Physics
2023-2024

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FIRST YEAR

Semester 1
 

COURSE TITLE CREDITS FREQUENCY COURSE NOTES MIN. GRADE CATEGORY

MATH 221

Calculus and Analytic Geomentry I

5

Fall/Spring

MATH 112 and 113 or equivalent or appropriate placement score

C

Major/ NS

PHYS 201

General Physics I

5

Fall

MATH 221 ("C" or better) or concurrent registration

C

Major/ NS

ENGL 101

Composition and Reading

3

Fall/Spring

Placement score or grade of C or better in ENGL 100

C-  

General Education (SB)

Elective

3

Fall/Winter/   Spring/Summer

   

SB

UWP 101 Freshman Seminar 1        
TOTAL   17        


Winterim Year 1 - optional
Consult with your advisor whether winterim is appropriate for you in your first year.
 

Semester 2
 

COURSE TITLE CREDITS FREQUENCY COURSE NOTES MIN. GRADE CATEGORY

MATH 222

Calculus and Analitic Geometry II

5

Fall/Spring

MATH 221

C

Major/NS

PHYS 202

General Physics II

5

Fall/Spring

PHYS 201; MATH 222 or concurrent registration

C

Major/NS

Humanities

Elective

3

Fall/Winter/   Spring/Summer

   

HU

General Education (SB)

Elective

3

Fall/Winter/   Spring/Summer

   

SB

TOTAL   16        
YEAR TOTAL   32        


Summer Year 1 - optional
Enrollment in Summer courses is recommended for students who end their first year with less than 30 credit hours.  

SECOND YEAR

Semester 1
 

COURSE TITLE CREDITS FREQUENCY COURSE NOTES MIN. GRADE CATEGORY

MATH 223

Calculus and Analytic Geometry III

5

Fall

MATH 222

 

Major

PHYS 205

Modern Physics

3

Fall

CHEM 101, MATH 222, PHYS 202

 

Major

General Education (SB)

Elective

3

Fall/Winter/   Spring/Summer

    SB

Foreign Language 103

  4  

 Placement exam or no prior knowledge

   
TOTAL   15        


Winterim Year 2 - optional
Enrollment in Winterim courses is strongly recommended for students who have accumulated less than 45 credits.   

 

Semester 2
 

COURSE TITLE CREDITS FREQUENCY COURSE NOTES MIN. GRADE CATEGORY

PHYS 303

Computational Physics

3

 Spring

PHYS 201 and 202 with grades of C or better; MATH 223, PHYS 205 and 241 or consent of instructor

 

Major

PHYS 306

Advanced Experiments in Physics

3

Alternate Springs

PHYS 201 and 202 with grades of C or better; PHYS 205

 

Major

PHYS 241

Scientific Programming

3

Spring

PHYS 201 and MATH 221 or consent of instructor

 

Major

General Education (HU)

Elective

3

Fall/Winter/   Spring/Summer

   

HU

Foreign Language 104

Modern Language II

4  

Foreign Language 103 or equivalent or placement exam

   
TOTAL   16        
YEAR TOTAL   31        


Summer Year 2 - optional
Enrollment in Summer courses is recommended for students who end their first year with less than 60 credit hours.

THIRD YEAR

Semester 1
 

COURSE TITLE CREDITS FREQUENCY COURSE NOTES MIN. GRADE CATEGORY

MATH 301

Linear Algebra

4

Fall

MATH 222 or MATH 223 and consent of instructor

 

Major

PHYS 301

Classical Mechanics

4

Alternate Falls

PHYS 201 and 202 with grades of C or better; MATH 317 or concurrent registration or consent of instructor

 

Major

General Education (HU)

Elective

3

Fall/Winter/   Spring/Summer

   

HU

General Education (SB)

Elective

3

Fall/Winter/   Spring/Summer

   

 

SB

 

TOTAL   14        


Winterim Year 3 - optional
Enrollment in Winterim courses is strongly recommended  for students who have completed less than 75 credit hours.  
 

Semester 2
 

COURSE TITLE CREDITS FREQUENCY COURSE NOTES MIN. GRADE CATEGORY

PHYS 403

Thermodynamics & Statistical Physics

4

 Spring

PHYS 201 and 202 with grades of C or better; PHYS 205; MATH 301 and 317 or PHYS 401 or consent of instructor

 

Major

General Education (NS)

Elective

3      

NS

DV Course

  3      

DV

General Education (HU)

Elective

3

Fall/Winter/   Spring/Summer

   

HU

PHYS 499

GRE Prep

1

Occasionally

Consent of instructor and department chair

 

Major

TOTAL   14        
YEAR TOTAL   28        


Summer Year 3 - optional

Enrollment in Summer courses is strongly recommended for students who end their third year  with less than 90 credit hours.  

FOURTH YEAR

Semester 1
 

COURSE TITLE CREDITS FREQUENCY COURSE NOTES MIN. GRADE CATEGORY

PHYS 302

Electiricity and Magnetism

4

 Fall

PHYS 201 and 202 eith a grade of C or better; MATH 317 or concurrent registration or consent of instructor

 

Major

PHYS 401 or Math 401

Mathematical Methods of Physics or Applied Mathematics

3

Alternate Falls

MATH 223, 317

 

Major

MATH 317

Differential Equations & Their Applications

4

 Fall

MATH 222

 

Major

XXXX- General Elective

Elective

3        

PHYS 495

Senior Seminar

1

Fall/Spring

PHYS 201 and 202 with grades of C or better; Junior or Senior standing

 

Major

TOTAL   15        


Winterim Year 4 - optional
Enrollment in Winterim courses is strongly recommended for students who have completed less than 105 credit hours. 
 

Semester 2
 

COURSE TITLE CREDITS FREQUENCY COURSE NOTES MIN. GRADE CATEGORY

PHYS 441

Quantum Physics

4

Alternate Springs

PHYS 201 and 202 with grades of C or better; PHYS 205; MATH 301 and 317 or PHYS 401 or consent of instructor

 

Major

XXXX- General Elective

Elective

3        

XXXX- General Elective

Elective

3        

PHYS 495

Senior Seminar

1

Fall/Spring

PHYS 201 and 202 with grades of C or better; Junior or Senior standing

 

Major

PHYS 499

Research

1-3

Occasionally

Consent of instructor and department chair

 

Major

TOTAL   12-15        
YEAR TOAL   27-30        


Summer Year 4 - if needed
Enrollment in Summer courses is strongly recommended for students who have not completed the required 120 hours.

Graduation Requirements Summary
 

Minimum Total Hours Minimum Upper-Division Hours Min. Core Hours Major GPA Overall GPA
120 36 65 2.0 2.0

 

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