Suggested Curricula
Corresponding to the diverse backgrounds, interests, and goals of our Physics Majors, there are many possible paths through the Physics curriculum. Your faculty advisor will work with you to create a personalized program of study.
Substantial changes have recently been made to the physics curriculum. Beginning in Fall 2003, two new courses, PHY 228 and PHY 306, have been added to the curriculum, while PHY 105 and PHY 308 have been eliminated. All new physics majors taking PHY 231 in Fall 2003 or later will be required to take these two courses. All other physics majors, i.e. those who have completed PHY 231 prior to Fall 2003, should be sure to take PHY 308 in Spring 2004 if they have not already, because this required course will not be offered again.
The links below are to suggested curricula for the BA and BS programs in physics:
B.A. in Physics (for physics majors taking PHY 231 in Fall 2003 or later)
B.S. in Physics (for physics majors taking PHY 231 in Fall 2003 or later)
B.A. in Physics (for all other physics majors)
B.S. in Physics (for all other physics majors)
B.A. in Physics: Suggested Curriculum (NEW)
Freshman Year First Semester Hours PHY 231 General University Physics 4 PHY 241 General University Physics Laboratory 1 MA 113 Calculus I or MA 114 Calculus II 4 ENG 101 Writing I 3 University Studies 3
Second Semester
PHY 228 Optics, Relativity and Thermal Physics 3 MA 114 Calculus II or MA 213 Calculus III 4 CHE 105 General College Chemistry I 3 ENG 102 Writing II 3 University Studies 3
Sophomore Year First Semester PHY 232 General University Physics (Special Section) 4 PHY 242 General University Physics Laboratory *MA 213 Calculus III or *MA 214 4 or 3 CHE 107 General College Chemistry II 3 Foreign Language 4
Second Semester
PHY 306 Theoretical Methods of Physics 3 PHY 335 Data Analysis for Physicists 1 PHY 361 Principles of Modern Physics 3 *MA 214 Calculus IV or AST 310 Topics in Astronomy and Astrophysics or 3 Foreign Language 4
Junior Year First Semester PHY 404G Mechanics 3 PHY 402G Electronic Instrumentation and Measurements 3 *MA 322 Matrix Algebra and Its Applications 3 **Humanities 3 Foreign Language 3
Second Semester
PHY 520 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics 3 AST 310 Topics in Astronomy and Astrophysics or 3 Foreign Language 3 **Social Science 3 **Humanities 3
Senior Year First Semester PHY 416G Electricity and Magnetism 3 PHY 554 Fundamentals of Atomic Physics or PHY 591 Astrophysics I - Stars or
PHY 592 Astrophysics II -- The Galaxy
3 **Social Science 3 University Studies 6 *Elective 3
Second Semester
PHY 524 Solid State Physics or PHY 530 Optics and Spectroscopy Lab or PHY 535 Atomic and Nuclear Lab or PHY 555 Fundamental Nuclear Physics or PHY 556 Fundamental Particle Physics or 3 Foreign Language 3 University Studies 6 Elective 3
*A total of 14 credit hours in math, computer science, chemistry, engineering or other areas related to physics but outside the department must be completed to satisfy the college Field of Concentration requirement. A total of 42 hours in physics and related areas must be taken to satisfy the Field of Concentration requirement.
**The Bachelor of Arts requires the completion of six additional hours in humanities and social sciences beyond those required for University Studies. It also requires the completion of 39 hours at or above the 300 level.
B.S. in Physics: Suggested Curriculum (NEW)
Freshman Year First Semester Hours PHY 231 General University Physics 4 PHY 241 General University Physics Laboratory 1 MA 113 Calculus I or MA 114 Calculus II 4 ENG 101 Writing I 3 University Studies 3
Second Semester
PHY 228 Optics, Relativity and Thermal Physics 3 MA 114 Calculus II or MA 213 Calculus III 4 CHE 105 General College Chemistry I 3 ENG 102 Writing II 3 University Studies 3
Sophomore Year First Semester PHY 232 General University Physics 4 PHY 242 General University Physics Laboratory *MA 213 Calculus III or *MA 214 Calculus IV 4 or 3 CHE 107 General College Chemistry II 3 Foreign Language 4
Second Semester
PHY 306 Theoretical Methods of Physics 3 PHY 335 Data Analysis for Physicists 1 PHY 361 Principles of Modern Physics 3 *MA 214 Calculus IV or AST 310 Topics in Astronomy and Astrophysics or 3 Foreign Language 4
Junior Year First Semester PHY 404G Mechanics 3 PHY 416G Electricity and Magnetism 3 PHY 402G Electronic Instrumentation and Measurements 3 *MA 322 Matrix Algebra and Its Applications 3 Foreign Language 3
Second Semester
PHY 417G Electricity and Magnetism 3 PHY 520 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics 3 PHY 535 Experimental Physics: Atomic and Nuclear 2 Foreign Language 3 COM 181 Basic Public Speaking 3
Senior Year First Semester PHY 522 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics 3 PHY 530 Experimental Physics: Optics and Spectroscopy 2 PHY 554 Fundamentals of Atomic Physics or PHY 591 Astrophysics I - Stars or PHY 592 Astrophysics II -- The Galaxy 3 *Elective 3 University Studies 3
Second Semester
PHY 524 Solid State Physics or PHY 555 Fundamental Nuclear Physics or PHY 556 Fundamental Particle Physics
3 **Humanities and Social Sciences 6 *Elective 3 University Studies 3
*A total of 14 credit hours in math, computer science, chemistry, engineering or other areas related to physics but outside the department must be completed to satisfy the college Field of Concentration requirement. A total of 42 hours in physics and related areas must be taken to satisfy the Field of Concentration requirement.
**The Bachelor of Arts requires the completion of six additional hours in humanities and social sciences beyond those required for University Studies. It also requires the completion of 39 hours at or above the 300 level.
B.A. in Physics: Suggested Curriculum (OLD)
Freshman Year First Semester Hours MA 113 Calculus I 4 PHY 105 Physics and Astronomy Today 1 CHE 105 General College Chemistry I 3 ENG 101 Writing I 3 University Studies 3
Second Semester
PHY 231 General University Physics 4 PHY 241 General University Physics Laboratory 1 MA 114 Calculus II 4 ENG 102 Writing II 3 University Studies 3
Sophomore Year First Semester PHY 232 General University Physics (Special Section) 4 PHY 242 General University Physics Laboratory *MA 213 Calculus III 4 CHE 107 General College Chemistry II 3 University Studies 3
Second Semester
PHY 361 Principles of Modern Physics 3 PHY 335 Data Analysis for Physicists 1 3 *CS 115 Introduction to Computer Programming 3 COM 181 Basic Public Speaking 3 CHE 115 General Chemistry Laboratory 3
Junior Year First Semester PHY 404G Mechanics 3 PHY 402G Electronic Instrumentation and Measurements 3 *MA 322 Matrix Algebra and Its Applications 3 **Humanities 3 Foreign Language 4
Second Semester
PHY 308 Optics 3 MA 432G Methods of Applied Math 3 Foreign Language 4 **Social Science 3 **Humanities 3
Senior Year First Semester PHY 416G Electricity and Magnetism 3 PHY 520 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics 3 **Social Science 3 Foreign Language 3 *Elective 3
Second Semester
PHY 524 Solid State Physics or PHY 554 Fundamental Atomic Physics or PHY 555 Fundamental Nuclear Physics or PHY 556 Fundamental Particle Physics 3 Foreign Language 3 University Studies 3 Elective 6
*A total of 14 credit hours in math, computer science, chemistry, engineering or other areas related to physics but outside the department must be completed to satisfy the college Field of Concentration requirement. A total of 42 hours in physics and related areas must be taken to satisfy the Field of Concentration requirement.
**The Bachelor of Arts requires the completion of six additional hours in humanities and social sciences beyond those required for University Studies. It also requires the completion of 39 hours at or above the 300 level.
B.S. in Physics: Suggested Curriculum (OLD)
Freshman Year First Semester Hours MA 113 Calculus I 4 MA 193 Workshop 1 CHE 105 General College Chemistry I 3 PHY 105 Physics and Astronomy Today 1 A&S 100-001 1 ENG 101 Writing I 3 University Studies 3
Second Semester
PHY 231 General University Physics 4 PHY 241 General University Physics Laboratory 1 MA 114 Calculus II 4 CHE 107 General College Chemistry II 3 ENG 102 Writing II 3
Sophomore Year First Semester PHY 232 General University Physics 4 PHY 242 General University Physics Laboratory *MA 213 Calculus III 4 CHE 115 General Chemistry Lab 3 Foreign Language 4
Second Semester
PHY 308 Optics 3 PHY 361 Principles of Modern Physics 3 PHY 335 Data Analysis for Physicists 1 *MA 214 Calculus IV 3 3 Foreign Language 4
Junior Year First Semester PHY 404G Mechanics 3 PHY 416G Electricity and Magnetism 3 PHY 402G Electronic Instrumentation and Measurements 3 *MA 322 Matrix Algebra and Its Applications 3 Foreign Language 3
Second Semester
PHY 417G Electricity and Magnetism 3 PHY 535 Experimental Physics: Atomic and Nuclear 2 MA 322 Matrix Algebra 3 Foreign Language 3 University Studies 3 COM 181 Basic Public Speaking 3
Senior Year First Semester PHY 520 Introduction to Quantum Mechanics 3 PHY 522 Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics 3 PHY 530 Experimental Physics: Optics and Spectroscopy 2 PHY 591 Astrophysics I - Stars or PHY 592 Astrophysics II -- The Galaxy 3 *Elective 3 University Studies 3
Second Semester
PHY 554 Fundamental Atomic Physics 3 PHY 524 Solid State Physics or PHY 555 Fundamental Nuclear Physics or
PHY 556 Fundamental Particle Physics
3 **Humanities and Social Sciences 6 *Elective 3
*A total of 14 credit hours in math, computer science, chemistry, engineering or other areas related to physics but outside the department must be completed to satisfy the college Field of Concentration requirement. A total of 42 hours in physics and related areas must be taken to satisfy the Field of Concentration requirement.
**The Bachelor of Arts requires the completion of six additional hours in humanities and social sciences beyond those required for University Studies. It also requires the completion of 39 hours at or above the 300 level.
Last modified 3/04 by A. Shapere.
