Physics and Astronomy
Faculty
Professors: Blaisten-Barojas, Dworzecka, Ehrlich, Ellsworth, Kafatos, Lankford,
Lieb (Chair), Trefil (Robinson Professor)
Associate Professors: Becker, Ceperley, Evans, Satija
Assistant Professors: McIntyre, Wallin
Visiting Assistant Professor: Kowalski, Oerter
Visiting Instructor: Ewell
Course Work
The Physics and Astronomy Department offers all course work designated ASTR
and PHYS in the Course Descriptions section of this
catalog.
Undergraduate Programs
B.S. Degree with a Major in Physics
In addition to general requirements for a B.S. degree, candidates must complete
45 credits in the major and 20 credits in mathematics, divided as follows:
- A 33-hour core in physics, including PHYS 250, 251, 303, 305, 306 or 307, 350,
351, 352, 353, 361, 402, 407, and 416 (may be taken for credit twice). The remaining
12 credits must include at least 5 credits of physics and be elected from the following
list or approved in advance by the Physics and Astronomy Department: PHYS 306, 307,
328, 408, 417, 428, 510, 511, 512, 513, 540, 542, 575; ASTR 530, 532, 535; ECE 301,
333, 430, 431, 433, 442, 460; MATH 446 and 447; CHEM 331; CS 112.
- The following mathematics courses: the two-year calculus sequence--MATH 113,
114, 213, and 214; MATH 313 and 314.
The requirements for the B.S. in Physics prepare students for graduate school
or for one of the many careers in business or industry where physics graduates are
employed. In meeting the requirement for 12 credits outside the core, students have
the option of electing an area of concentration. The courses required for each concentration
are listed below. Students who wish to complete a concentration should plan a program
of study in consultation with their adviser.
Graduate School Preparatory Concentration
Although any of the options listed here provide the successful student with a fully
adequate background to enter graduate school, this concentration is for the student
whose career goals definitely include graduate school in physics. To complete this
concentration, the student should take at least nine credits from the following courses:
PHYS 510, 512, 540, and ASTR 530. In addition, the student should complete a senior
project (PHYS 408) in the specialty that they intend to pursue in graduate school.
Computational Physics Concentration
This concentration is for the student who wishes to pursue a career that applies
computers to the solution of physical problems and data analysis. To complete this
concentration, the student should take at least nine credits from the following courses:
PHYS 510, ECE 442, MATH 446 and 447. In addition, the student should complete a senior
project (PHYS 408) on a problem that involves the use of the computer for the solution
of a physical problem.
Astrophysics Concentration
This concentration is for the student who is planning to attend graduate school in
astrophysics or pursue a career in industry. To complete this concentration, the
student should select four courses from the following: PHYS 428, ASTR 328, 530, 532,
535, and MATH 446. In addition, the student should complete a senior project (PHYS
408) on an astrophysics problem.
Electronics Concentration
This concentration is for the student who wishes to pursue a career in industry applying
a strong background in electronics to physical problems. To complete this concentration,
the student should take at least nine credits from the following courses: ECE 301,
333, 430, 431, and 433. In addition, the student should complete a senior project
(PHYS 408) on an electronics problem.
Applied Solid State Physics Concentration
This concentration is for the student who wishes to pursue a career in the semiconductor
industry. To complete this concentration, the student should take the following courses:
PHYS 512, ECE 430, and ECE 431. In addition, the student should complete a senior
project (PHYS 408) in applied solid state physics.
B.A. Degree with a Major in Physics
In addition to the general requirements for a B.A. degree, candidates must complete
31 credits in the major and 17 credits of mathematics. The following physics courses
are required: PHYS 250, 303, 305, 350, 351, 352, 353, 361, and 416.
Writing-Intensive
The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated ìwriting
intensiveî in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students majoring in
physics may fulfill this requirement by successfully completing PHYS 416.
Teacher Licensure (Certification)
Students who want to become elementary, middle, or secondary school teachers should
consult the sections on licensure (certification) found in the catalog under the
Graduate School of Education. Those planning to become secondary school teachers
should consult with the secondary education adviser in their department.
Minor in Physics
A minor in physics requires 18 credits, including PHYS 250, 350, 351, 352, and
353 and any two courses from PHYS 303, 306, 307, 361, 402, 428, and 305 or 513.
Minor in Astronomy
A minor in astronomy requires the completion of a physics prerequisite and 15
credits in astronomy. The prerequisite consists of one of the two sequences PHYS
343, 344, 345, 346; or PHYS 250, 350, 351, 352, 353. Following the introductory physics
sequence, students are required to take ASTR 111, 112, 113, 114; PHYS 416; and two
astronomy courses chosen from ASTR 228, 328, 428, and 530.
Physics for Majors
Students who intend to major in physics should take the physics introductory sequence
(PHYS 250, 350, 351, 352, 353). However, students who decide to major in physics
after completing PHYS 343 and 345 may do so, but only with written permission of
the Physics and Astronomy Department. Such students are required to take at least
five additional credits in approved physics courses.
Physics for Nonmajors
PHYS 343, 344, 345, and 346 are recommended for biology, chemistry, geology, and
premedical students and for mathematics majors who seek a bachelor of arts degree.
PHYS 106 and 107 are also recommended for biology majors. PHYS 101, 102, 103, 104,
and 201 are intended for nonscience majors. PHYS 250, 350, 351 or 355, 352, and 353
are a calculus-based sequence in general physics to be taken by physics and engineering
majors and chemistry, computer science, and mathematics students who pursue a bachelor
of science degree. Students may receive credit for only one of the following three
sequences: 343, 344, 345, 346; or 103, 104; or 250, 350, 351, 352, 353.
Graduate Program
Applied and Engineering Physics, M.S.
The Master of Science in Applied and Engineering Physics contains both elements
of traditional physics programs and the application of physics to a diversity of
critical societal problems. The program is divided into two tracks. The applied physics
track is intended for those who wish to apply the techniques and subject areas of
physics to multifaceted problems encountered in the workplace, particularly in physics,
engineering, computational science, and other related areas. The engineering physics
track, jointly administered with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering,
allows students to select a larger fraction of courses from electrical engineering.
All courses are offered during late afternoon or evening hours to allow students
with full-time employment to attend easily. Persons employed at area high-technology
organizations may take up to 6 credits (out of 30) for work done ìon the jobî
under the guidance of a faculty member. This employment-related research may be conducted
either under an optional three-credit research project or an optional six-credit
master's thesis. Master's students who are not employed full time may apply for financial
aid or for a limited number of research assistantships.
Admission Requirements
Those holding a baccalaureate degree in physics or a related field from an accredited
institution and who earned a GPA of 2.750 (out of 4.000) in their last 60 credits
are invited to apply for admission. If the baccalaureate degree is in a field other
than physics, the applicant should have taken several courses beyond the introductory
physics courses, such as junior-level classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism,
or electronics. An applicant may be required to make up one or two deficiencies,
based on a graduate physics adviser's assessment, and still be permitted to enroll
in the program. Two letters of recommendation must be submitted, preferably from
former professors. The general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and the GRE subject
test in physics are recommended for applicants who received their baccalaureate degrees
within the last five years. A less recent Bachelor's recipient may wish to present
a statement of his/her work experience in lieu of the GRE.
Degree Requirements
Candidates for the degree must successfully complete 30 credits as follows:
- For both tracks of the program, a nine-credit core consisting of PHYS 510, 513,
and 732 or 736.
- For the applied physics track, any three of the following courses: PHYS 512,
533, 540, 575, 612, 613, 620, 676, 701, 705, 711, 722, 728, 732, and 736; ASTR 530,
761, 764, 765, and 766.
- For the engineering physics track, PHYS 533 and any six credits in electrical
engineering (ECE) courses.
- Electives amounting to 12 credits may be chosen from courses in physics, chemistry,
mathematics, engineering, information technology, and computational sciences and
informatics. However, no more than six credits may be chosen from areas outside PHYS,
ASTR, CSI, and ECE. No more than six credits of PHYS 799 may be applied to satisfy
degree requirements.
- Credit may be received for either ECE/PHYS 798 Research Project (three credits)
or ECE/PHYS 799 Master's Thesis (six credits), but not both. The research project
may be performed at a student's place of employment with the concurrence of a faculty
adviser. The thesis is a more substantial piece of work performed under the supervision
of a major professor and requires the student to make an oral defense. ECE/PHYS 798
may be taken only once.
Concentrations in Computational Physics or Space
Sciences in the Computational Sciences and Informatics, Ph.D.
Concentrations in computational physics or space sciences exist as part of the
doctoral program in computational sciences and informatics (see Institute for Computational
Sciences and Informatics chapter for degree and admission requirements).
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