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    Physics B.S. programs

    The B.S. program in Physics has concentrations in Pure Physics, Applied Physics, Astrophysics, and Computational Physics. All four of these provide good preparation for graduate study in physics or another field of science or engineering, and for those seeking immediate employment. As well as acquiring science knowledge, physics majors also develop both analytical thinking and practical skills that are an excellent foundation for a wide variety of careers, both within and beyond the traditional STEM fields. Below are brief descriptions of our four concentrations, together with their programs of study.

    Pure Physics (PPHY)

    The Pure Physics concentration provides a rigorous preparation for graduate study in any area of physics or a closely related discipline. To this end, students in this concentration take additional PHYS courses and also automatically earn a minor in Mathematics.

    • Program of Study for Pure Physics Concentration (PPHY)

      First Year Fall Spring
      Total:  15 15
      ENGL 1010-1020 English Composition I, II 3 3
      PHYS 1137 Frontiers of Physics 1  
      MATH 1910-1920 Calculus I-II 4 4
      CHEM 1110 General Chemistry I 4  
      PHYS 2110 Calculus-based Physics I w/Lab   4
      CSC 1300 Intro to Prob. Solving and Programming   4
      Humanities/Fine Arts   3  
       Total:  15 14
      Second Year Fall Spring
      ENGL 2130/2235/2330 Literature 3  
      MATH 2110 Calculus III 4  
      MATH 2120 Differential Equations   3
      PHYS 2120 Calculus-based Physics II w/Lab 4  
      PHYS 3020 Modern Physics   3
      PHYS 3021 Modern Physics Lab   1
      PHYS 3060 Mathematical Techniques in Physics   4
      CSC 1310 Data Structures & Algorithms 4  
      PC 2500 Communicating in the Professions   3
       Total:  15 15
      Third Year Fall Spring
      PHYS 3610 Classical Mechanics 3  
      PHYS 4610-4620 Classical Elec. and Magnetism I - II 3 3
      PHYS 3120 Statistical Thermal Physics   3
      PHYS 3810 Quantum Mechanics I   3
      MATH 3470 Intro. Prob. and Statistics 3  
      MATH 3810 Complex Variables   3
      Humanities/Fine Arts   3  
      Social/Behavioral Sciences     3
      Free Electives   3  
       Total:  15 16
      Fourth Year Fall Spring
      PHYS 4710 Advanced Experimental Physics 4  
      PHYS 3820 Quantum Mechanics II 3  
      PHYS 4130 Computational Phys.   3
      PHYS 4750 Scientific Proposal Writing 2  
      PHYS 4760 Senior Thesis   3
      HIST 2010-2020 American History I-II 3 3
      Social/Behavioral Sciences   3  
      Free Electives     7

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    Applied Physics Concentration (PHAP)

    While still providing a firm foundation in Physics, this concentration allows students to explore broader interests by incorporating a minor in another scientific or engineering field, or an interdisciplinary program tailored to student interest.

    • Program of Study for Applied Physics Concentration (PHAP)

       Total:  15 15
       First Year Fall Spring
      ENGL 1010-1020 English Composition I, II 3 3
      PHYS 1137 Frontiers of Physics 1  
      MATH 1910-1920 Calculus I-II 4 4
      CHEM 1110 General Chemistry I 4  
      PHYS 2110 Calculus-based Physics I w/Lab   4
      Humanities/Fine Arts   3  
      CSC 1300 Intro Prob Solving and Programming   4
      Total:  15 14
      Second Year Fall Spring
      ENGL 2130/2235/2330 Literature 3  
      MATH 2110 Calculus III 4  
      MATH 2120 Differential Equations   3
      PHYS 2120 Calculus-based Physics II w/Lab 4  
      PHYS 3020 Topics in Modern Physics   3
      PHYS 3021 Modern Physics Lab   1
      PHYS 2920 Mathematical Techniques in Physics   4
      CSC 1310 Data Structures and Algorithms 4  
      PC 2500 Communicating in the Professions   3
      Total:  15 15
      Third Year Fall Spring
      PHYS 3610 Classical Mechanics 3  
      PHYS 4610-4620 Classical Elec. and Magnetism I 3  
      PHYS 3120 Statistical Thermal Physics   3
      PHYS 3810 Quantum Mechanics I   3
      MATH 3470 Intro. Prob. and Statistics 3  
      Science/Engineering2   3 6
      Humanities/Fine Arts   3  
      Social/Behavioral Sciences     3
      Total:  16 15
      Fourth Year Fall Spring
      PHYS 4711 Advanced Experimental Physics 2  
      Physics Elective1   3 3
      Science/Engineering2   3 3
      HIST 2010-2020 American History I-II 3 3
      Social/Behavioral Sciences   3  
      Free Electives3   2 6
      • 1Students choose two PHYS electives from the following:
        • PHYS 3820 - Quantum Mechanics II (3)
        • PHYS 4130, - Computational Physics (3)
        • PHYS 4620, - Elec. & Mag. II (3)
        • PHYS 4760 - Senior Thesis (3)
      • 2Students minor in a Technical Field or agreed interdisciplinary program (15 cr. hrs) which includes at least 6 cr. hrs. of upper division. The minor may be in any of the Natural Science disciplines offered in the College of Arts and Sciences (except Physics or Math), or any of the disciplines in the College of Engineering.
      • 3Students can complete a minor in Mathematics by taking one other 3000 or 4000 level MATH course as an elective.

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    Astrophysics Concentration (APHY)

    For those who want to learn how the principles of physics are applied to understand the formation and evolution of planets, stars, galaxies, and the universe as a whole. (Includes an Astronomy minor.)

    • Program of Study for Astrophysics Concentration (APHY)
      Total: 15 15
      First Year Fall Spring
      ENGL 1010 - 1020 English Composition I, II 3 3
      PHYS 1137 Frontiers of Physics 1  
      MATH 1910 - 1920 Calculus I, II 4 4
      CHEM 1110 General Chemistry I 4  
      PHYS 2110 Calculus-based Physics I w/Lab   4
      PC 2500 Communicating in the Profs. 3  
      CSC 1300 Intro to Problem Solving and Programming   4
      Total: 15 15
      Second Year Fall Spring
      ENGL 2130 or ENGL 2235 or ENGL 2330 Literature 3  
      MATH 2110 Calculus III 4  
      MATH 2120 Differential Equations   3
      PHYS 2120 Calculus-based Physics II w/Lab 4  
      PHYS 3020 Topics in Modern Physics   3
      PHYS 3021 Modern Physics Lab   1
      PHYS 3060 Mathematical Techniques in Physics   4
      CSC 1310 Data Structures and Algorithms 4  
      ASTR 10201 Introduction to Astronomy II   4
      Total: 16 15
      Third Year Fall Spring
      PHYS 3610 Classical Mechanics 3  
      PHYS 3120 Statistical Thermal Physics   3
      PHYS 4610 Classical Elec. & Mag. I 3  
      PHYS 3810 Quantum Mechanics I   3
      ASTR 10101 Introduction to Astronomy I 4  
      MATH 3470 Intro to Prob. and Stats. 3  
      GEOL 33101 Planetary Geology   3
      Humanities/Fine Arts   3 3
      Social/Behavioral Sciences     3
      Total: 15 14
      Fourth Year Fall Spring
      ASTR 31001 Observational Astronomy 4  
      ASTR 4320 Stellar Astrophysics 3  
      ASTR 4310 Introduction to Cosmology   3
      ASTR 4760 Senior Thesis   3
      HIST 2010 - 2020 American History I, II 3 3
      Social/Behavioral Sciences   3  
      Free Electives2   2 5
      • 1These four courses together comprise a minor in Astronomy.
      • 2Students can complete a minor in Mathematics by taking one other 3000 or 4000 level MATH course as an elective.

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    Computational Physics Concentration (CPHY)

    This concentration Includes selected courses in computer science that prepare the student to work in the rapidly expanding field of applying computational techniques in physics. (Includes a Computer Science minor.) 

    • Program of Study for Computational Physics Concentration (CPHY)
      Total: 15 15
      First Year Fall Spring
      ENGL 1010 - 1020 English Composition I, II 3 3
      PHYS 1137 Frontiers of Physics 1  
      MATH 1910 - 1920 Calculus I, II 4 4
      CHEM 1110 General Chemistry I 4  
      PHYS 2110 Calculus-based Physics I w/Lab   4
      PC 2500 Communicating in the Professions 3  
      CSC 1300 Intro to Problem Solving and Programming   4
      Total: 15 14
      Second Year Fall Spring
      ENGL 2130 or ENGL 2235 or ENGL 2330 Literature 3  
      MATH 2110 Calculus III 4  
      PHYS 2120 Calculus-based Physics II w/Lab 4  
      MATH 2120 Differential Equations   3
      PHYS 3020 Topics in Modern Physics   3
      PHYS 3021 Modern Physics Lab.   1
      PHYS 3060 Mathematical Techniques in Physics   4
      CSC 1310 Data Structures and Algorithms 4  
      CSC 2220 Data Science and AI for Everyone   3
      Total: 15 15
      Third Year Fall Spring
      PHYS 3610 Classical Mechanics 3  
      PHYS 3120 Statistical Thermal Physics   3
      PHYS 4610  Classical Elec. & Mag, I 3  
      PHYS 3810 Quantum Mechanics I   3
      MATH 3470 Intro to Prob. & Stats. 3  
      CSC 2770 Intro. to Systems and Networking   3
      CSC 3220 Fundamentals of Data Science 3  
      CSC 2400 Design of Algorithms   3
      Humanities/FIne Arts   3  
      Social/Behavioral Sciences     3
      Total: 14 17
      Fourth Year Fall Spring
      PHYS 4711 Adv. Experimental Physics 2  
      PHYS 4130 Computational Physics   3
      CSC Elective Sequence1   3 3
      HIST 2010 - 2020 American History I, II 3 3
      CSC/PHYS Elective2     3
      Social/Behavioral Sciences   3  
      Humanities/Fine Arts     3
      Free Electives   3 2
      • 1Students choose one of the following sequences: 
        • CSC 2520 (Intro to DevOps with Unix) and CSC 4760 (Parallel Programming)
        • CSC 2700 (Discrete Structures for CSC) and CSC 3300 (Database Management Systems)
      • 2Students choose from either CSC 3020 (Numerical Methods) or PHYS 4760 (Senior Thesis)

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