BS in Physics Curriculum
Total Credits: 120
This webpage provides an accessible overview of the Physics curriculum. For advising or official record use, consult the full catalog and approved elective lists.
Freshman Year
Fall Semester
- ENL 101 – Critical Writing & Reading I (3 credits)
- PHY 113 – Classical Physics I (4 credits)
- PHY 109 – Freshman Seminar (3 credits)
- MTH 151 – Calculus I (4 credits)
- University Studies (3 credits)
Semester Total: 17 credits
Spring Semester
- ENL 102 – Critical Writing & Reading II (3 credits)
- PHY 114 – Classical Physics II (4 credits)
- MTH 152 – Calculus II (4 credits)
- University Studies (3 credits)
- Free Elective (3 credits)
Semester Total: 17 credits
Sophomore Year
Fall Semester
- PHY 115 – Introduction to Classical Physics (3 credits)
- PHY 225 – Introductory Experimental Physics I (3 credits)
- MTH 211 – Analytic Geometry & Calculus III (4 credits)
- University Studies (3 credits)
Semester Total: 13 credits
Spring Semester
- PHY 213 – Applied Modern Physics (3 credits)
- PHY 227 – Introductory Experimental Physics II (1 credit)
- PHY 234 – Intermediate Mathematical Physics (3 credits)
- MTH 212 – Differential Equations (3 credits)
- MTH 280 – Introduction to Scientific Programming (3 credits)
Semester Total: 13 credits
Junior Year
Fall Semester
- PHY 313 – Mechanics (3 credits)
- PHY 322 – Electronic Devices & Circuits II (3 credits)
- PHY 343 – Mathematical Physics I (3 credits)
- Free Elective (3 credits)
- Science Elective (3 credits)
Semester Total: 15 credits
Spring Semester
- PHY 341 – Quantum Mechanics I (3 credits)
- PHY 411 – Electric & Magnetic Fields I (3 credits)
- PHY 441 – Statistical Thermodynamics (3 credits)
- University Studies (3 credits)
- Science Elective (3 credits)
Semester Total: 15 credits
Senior Year
Fall Semester
- PHY 342 – Quantum Mechanics II (3 credits)
- PHY 421 – Advanced Laboratory (3 credits)
- PHY 412 – Electric & Magnetic Fields II (3 credits)
- PHY Physics Elective (300+ level) (3 credits)
- University Studies (3 credits)
Semester Total: 15 credits
Spring Semester
- PHY 442 – Elements of Solid State Physics (3 credits)
- PHY Physics Elective (300+ level) (3 credits)
- PHY Physics Elective (300+ level) (3 credits)
- Free Elective (300+ level) (3 credits)
- Free Elective (3 credits)
Semester Total: 15 credits
Curriculum Notes
- To graduate with a BS in Physics, students must complete at least 120 credits, including 45 approved Physics credits and 30 credits at the 300 level or higher.
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.000 overall and 2.000 in approved Physics courses is required for graduation.
- Approved Physics courses include all PHY courses at the 300 level or higher, together with PHY 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 213, 225, 227, 234, 252, and 271.
- PHY 111 and PHY 112 may substitute for PHY 113 and PHY 114, respectively.
- PHY 109 satisfies University Studies Cluster 1E.
- University Studies requirements should be selected from Clusters 3 and 4.
- MTH 153, MTH 154, and MTH 213 may substitute for MTH 151, MTH 152, and MTH 211, respectively.
- PHY 114 satisfies University Studies Cluster 2A.
- PHY 115 satisfies University Studies Cluster 2B.
- PHY 225 satisfies University Studies Cluster 1C (Intermediate Writing).
- Courses marked in the source as Physics electives should be selected in consultation with a faculty advisor.
- A minimum of 6 credits of advanced laboratory courses is required. Other courses may be substituted with approval of the faculty advisor.
- Students must complete 6 credits in a second science, mathematics, or engineering. Approved areas include BIO, BNG, CHM, CIS, CEN, ECE, MNE, MTH, or Astrophysics (PHY 252 and PHY 363), subject to advisor approval.