The department offers the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees and a minor in physics. The program in physics offers courses to meet the needs of students who

• Want to pursue physics-related industrial or governmental careers,
• Want to continue their education in advanced graduate programs,
• Want to prepare for teaching science in secondary schools with a physics major,
• Need courses in physics as part of their major program, and
• Desire to have a general knowledge of physics, but not a major in the sciences.

Physics Majors

Students wishing to pursue a major in physics should confer with the department chair as soon as this decision is made in order to plan a program of studies.

A physics major should ideally complete PHY 161/121L/162/162L and MAT 191/192 during the freshman year, and PHY 305/306 and MAT 293/330 during the sophomore year.

The Bachelor of Science degree in physics consists of at least 39 credit hours of physics, which must include PHY 161/121L/162/162L, 305/306, 300 (twice), 340, 355, 365, 430, and at least three other physics courses numbered above 300. In addition, MAT 293 (Multivariable Calculus) and MAT 330 (Introduction to Differential Equations), and CHM 111/112 (General Chemistry I/II) are required. Successful completion of a senior comprehensive examination is also required.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in physics consists of at least 29 credit hours in physics, which must include PHY 161/121L/162/162L, 305/306, 300 (twice), and at least four other courses that are either physics offerings numbered above 300, or PHY 115 (Descriptive Astronomy). In addition, MAT 293 (Multivariable Calculus) and MAT 330 (Introduction to Differential Equations), and at least 8 credit hours of lab science courses outside of physics (i.e., BIO, CHM, or EES) are required. Successful completion of a senior comprehensive examination is also required.

Students wishing to pursue a minor in physics should confer with the department chair as soon as this decision is made in order to plan a program of studies. A minor in physics consists of at least 17 credit hours in physics, which must include PHY 161/121L, 162/162L, and at least three physics courses numbered above 300.

Majors may attain Departmental Honors in physics by fulfilling the following requirements (1) attaining a grade point average of at least 3.5 in all courses taken in the department, and (2) satisfactorily completing a research project, including preparation of a paper suitable for publication in a scientific journal and/or presentation at a scientific meeting.

Courses

The courses MAT 191 and 192 (Calculus I/II) are required for all physics degrees.

PHY 101. Everyday Physics (2 hours)
Prerequisite: SCI 105 or consent of instructor.
Commonplace objects and events are studied from a scientific point of view. These may include sports, amusement rides and other vehicles, household objects, ice and steam, musical instruments, electronic devices, light, weather, toys, and weapons. A lecture and laboratory module for general education. Three hours of lecture and a three-hour lab per week for eight weeks.

PHY 103. Acoustical Foundations of Music (2 hours)
Prerequisite: SCI 105 or consent of instructor.
A study of the relevant concepts of physics as applied to the acoustical aspects of music reproduction, listening environments, and hearing. A lecture and laboratory module for general education. Three hours of lecture and a three-hour lab per week for eight weeks.

PHY 115. Descriptive Astronomy (4 hours)
Problems in astronomy will be presented on a fundamental level and will serve to demonstrate how scientific principles are established, how these principles are sometimes revised or disproved by new data and methods, and how observations of the universe can be used by people to learn more about their place in the cosmos. A lecture and laboratory course.

PHY 121L. Basic Physics Laboratory I (1 hour)
Corequisite: PHY 141 or PHY 161
Laboratory component for PHY 141 or PHY 161; one three-hour session per week.

PHY 141. Introductory Physics I: Mechanics and Heat (3 hours)
Prerequisite: MAT 133 or equivalent.
Corequisite: PHY 121L
Algebra-based physics: the study of motion, forces, mechanical and heat energy.

PHY 142. Introductory Physics II: Electricity, Magnetism, and Optics (3 hours)
Prerequisites: MAT 133 or equivalent, and PHY 141.
Corequisite: PHY 142L
Continuation of PHY 141: the study of electrostatics, electric currents, dc and ac circuits, magnetism, geometrical and physical optics.

PHY 142L. Introductory Physics II Lab (1 hour)
Corequisite: PHY 142
Laboratory component for PHY 142: one 3-hour session per week.

PHY 161. General Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics (3 hours)
Corequisites: MAT 191 and PHY 121L
Physics with calculus for majors in the physical sciences and engineering: the study of motion, forces, energy, heat and entropy.

PHY 162. General Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism, Wave Motion and Optics (3 hours)
Prerequisite: PHY 161
Corequisites: MAT 192 and PHY 162L
Continuation of PHY 161: the study of electrostatics, electrical currents, dc and ac circuits, and magnetism, wave phenomena, geometric and physical optics.

PHY 162L. General Physics II Lab (1 hour)
Corequisite: PHY 162
Laboratory component for PHY 162 one 3-hour session per week.

PHY 300. Physics Seminar (1 hour)
Prerequisites: junior or senior status, and either PHY 142 or PHY 162 or instructor approval.
This is a weekly, one-hour seminar focusing on current topics at the frontiers of physics. Each student must make at least one presentation each semester. May be taken up to four times for credit, but only two credit hours may be applied toward the physics major.

PHY 305. Modern Physics I (3 hours)
Prerequisites: MAT 192 and PHY 162
Introduction to the quantum theory of matter: wave-particle duality, uncertainty, quantum probability, the Schroedinger equation, atomic and molecular structure, classical and quantum statistics, solid state physics, lasers, and superconductors.

PHY 306. Modern Physics II (3 hours)
Prerequisite: PHY 305
Introduction to the physics of spacetime, the very small, and the very large: special relativity, nuclear and particle physics, astrophysics, general relativity, and cosmology.

PHY 325. Physical Optics (4 hours)
Prerequisites: MAT 192 and PHY 162
Intermediate level optics, including the electromagnetic nature of light, thermal and coherent sources, interference phenomena, holography, polarization, Fourier transform spectroscopy, and nonlinear optics. The adjective physical in the title of this course emphasizes its foundation in electromagnetic theory, as opposed to geometrical optics, where the primary goal is to understand how optical instruments function, using ray tracing techniques. Three hours of lecture and a 3-hour laboratory per week.

PHY 330. Statistical Mechanics (3 hours)
Prerequisites: MAT 293, MAT 330, and PHY 305
Introduction to statistical mechanics covering classical and quantum statistics, and connections with thermodynamics. Quantum statistics will include investigations of thermal properties of solids and low temperature phenomena.

PHY 340. Analytical Mechanics (3 hours)
Prerequisites: MAT 293, MAT 330, and PHY 162
Statics and dynamics of particles and rigid bodies; Newtonian, Lagrangian, and Hamiltonian description of systems; vibrating systems including normal modes.

PHY 355. Electromagnetic Theory (3 hours)
Prerequisites: MAT 293, MAT 330, and PHY 162
Electrostatics, magnetostatics, electrodynamics, Maxwell’s equations, electromagnetic waves.

PHY 365. Mathematical Physics (3 hours)
Prerequisites: MAT 293, MAT 330, and PHY 162
Mathematical methods useful in upper-division physics courses are explored. Topics may include probability distributions, linear algebra, complex variables, waves and Fourier analysis, orthogonal functions, partial differential equations, chaotic dynamics, and group theory.

PHY 370. Experimental Physics (4 hours)
Prerequisite: PHY 305
Introduction to experimental techniques including computerized data acquisition, data analysis, analog and digital electronics and instrumentation. Students will also learn the LabVIEW programming language. Three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory work per week.

PHY 385. Computational Physics (4 hours)
Prerequisites: MAT 293, MAT 330, and PHY 162
Students will use scientific programming languages to create algorithms and perform numerical calculations in the areas of linear algebra, differentiation and integration, and random event generation. Three hours of lecture and a three hour computer lab per week.

PHY 420. Selected Topics in Physics (Subtitle) (1-4 hours)
Prerequisite: to be determined by the instructor.
A study of a topic in much greater depth than is done in the more general courses, or a topic of current importance not covered in the course offerings of the department. Credit hours depend on the topic, with a maximum of 4.

PHY 430. Nonlinear Physics (4 hours)
Prerequisite: PHY 340
This course discusses nonlinear phenomena in physical systems and how these nonlinear effects are analyzed. Three hours of lecture and a three-hour lab per week.

PHY 450. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (3 hours)
Prerequisites: MAT 293, MAT 330, and PHY 305
Introduction to the concepts and techniques of quantum mechanics. Mathematical formalisms, applications to various systems, and philosophical implications of quantum mechanics will be investigated.

PHY 460. Research in Physics (1-3 hours)
Prerequisite: to be determined by the student’s research advisor.
Training in the techniques of basic research in physics with application to a research project of current importance. May be spread over several semesters. One credit hour for each three hours per week of research activity. May be taken for up to 6 credit hours.