Physics - Astronomy/Astrophysics Concentration (BS)

Program Educational Goals

Students who successfully complete the Physics Bachelor of Science 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, Optics, Thermodynamics, and Quantum Mechanics. In addition, the graduates will have demonstrated proficiency in Astrophysics, Mathematics and Computer science.
Critical Thinking Skills: Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate data, identify key scientific questions in Physics as well as Astronomy, 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:

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.

College of Arts and Sciences Breadth Requirements:

The College Breadth Requirements are taken 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. College Breadth courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C-.

A total of 18 credits from Groups A, B, and C is required with a minimum of six credits in each group. The six credits from each group could be from the same area.

Major Requirements:

A minimum grade of C- is required in all 200 level Physics courses required by the major.

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
PHYS 309 - Physics of the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries Credit(s): 3
PHYS 310 - Introduction to Thermal Physics Credit(s): 3
PHYS 313 - Physical Optics Credit(s): 4
PHYS 333 - Fundamentals of Astrophysics Credit(s): 3
PHYS 403 - Electricity and Magnetism I Credit(s): 3
or
PHYS 603 - Electricity and Magnetism I
PHYS 419 - Classical Mechanics I Credit(s): 3
PHYS 424 - Quantum Mechanics I Credit(s): 3
PHYS 460 - Computational Methods of Physics Credit(s): 3
PHYS 468 - Introduction to Research Credit(s): 1-6
PHYS 469 - Observational Astronomy Credit(s): 3

Two of the following:

PHYS 434 - Astrophysics and the Origins of Life Credit(s): 3
PHYS 461 - Data Science for Physical Scientists Credit(s): 3
PHYS 630 - Galaxies
PHYS 632 - Astrophysics
PHYS 633 - Introduction to Stellar Astrophysics
PHYS 634 - Physics of the Sun
PHYS 635 - Space Physics
PHYS 639 - Selected Topics in Astrophysics
PHYS 644 - Elementary Particles and Big Bang Cosmology

Mathematics:

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

One of the following sequences:

Foreign Language or Computer Science:

One of the two options:

Foreign Language:

Completion of the intermediate-level course (107 or 112) 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.

Computer Science

Completion of the following Computer Science sequence:

CISC 106 - General Computer Science for Engineers Credit(s): 3
CISC 210 - Introduction to Systems Programming Credit(s): 3
CISC 220 - Data Structures Credit(s): 3
One Computer Science elective at or above the 260 level (three credits)

Electives:

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