PHYSICS AND ENGINEERING
Typical Sequence of Classes for Students
Pursuing Dual-Degrees: Physics and Engineering
The Dual-Degree Program (one of several options for pursuing a career in engineering) allows students to earn bachelor of science (BS) degrees from both Stetson and an engineering school. In this program, students spend three years at Stetson completing the requirements for a physics major, and then transfer to an accredited engineering school where they are usually able to complete the engineering degree in two years. Upon receiving the engineering degree, they are awarded the BS in physics from Stetson. Students are free to complete the dual-degree at any accredited engineering school.
Completing the requirements for the physics major (including the general education requirements) in three years takes careful planning, so if a student is considering the dual-degree option, they should notify their advisor and the pre-engineering advisor (Dr. Kevin Riggs - [email protected]) as soon as possible in their first year (during FOCUS orientation is best). Students should also consult catalogs from the engineering schools they are interested in to ensure that the courses selected to fulfill general education requirements for the Stetson degree also fulfill the general education requirements for the engineering degree.
Students should also see the carefully consider what additional physics electives engineering schools may require. Some engineering programs require the following courses:
CHEM 141P - General Chemistry I
CHEM 142P - General Chemistry II
MATH 321 - Ordinary Differential Equations
(Many, but not all, schools will allow PHYS 304 in place of this course.)
BIOL 141P - Introduction to Biology I
Students should consult the catalogs for the engineering schools they are interested in to see what they require.
The sequence of classes listed below roughly outlines the physics classes that a physics major pursuing a dual-degree should take. Courses show in bold font are generally offered every year, and those shown in italics are generally offered in alternate years.
Note: Students who are not ready to take Calculus I their first semester at Stetson may substitute MATH 130 / MATH 131Q for MATH 141Q and can refer to the Fall, Spring, and Summer after First Year sequencing here, but they need to take Calculus II (MATH 142P) over the summer between their first and sophomore years and return to this sequencing for their sophomore and junior years, should they wish to complete the BS in physics portion of their dual-degrees in just three years at Stetson.
FALL OF FIRST YEAR
PHYS 141P - University Physics I - 1 unit
MATH 141Q - Calculus I with Analytic Geometry - 1 unit
FSEM - First Year Seminar - 1 unit
ENGL 101 (or other appropriate Writing course as indicated by the Writing Placement criteria) or a General Education course - 1 unit
SPRING OF FIRST YEAR
PHYS 142P - University Physics II - 1 unit
MATH 142Q - Calculus II with Analytic Geometry - 1 unit
ENGL 101 (or other appropriate Writing course as indicated by the Writing Placement criteria) or a General Education course - 1 unit
General Education course - 1 unit
FALL OF SOPHOMORE YEAR
PHYS 342 - Modern Physics - 1 unit
PHYS 380 - Physics Colloquium - non-credit
MATH 243Q - Calculus III with Analytic Geometry - 1 unit
Physics Elective: PHYS 352 - Optics or PHYS 356 - Electronics - 1 unit
General Education course - 1 unit
SPRING OF SOPHOMORE YEAR
PHYS 304 - Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences - 1 unit
PHYS 312 - Laboratory Techniques - 1 unit
PHYS 322 - Mechanics I - 1 unit
PHYS 497 - Senior Project Proposal - 1/2 unit
PHYS 380 - Physics Colloquium - non-credit
General Education course - 1 unit
FALL OF JUNIOR YEAR
PHYS 332 - Electricity & Magnetism - 1 unit
PHYS 343 - Quantum Mechanics I - 1 unit
PHYS 498 - Senior Project - 1 unit
PHYS 380 - Physics Colloquium - non-credit
Physics Elective: PHYS 352 - Optics or PHYS 356 - Electronics - 1 unit
or JSEM - Junior Seminar
or General Education Course
Note: Students should verify on their degree audit that they have met all their General Education course requirements before considering them completed on this checklist.
SPRING OF JUNIOR YEAR
PHYS 499 - Senior Seminar - 1/2 unit
PHYS 380 - Physics Colloquium - non-credit
JSEM - Junior Seminar
or General Education or Elective course - 1 unit
General Education or Elective course - 1 unit
General Education or Elective course - 1 unit
Elective course - 1 unit
The elective courses may include either one or more of the following physics courses or other courses:
PHYS 362 - Thermophysics
PHYS 412 - Advanced Laboratory Techniques
PHYS 422 - Mechanics II
PHYS 432 - Electromagnetic Theory
PHYS 443 - Quantum Mechanics II
REMAINING CREDITS TO BE EARNED AT ANY ACCREDITED ENGINEERING SCHOOL.