Physics (BS)

Physics BA BS

Departmental Admission Requirements

There are no specific admission requirements for this degree plan. 

The Change Major Request form can be found under the Academic Progress tile on ULink.

Accelerated BS/MS (Master of Science) in Physics Program

Applicants apply for admission to the five-year accelerated program in the first semester of the senior year and must meet the following criteria:

  • The applicant will have completed at least 21 credit hours in Physics before applying to the program.
  • The applicant will have maintained at least a 3.0 GPA in Physics courses and a 3.35 GPA overall.

All applicants must submit an application along with GRE General test score consistent with MS in Physics program guidelines.

General Education Requirements         

General Education Requirements 131
The following courses are required by the program and should be taken to fulfill the respective General Education Requirement:
General Chemistry I - S
Introductory Mechanics, Heat and Sound - S
Introductory Laboratories I - SL
Calculus I - QR

All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above).  Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

College/School Requirements

Arts & Sciences Requirements
GEN 100Student Success Center First Year Experience1
or GEN 101 Arts & Sciences First Year Experience
Foreign Language 26-8
Electives in Humanities or Social Sciences at 300 level or above 36
WR—two approved courses at the 300 level or above 4
Minimum Total Hours13-15

Program/Major Requirements

Department of Physics
PHYS 295Introductory Laboratories I - SL1
PHYS 296Introductory Laboratories II - SL1
PHYS 301Introductory Modern Physics Laboratory1
PHYS 298Introductory Mechanics, Heat and Sound - S4
PHYS 299Introductory Electricity, Magnetism and Light4
PHYS 300Introductory Modern Physics3
PHYS 351Atomic and Nuclear Physics Laboratory2
PHYS 350Differential Equations for the Physical Sciences4
PHYS 460Mechanics3
PHYS 530Thermal Physics3
PHYS 541Electromagnetic Fields3
PHYS 555Elementary Quantum Mechanics3
Culminating Undergraduate Experience (CUE) Select one of the following: 3
Practicum in Physics Education - CUE
Senior Seminar in Physics - CUE, WR
Senior Thesis in Physics - WR, CUE
Undergraduate Research - CUE
Cooperative Internship in Physics - CUE
Professional, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Applied, Atmospheric, or Computational Physics and Data Science Track (see track tab for requirements)9-10
Minimum Total Hours44-45
Supporting Courses
CHEM 201General Chemistry I - S3
CHEM 202General Chemistry II - S3
MATH 205Calculus I - QR4
MATH 206Calculus II4
MATH 301Calculus III4
Minimum Electives 1,512-15
Minimum Total Hours30-33
Minimum Hours Required for Degree121

At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above.

Culminating Undergraduate Experience (Graduation requirement)
Requirement fulfilled by completing one of the following:
Practicum in Physics Education - CUE
Senior Seminar in Physics - CUE, WR
Senior Thesis in Physics - WR, CUE
Undergraduate Research - CUE
Cooperative Internship in Physics - CUE
1

Ten (10) credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. 

2

Completion of the intermediate level of a single foreign language. 

3

In addition to courses counted toward General Education, 6 hours must be at the 300 level or above. 

4

May be incorporated into other degree requirements

5

Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree.

6

Students pursuing the professional track must either take an additional 3 hours of research or choose one of the other options to meet the major requirements. 

Track Requirements 

Track in Applied Physics

Academic Plan Code(s): PHYSBS_APP

Select one of the following:1-2
Observational Astronomy
Optics Laboratory
Advanced Optics Lab
Select one of the following: 3
Electromagnetic Radiation
Advanced Optics
Fundamentals of Lasers
Quantum Theory of Matter
Advanced Computational and Numerical Methods in Physics
Atomic and Molecular Physics
Solid State Physics
Nuclear Physics
Elementary Particle Physics
General Relativity
Astrophysics
PHYS electives: PHYS courses at 300 level or above to total nine hours beyond core4-5
Minimum Total Hours9-10

Alternate choices within or outside of the department are possible with approval.


Track in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Academic Plan Code(s): PHYSBS_ASP

PHYS 307Introductory Stellar Astrophysics3
PHYS 308Observational Astronomy1
PHYS 355Optics3
PHYS 590Astrophysics3
Minimum Total Hours10

Track in Professional Physics (non-track)

Academic Plan Code(s): PHYSBS

PHYS 542Electromagnetic Radiation3
PHYS 556Quantum Theory of Matter3
PHYS 498Undergraduate Research - CUE3
Minimum Total Hours9

Track in Atmospheric Physics

Academic Plan Code(s): PHYSBS_ATP

PHYS 363Atmospheric Physics3
PHYS 464Atmospheric Dynamics3
PHYS 517Physics of Climate3
or PHYS 518 Space Weather
Minimum Total Hours9

Track in Computational Physics and Data Science

Academic Plan Code(s): PHYSBS_CDS

Pre-requisite Course
Introduction to Scientific Computing and Data Analysis
Select 3 of these courses for this track:9
Intermediate Scientific Computing and Data Analysis (3)
Introductory Computational Physics (3)
Machine Learning in the Physical Sciences (3)
Advanced Computational and Numerical Methods in Physics (3)
Minimum Total Hours9

Flight Plan


Track in Applied Physics

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallHours
GEN 100
Student Success Center First Year Experience
or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience
1
ENGL 101 Introduction to College Writing - WC 3
MATH 205 Calculus I - QR 4
PHYS 298 Introductory Mechanics, Heat and Sound - S 4
PHYS 295 Introductory Laboratories I - SL 1
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences US Diversity - SBD1 3
 Hours16
Spring
MATH 206 Calculus II 4
PHYS 299 Introductory Electricity, Magnetism and Light 4
PHYS 296 Introductory Laboratories II - SL 1
CHEM 201 General Chemistry I - S 3
ENGL 102 Intermediate College Writing - WC 3
 Hours15
Year 2
Fall
MATH 301 Calculus III 4
PHYS 300 Introductory Modern Physics 3
PHYS 301 Introductory Modern Physics Laboratory 1
PHYS 350 Differential Equations for the Physical Sciences 4
CHEM 202 General Chemistry II - S 3
 Hours15
Spring
PHYS 351 Atomic and Nuclear Physics Laboratory 2
PHYS 530 Thermal Physics 3
PHYS 460 Mechanics 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC 3
 Hours14
Year 3
Fall
PHYS 541 Electromagnetic Fields 3
Select one of the following: 1-2
Observational Astronomy
Optics Laboratory
Advanced Optics Lab
Foreign Language 1 3-4
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Hours17-18
Spring
Physics track course 3
Humanities or Social Science WR elective (300 level or above) 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities Global Diversity - AHD2 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH 3
Foreign Language 2 3-4
 Hours15-16
Year 4
Fall
PHYS 555 Elementary Quantum Mechanics 3
Select one of the following: 3
Practicum in Physics Education - CUE
Senior Seminar in Physics - CUE, WR
Senior Thesis in Physics - WR, CUE
Cooperative Internship in Physics - CUE
Physics elective (300 level or above) 3
General elective 3
General elective 3
 Hours15
Spring
General Elective 3
Humanities or Social Science WR elective (300 level or above) 3
General elective 3
General elective 3
General elective 3
 Hours15
 Minimum Total Hours122-124

Track in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallHours
GEN 100
Student Success Center First Year Experience
or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience
1
ENGL 101 Introduction to College Writing - WC 3
MATH 205 Calculus I - QR 4
PHYS 298 Introductory Mechanics, Heat and Sound - S 4
PHYS 295 Introductory Laboratories I - SL 1
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences US Diversity - SBD1 3
 Hours16
Spring
MATH 206 Calculus II 4
PHYS 299 Introductory Electricity, Magnetism and Light 4
PHYS 296 Introductory Laboratories II - SL 1
ENGL 102 Intermediate College Writing - WC 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC 3
 Hours15
Year 2
Fall
MATH 301 Calculus III 4
PHYS 300 Introductory Modern Physics 3
PHYS 301 Introductory Modern Physics Laboratory 1
PHYS 350 Differential Equations for the Physical Sciences 4
CHEM 201 General Chemistry I - S 3
 Hours15
Spring
PHYS 351 Atomic and Nuclear Physics Laboratory 2
PHYS 460 Mechanics 3
CHEM 202 General Chemistry II - S 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH 3
General Elective 3
 Hours17
Year 3
Fall
PHYS 307 Introductory Stellar Astrophysics 3
PHYS 308 Observational Astronomy 1
PHYS 355 Optics 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities Global Diversity - AHD2 3
Humanities or Social Science WR Elective (300 level or above) 3
Foreign Language 1 3-4
 Hours16-17
Spring
PHYS 590 Astrophysics 3
PHYS 530 Thermal Physics 3
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
Foreign Language 2 3-4
 Hours15-16
Year 4
Fall
PHYS 541 Electromagnetic Fields 3
PHYS 555 Elementary Quantum Mechanics 3
Select one of the following: 3
Practicum in Physics Education - CUE
Senior Seminar in Physics - CUE, WR
Senior Thesis in Physics - WR, CUE
Cooperative Internship in Physics - CUE
General Elective 3
General Elective 2-3
 Hours14-15
Spring
Humanities or Social Science WR elective (300 level or above) 3
General Elective (300 level or above) 3
General Elective (300 level or above) 3
General Elective (300 level or above) 3
General Elective 1-2
 Hours13-14
 Minimum Total Hours121-125

Track in Atmospheric Physics 

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallHours
GEN 100
Student Success Center First Year Experience
or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience
1
ENGL 101 Introduction to College Writing - WC 3
MATH 205 Calculus I - QR 4
PHYS 220
Introduction to Weather and Climate - S
or Introduction to Weather and Climate - S
3
PHYS 298 Introductory Mechanics, Heat and Sound - S 4
PHYS 295 Introductory Laboratories I - SL 1
 Hours16
Spring
ENGL 102 Intermediate College Writing - WC 3
MATH 206 Calculus II 4
PHYS 299 Introductory Electricity, Magnetism and Light 4
PHYS 296 Introductory Laboratories II - SL 1
General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC 3
 Hours15
Year 2
Fall
CHEM 201 General Chemistry I - S 3
MATH 301 Calculus III 4
PHYS 300 Introductory Modern Physics 3
PHYS 301 Introductory Modern Physics Laboratory 1
PHYS 350 Differential Equations for the Physical Sciences 4
 Hours15
Spring
CHEM 202 General Chemistry II - S 3
PHYS 351 Atomic and Nuclear Physics Laboratory 2
PHYS 460 Mechanics 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences US Diversity - SBD1 3
 Hours17
Year 3
Fall
PHYS 363 Atmospheric Physics 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities Global Diversity - AHD2 3
Humanities or Social Science WR Elective (300 level or above) 3
Foreign Language 1 3-4
General Elective 3
 Hours15-16
Spring
PHYS 464 Atmospheric Dynamics 3
PHYS 530 Thermal Physics 3
Foreign Language 2 3-4
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Hours15-16
Year 4
Fall
PHYS 541 Electromagnetic Fields 3
PHYS 555 Elementary Quantum Mechanics 3
Select one of the following: 3
Physics of Climate
or General Elective
Select one of the following: 1-3
Practicum in Physics Education - CUE
or Senior Seminar in Physics - CUE, WR
or Senior Thesis in Physics - WR, CUE
or Cooperative Internship in Physics - CUE
General Elective 3
 Hours13-15
Spring
Select one of the following: 3
Space Weather
or General Elective
Humanities or Social Science WR elective (300 level or above) 3
General Elective (300 level or above) 3
General Elective (300 level or above) 3
General Elective (300 level or above) 3
 Hours15
 Minimum Total Hours121-125

Track in Professional Physics

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallHours
GEN 100
Student Success Center First Year Experience
or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience
1
ENGL 101 Introduction to College Writing - WC 3
MATH 205 Calculus I - QR 4
PHYS 298 Introductory Mechanics, Heat and Sound - S 4
PHYS 295 Introductory Laboratories I - SL 1
General Elective 3
 Hours16
Spring
MATH 206 Calculus II 4
PHYS 299 Introductory Electricity, Magnetism and Light 4
PHYS 296 Introductory Laboratories II - SL 1
CHEM 201 General Chemistry I - S 3
ENGL 102 Intermediate College Writing - WC 3
 Hours15
Year 2
Fall
MATH 301 Calculus III 4
PHYS 300 Introductory Modern Physics 3
PHYS 301 Introductory Modern Physics Laboratory 1
PHYS 350 Differential Equations for the Physical Sciences 4
CHEM 202 General Chemistry II - S 3
 Hours15
Spring
PHYS 351 Atomic and Nuclear Physics Laboratory 2
PHYS 460 Mechanics 3
Humanities or Social Science WR elective (300 level or above) 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences US Diversity - SBD1 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC 3
 Hours14
Year 3
Fall
PHYS 541 Electromagnetic Fields 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities Global Diversity - AHD2 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities - AH 3
Foreign Language 1 3-4
 Hours16
Spring
PHYS 530 Thermal Physics 3
PHYS 542 Electromagnetic Radiation 3
Foreign Language 2 3-4
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Hours15-16
Year 4
Fall
PHYS 498 Undergraduate Research - CUE 1-3
PHYS 555 Elementary Quantum Mechanics 3
Select one of the following: 3
Practicum in Physics Education - CUE
Senior Seminar in Physics - CUE, WR
Senior Thesis in Physics - WR, CUE
Cooperative Internship in Physics - CUE
Humanities or Social Science WR Elective (300 level or above) 3
General Elective (300 level or above) 3
 Hours15
Spring
PHYS 556 Quantum Theory of Matter 3
General Elective (300 level or above) 3
General Elective (300 level or above) 3
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Hours15
 Minimum Total Hours121-122

Track in Computational Physics and Data Science

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallHours
GEN 100
Student Success Center First Year Experience
or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience
1
ENGL 101 Introduction to College Writing - WC 3
MATH 205 Calculus I - QR 4
PHYS 298 Introductory Mechanics, Heat and Sound - S 4
PHYS 295 Introductory Laboratories I - SL 1
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral US Diversity - SBD1 3
 Hours16
Spring
MATH 206 Calculus II 4
PHYS 299 Introductory Electricity, Magnetism and Light 4
PHYS 296 Introductory Laboratories II - SL 1
CHEM 201 General Chemistry I - S 3
ENGL 102 Intermediate College Writing - WC 3
 Hours15
Year 2
Fall
MATH 301 Calculus III 4
PHYS 275 Introduction to Scientific Computing and Data Analysis 3
PHYS 300 Introductory Modern Physics 3
PHYS 301 Introductory Modern Physics Laboratory 1
PHYS 350 Differential Equations for the Physical Sciences 4
 Hours15
Spring
PHYS 351 Atomic and Nuclear Physics Laboratory 2
PHYS 460 Mechanics 3
CHEM 202 General Chemistry II - S 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH 3
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts and Humanities -AH 3
General Elective 3
 Hours17
Year 3
Fall
Select one of the following 3
Intermediate Scientific Computing and Data Analysis
or Introductory Computational Physics
General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities Global Diversity - AHD2 3
Humanities or Social Science WR Elective (300 level or above) 3
Foreign Language 1 4
General Elective 2
 Hours15
Spring
PHYS 475 Machine Learning in the Physical Sciences 3
PHYS 530 Thermal Physics 3
PHYS 565 Advanced Computational and Numerical Methods in Physics 3
Foreign Language 2 4
General Education: Oral Communication - OC 3
 Hours16
Year 4
Fall
PHYS 541 Electromagnetic Fields 3
PHYS 555 Elementary Quantum Mechanics 3
Select one of the following: 3
Practicum in Physics Education - CUE
or Senior Seminar in Physics - CUE, WR
or Senior Thesis in Physics - WR, CUE
or Cooperative Internship in Physics - CUE
General Elective 3
General Elective 3
 Hours15
Spring
Humanities or Social Science WR Elective (300 level or above) 3
General Elective (300 level or above) 3
General Elective (300 level or above) 3
General Elective (300 level or above) 3
 Hours12
 Minimum Total Hours121

The Flight Plan outlined above is intended to demonstrate one possible path to completing the degree within four years.  Course selection and placement within the program may vary depending on course offerings and schedule, elective preferences, and other factors (study abroad, internship availability, etc.). Please consult your advisor for additional information about building a flight plan that works for you.

Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan, and which requirements are still outstanding. Degree audits also take transfer credits and test credits into account. "What-if" reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan.  Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.

Flight Planner
The Flight Planner tool is available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan to graduation.  Advisors have access to review your Flight Planner and can help you adjust it to ensure you remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.

To create these reports:

  1. Log into your ULink account.
  2. Click on the Academic Progress tile.
  3. Select the appropriate report.
    1. To run a Degree Audit report, click on "View my Degree Audit."
    2. To create a What-if report, click on "Create a What-if Advisement Report."
    3. To run a Flight Planner report, click on "Use My Flight Planner."

Click here to run a Degree Audit report, create a What-if report, or run a Flight Planner report.