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Majors
Physics BA Program Course of Study
2.5 years of physics courses are required for a bachelor's degree. Additional elective courses are recommended for a well rounded knowledge of physics. Recommended minors are computer science, chemistry or mathematics. (Minors consist of 12 credits.) Most other minors are acceptable. Students wishing to continue for a doctoral degree in Physics should complete the accelerated BA/MA program.
Total (Minimum) Credits for a BA in Physics: 26
Note: Not all courses are offered every semester. See our Course Rotation chart for more information.
Level One of Program:
- PHYS 111: Introductory Physics, Part I with Calculus (includes lab), 5.5 credits, Mechanics, Heat and Sound [Pre-requisite: MATH150 (Calculus I)]
- PHYS 121: Introductory Physics, Part II with Calculus (includes lab), 5.5 credits, Electricity, Magnetism, Optics, Atomic and Nuclear Physics
Level Two of Program:
These courses may be taken in any order. This part of the sequence takes three semesters.
Lecture Courses:
(Pre-requisites: PHYS 111, PHYS 121 and MATH 250)
- PHYS 221: Electronics, 4 cr.
- PHYS 330: Atomic & Nuclear Physics, 4 cr.
- PHYS 334: Electricity and Magnetism, 4 cr.
- PHYS 335: Intermediate Mechanics, 4 cr.
Laboratory Courses:
(Pre-requisites: PHYS 111 and PHYS 121)
- PHYS 230: Classical Physics Lab, 2 cr.
- PHYS 235: Modern Physics Lab, 2 cr.
- PHYS 222: Electronics Lab, 2 cr.
- Each of these lab courses may be substituted by PHYS 385 Numerical Method I, 3 cr. or PHYS 485 Numerical Methods II, 3 cr.
Additional Mathematics and Chemistry Requirements:
- One year of high school or college-level chemistry
- Calculus I, II and III, as well as MATH 254 (Mathematics for Scientists)
Recommended Elective Courses:
- PHYS 425: Quantum Theory
- PHYS 401: Theoretical Physics
- PHYS 342: Optics
- PHYS 336: Statistical and Thermal Physics
- PHYS 385: Numerical Methods I
- PHYS 445: Solid State
- PHYS 415: Electricity/Magnetism (Level II)
- PHYS 424: Plasma Physics
NOTE: Most of these courses also have 600 level designations. If a student registers for the above as a 600 level course, then up to 6 credits may be used toward the 30 credit masters degree in the accelerated BA/MA program.