Physics, BS
To obtain a BS in physics you must earn a minimum of 40 credits in physics courses including the following:
- Fundamentals of Physics I and Physics Laboratory I
- Fundamentals of Physics II and Physics Laboratory II
- Introduction to Contemporary Physics and Physical Laboratory
- Thermodynamics
- Mechanics
- Electricity and Magnetism I
- Electricity and Magnetism II or Digital Systems with Lab
- Atomic Physics and Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
- Intermediate Laboratory
and two physics electives at the level of 300 or higher.
In addition majors must complete the following science classes:
- Chemical Principles Lecture I and Chemical Principles Laboratory I
- Chemical Principles Lecture II and Chemical Principles Laboratory II
- Multivariable Calculus (or preferably Multivariable and Vector Calculus)
- Applied Ordinary Differential Equations
- Introduction to Computing or an approved substitute. (Students with proficiency in computer programming may request from the department a waiver of the CS 110 requirement.)
Students should note that the university requires for a BS degree six mathematics or science courses outside of the student's major field. Most physics majors (especially those planning graduate work and/or professional careers in physical science) will want to take more physics and mathematics courses that the minimum required for graduation. Students planning to pursue graduate studies are recomended to take Electricity and Magnetism II and Statistical Physics and two or more semesters of mathematics courses such as Linear Algebra, Vector Calculus, and Introduction to Complex Analysis. All majors are encouraged to gain a facility with one or more computer programming languages.
