The Physics Major & Minor
Degree Requirements for a
Bachelor of Science or Minor in Physics
Bachelor of Science in Physics:
GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS-10 units The student must complete the general education requirements for the College of Arts & Sciences.
II. MAJOR REQUIREMENTS-11 units
PHYS 141P/141Q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
PHYS 142P/142Q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
PHYS 243 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
PHYS 304 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
PHYS 312 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
PHYS 322 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
PHYS 332 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
PHYS 343 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
PHYS 380 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
PHYS 497 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
PHYS 498 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
PHYS 499 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
One lab course (numbered 250 or higher):
PHYS 252, 256, or 412 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
III. COLLATERAL REQUIREMENTS 3 units
MATH 141Q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
MATH 142Q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
MATH 243Q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
IV. ELECTIVES
Units to total a minimum of 32.
Minor in Physics:
I. DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS
PHYS 141P/141Q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
PHYS 142P/142Q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
PHYS 243 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
PHYS 380 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
2 PHYS course units numbered 250 or higher . . .2
II. COLLATERAL REQUIREMENTS
MATH 141Q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
MATH 142Q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
The Physics Major's Handbook is a starting point for the advising sessions you will have with your academic advisor. It maps out various paths through the major, depending upon your interests and career goals.
PHYSICS DEPARTMENT COURSE OFFERINGS:
PHYS 111P/111Q The Solar System (1 course unit).
An introduction to astronomy that highlights the observational foundations for modern theories. Topics include motions of celestial objects, eclipses, historical development, the nature of light, telescopes, properties and evolution of the solar system. Mathematics (computations and basic algebra) is used extensively throughout the course in problem sets, laboratories and exams; the relevant mathematical techniques are reviewed and practiced to aid students who lack confidence in their mathematical skills. Weekly labs emphasize the important role of observation and measurement in improving understanding and validating theories. No prerequisites. Offered every other year.
PHYS 112P/112Q Stars, Galaxies and Cosmology (1 course unit).
An introduction to astronomy that highlights the observational foundations for modern theories. Topics include the Sun, stellar properties, stellar evolution including black holes and neutron stars, the Milky Way, galactic evolution, and the structure, history and future of the universe. Mathematics (computations and basic algebra) is used extensively throughout the course in problem sets, laboratories and exams; the relevant mathematical techniques are reviewed and practiced to aid students who lack confidence in their mathematical skills. Weekly labs emphasize the important role of observation and measurement in improving understanding and validating theories. No prerequisites. Offered every other year.
PHYS 114P/114Q The Science of Music (1 course unit).
An introduction to the physics of sound and music. Topics covered include the production, propagation, and reception of sound (physical acoustics), and the physics of musical instruments (musical acoustics).Mathematics (computations and very basic algebra) is used extensively throughout the course in problem sets, laboratories and exams; the relevant mathematical techniques are carefully reviewed and practiced to aid students who lack confidence in their mathematical skills. Three lectures and one laboratory per week. No prerequisites.
PHYS 121P/121Q, 122P/122Q College Physics (1 course unit each).
An introduction to the broad fields of physics: mechanics, heat, wave motion, optics, electromagnetism and modern physics. Three lectures and one laboratory per week. High school algebra is used extensively. Prerequisite for PHYS 122: PHYS 121.
PHYS 141P/141Q University Physics I (1 course unit).
Calculus-based introductory physics for physics, pre-engineering, mathematics and other science majors. Topics include mechanics, waves, sound and heat. Four lectures and one laboratory per week. Corequisite: MATH 141, or MATH 131 with permission of instructor.
PHYS 142P/142Q University Physics II (1 course unit).
This is the second course in the calculus-based introductory sequence for physics. Topics include electrostatic and magnetostatic fields, dc and ac circuits, electromagnetic radiation, and optics. Four lectures and one laboratory per week. Prerequisite: PHYS 141; Corequisite:MATH 142 or permission of instructor.
PHYS 243 Modern Physics (1 course unit).
This course is the third and final course in the introductory sequence of courses. It introduces the fields of physics that were first developed in the twentieth century, and that continue to evolve today. Topics include special relativity, the quantum theory of light, the structure of the atom, elementary wave mechanics, the properties of nuclei, and the properties of elementary particles. Three lectures and one lab per week Prerequisite: PHYS 142. Corequisites:MATH 243 or permission of instructor, and PHYS 380.
PHYS 252 Optics (1 course unit).
This course covers basic optical theory, examining both geometric optics (the ray model) and physical optics (wave theory).Many of the optical phenomena and instruments discussed in the lectures are examined in the laboratory. Topics include thin lenses, thick lenses via matrix methods, optical instruments, interference and interferometers, polarization, diffraction, lasers, holography, Fourier optics, and non-linear optics. Prerequisite: PHYS 142.
PHYS 256 Electronics (1 course unit).
This is an introductory course in laboratory electronics covering both analog and digital circuits. Many of the circuits discussed in the lectures are built and tested in the laboratory. Topics include ac circuits, transistor circuits, amplifiers, and linear and digital integrated circuits. Prerequisite: PHYS 142.
PHYS 304 MathematicalMethods in Physics (1 course unit).
This course introduces the mathematical tools that are required for many of the upper-level physics courses. The course emphasizes recognizing the equations that appear repeatedly in many different areas of physics and understanding their solutions. Topics include ordinary differential equations of first and second order, series solution of differential equations, vector analysis, Fourier series, partial differential equations, boundary value problems, Laplace and Fourier transforms, calculus of variations, and functions of a complex variable. Five lectures per week. Prerequisite: MATH 243.
PHYS 312 Laboratory Techniques (1 course unit).
A study of experimental techniques and apparatus. Topics include an introduction to laboratory software, statistical analysis of data, error analysis, cryogenics, vacuum techniques, radiation safety and detection, and signal processing. One lecture and two laboratory periods per week. Prerequisite: PHYS 243. Corequisite: PHYS
380.
PHYS 322 Mechanics I (1 course unit).
This course revisits the Newtonian mechanics learned in University Physics, but it harnesses more sophisticated mathematical tools that allow a much richer set of physical problems and phenomena to be studied. Topics include Newton's laws, dynamics of particles, statics of rigid bodies, noninertial reference frames, and gravitation and central forces. Prerequisite: PHYS 141. Corequisites: PHYS 304 or permission of then instructor, and PHYS 380.
PHYS 332 Electricity and Magnetism (1 course unit).
This course further develops the basic principles of electricity and magnetism introduced in University Physics by harnessing symmetry arguments and vector calculus for derivations and problem solving. Topics include electric fields and potentials, capacitance and dielectrics, magnetic flux and magnetic materials, and electromagnetic induction. Prerequisites: PHYS 142 and PHYS 304 or permission of instructor. Corequisite: PHYS 380.
PHYS 343 Quantum Mechanics I (1 course unit).
This course revisits the wave mechanics that was introduced in Modern Physics, but it examines the theory more thoroughly and applies it to much more sophisticated problems. Topics include the Schrödinger equation, infinite and finite steps, barriers and wells, harmonic oscillators, and the hydrogen atom. Prerequisites: PHYS 243 and PHYS 304. Corequisite: PHYS 380.
PHYS 362 Thermophysics (1 course unit).
This is an introductory course in hermodynamics and statistical mechanics. The topics that are studied include: heat transfer, general gas laws, equations of state, phase diagrams, the laws of thermodynamics, engines, refrigerators, entropy, Maxwell's thermodynamic relations, microcanonical, canonical and grand canonical ensembles, and statistical distribution laws. Prerequisites: PHYS 243 and PHYS 304 or permission of instructor. Corequisite: PHYS 380.
PHYS 380 Physics Colloquium (0 course units) (Pass/Fail only).
Physics Colloquium is a corequisite for many physics courses numbered 200 or higher. Physics majors should register for it every semester even if they happen to not be in one of the courses explicitly requiring it as a corequisite. The class will meet once a week and will be the venue for most student presentations assigned as a part of other physics courses. Other activities may include presentations given by faculty or visiting speakers, or discussions of current events that are of interest to the physics community.
PHYS 385, 485 Independent Study (0.5 or 1 course units).
Study of selected topics or laboratory research under the guidance of a professor.
PHYS 390 Special Topics in Physics (1 course unit).
Topics determined by student interest and the availability of staff. Examples include: computational physics, digital electronics, and physical acoustics. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.
PHYS 412 Advanced Laboratory Techniques (1 course unit).
This is a continuation of PHYS 312 intended for students who are interested in pursuing graduate study in physics or a career working in the laboratory. One lecture and two three-hour laboratory periods per week. Prerequisite: PHYS 312 or permission of instructor. Corequisite: PHYS 380.
PHYS 422 Mechanics II (1 course unit).
This is a continuation of Mechanics I. Topics include the mechanics of continuous media, dynamics of rigid bodies, and an introduction to the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of mechanics. Prerequisite: PHYS 322. Corequisite: PHYS 380.
PHYS 432 Electromagnetic Theory (1 course unit).
This is a continuation of Electricity and Magnetism which includes a more sophisticated look at electrostatics and magnetostatics using more advanced problem solving techniques. It then examines the behavior of electromagnetic waves arising from Maxwell's equations. The course concludes with a brief introduction to relativistic electromagnetism. Prerequisite: PHYS 332. Corequisite: PHYS 380.
PHYS 443 Quantum Mechanics II (1 course unit).
The concepts of quantum mechanics are reexamined using the Dirac formalism, which is used for essentially all advanced work in quantum mechanics. The Dirac formalism is introduced and applied to simple systems. Approximation techniques (time independent and time dependent perturbation theory, the variational principle, and WKB approximation) are applied to more complex systems. Nuclear scattering theory via the Born approximation is also discussed. Prerequisite: PHYS 343. Corequisite: PHYS 380.
PHYS 490 Special Topics in Physics (1 course unit).
Topics determined by student interest and the availability of staff. Examples include: atomic, nuclear and particle physics, solid state physics, astrophysics, and general relativity. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
PHYS 497 Senior Project Proposal (0 course units) (Pass/Fail only).
Students are matched with a faculty mentor, and then guided through the process of developing, writing, and orally presenting a proposal for their senior project. The work done in this class will be part of the portfolio that is assigned a letter grade at the end of Senior Seminar (PHYS 499). Corequisite: PHYS 380.
PHYS 498 Senior Project Research (1 course unit).
Students perform the laboratory work for their senior project. The class will meet once a week to discuss progress, plans, and any difficulties that have arisen. Prerequisite: PHYS497. Corequisite: PHYS 380.
PHYS 499 Senior Project (1 course unit).
Students report the results of their senior project in a number of formats including a poster, a short conference talk, and a 40-minute oral presentation and defense. The grade received at the end of this class will evaluate the portfolio of work accumulated in both this course and Senior Project Proposal (PHYS 497). Prerequisite: PHYS 498. Corequisite: PHYS 380.