Physics (BA)

Program Educational Goals

Students who successfully complete the Physics Bachelor of Arts degree program will be able to:

Core Concepts: Demonstrate a mastery of the foundational knowledge and skills of core aspects of Physics, including Classical Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Waves, Thermodynamics, and Quantum Mechanics. In addition, the graduates will have demonstrated proficiency in Mathematics and Computer science.
Critical Thinking Skills: Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate data, identify key scientific questions in Physics as well as an applied specialty, and communicate the approach and results clearly. In addition, students will be able to utilize and apply complex mathematical methods to describe the physical world around them.
Research Skills: Demonstrate working knowledge of the experimental, calculational, and analytic tools required for professional employment in physics related fields. This includes demonstrating scientific thinking, the ability to acquire the technical skills necessary to be involved with scientific research, and the ability to develop and employ analytical skills that enable rigorous qualitative and quantitative scientific data evaluation.
Scientific Communication Skills: Employ methods of effective communication within the scientific community, including written and oral presentation skills required to effectively share scientific information, as well as developing scientific team skills necessary for working collaboratively in a variety of STEM fields.

Four Year Plan

Please refer to the Four-Year Plan for departmental recommended path toward graduation.

University Requirements:

ENGL 110 - First-Year Writing (C- minimum)
First Year Seminar (FYS) (0-4 credits)
Discovery Learning Experience (DLE) (three credits)
Multicultural Requirement (three credits)
University Breadth Requirements (C- minimum):
- Creative Arts and Humanities (three credits)
- History and Cultural Change (three credits)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (three credits)
- Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology (three credits)
Capstone Experience

College Requirements:

College Breadth Requirements:

The College Breadth requirements are in addition to the University Breadth requirement. Up to three credits from each of the University Breadth Requirement categories may be used to simultaneously satisfy these College of Arts and Sciences Breadth Requirements. Minimum grade C- required for courses used to satisfy College Breadth.

GROUP A: Creative Arts and Humanities (Nine credits of courses representing at least two departments or appropriate instructional units)
GROUP B: History and Cultural Change (Nine credits of courses representing at least two departments or appropriate instructional units)
GROUP C: Social and Behavioral Sciences (Nine credits of courses representing at least two departments or appropriate instructional units)
GROUP D: Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Technology (Ten credits of courses representing at least two departments or appropriate instructional units and including a minimum of one course with an associated laboratory)

*If the grade earned is sufficient, a course may be applied toward more than one requirement (e.g., breadth and major requirements), but the credits are counted only once toward the total credits for graduation. If all but one course in a group has been taken in one department or program, a course cross-listed with that program will not satisfy the distribution requirement.

Foreign Language:

Completion of the intermediate-level course (107 or 202) in an ancient or modern language with minimum grades of D-.
- The number of credits (0-12) needed and initial placement will depend on the number of years of high school study of foreign language.
  - Students with four or more years of high school work in a single foreign language, or who have gained proficiency in a foreign language by other means, may attempt to fulfill the requirement in that language by taking an exemption examination through the Languages, Literatures and Cultures Department.

Mathematics:

The math requirement must be completed by the time a student has earned 60 credits. Students who transfer into the College of Arts and Sciences with 45 credits or more must complete this requirement within two semesters.

Complete one of the following four options (minimum grade D-):

Option One:

MATH 113 - Contemporary Mathematics Credit(s): 3 (designed for students who do not intend to continue to the study of mathematics)

Option Two:

One of the following:

MATH 114 - College Mathematics and Statistics Credit(s): 3 (designed for students who do not intend to continue the study of mathematics)
MATH 115 - Pre-Calculus Credit(s): 3 (designed for students who intend to continue the study of mathematics)
MATH 117 - Pre-Calculus for Scientists and Engineers Credit(s): 4 (designed to prepare students for MATH 241 )

Option Three:

Successful completion of any 200-level or higher mathematics course except: MATH 201 , MATH 202 , MATH 205 , MATH 251 , MATH 252 , MATH 253 , and MATH 266 .

Option Four:

Successful performance on a proficiency test in mathematics administered by the Department of Mathematical Sciences (0 credits awarded).

Second Writing Requirement:

A Second Writing Requirement approved by the College of Arts and Sciences. This course must be taken after completion of 60 credit hours, completed with a minimum grade of C-, and the section enrolled must be designated as satisfying the requirement in the academic term completed.

Major Requirements:

Maximum of 45 PHYS credits.

CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Credit(s): 3
and
CHEM 133 - General Chemistry Laboratory Credit(s): 1
CISC 106 - General Computer Science for Engineers Credit(s): 3
MATH 231 - Integrated Calculus IA Credit(s): 4
and
MATH 232 - Integrated Calculus IB Credit(s): 3
or
MATH 241 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus A Credit(s): 4
MATH 242 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus B Credit(s): 4
MATH 243 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus C Credit(s): 4
PHYS 169 - Perspectives on Physics and Astronomy Credit(s): 1
PHYS 207 - Fundamentals of Physics I Credit(s): 3
and
PHYS 227 - Fundamentals of Physics Laboratory I Credit(s): 1
PHYS 208 - Fundamentals of Physics II Credit(s): 3
and
PHYS 228 - Fundamentials of Physics Laboratory II Credit(s): 1
PHYS 209 - Aspects of Modern Physics Credit(s): 3
PHYS 211 - Oscillations and Waves Credit(s): 3
Sixteen credits in Physics, of which twelve must be at the 300-level or higher.

Electives:

After required courses are completed, sufficient elective credits must be taken to meet the minimum credit requirement for the degree.