's assessment, and still be permitted to enroll in the program. Two letters of recommendation must be submitted, preferably from former professors. The general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the GRE subject test in physics are recommended for applicants who received their baccalaureate degrees within the last five years. A less recent bachelor's recipient may wish to present a statement of his/her work experience in lieu of the GRE.
Degree Requirements
Candidates for the degree must successfully complete 30 credit hours as follows:
- For both tracks of the program, a nine-credit core consisting of PHYS 510, 513, and 732 or 736.
- For the Applied Physics track, any three of the following courses: PHYS 512, 540, 575, 610, 612, 613, 620, 676, 701, 705, 711, 722, 728, 732, and 736; ASTR 530, 761, 764, 765, and 766.
- For the Engineering Physics track, PHYS 610 and any six credit hours in electrical engineering (ECE) courses.
- Electives amounting to 12 credit hours may be chosen from courses in physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, information technology, and computational sciences and informatics. However, no more than six credit hours may be chosen from areas outside PHYS, ASTR, CSI, and ECE. No more than six credit hours of PHYS 799 may be applied to satisfy degree requirements.
- Credit may be received for either ECE/PHYS 798 Research Project (three credits) or ECE/PHYS 799 Master's Thesis (six credits), but not both. The research project may be performed at a student's place of employment with the concurrence of a faculty adviser. The thesis is a more substantial piece of work performed under the supervision of a major professor and requires the student to make an oral defense. ECE/PHYS 798 may be taken only once.
Specializations in Computational Physics or Space Sciences exist as part of the doctoral program in Computational Sciences and Informatics (see Computational Sciences and Informatics section for degree and admission requirements).
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