2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog

Physics Comprehensive Major, 66-67 hours: B.S.—No Minor Required

CIP: 400801

The Physics degree program is split into a series of Emphases that allow students to optimize the content for their specific interests. All Emphases have the same Core component of Physics and Mathematics courses and then concentration areas associated with the emphasis. The General Physics emphasis is the standard physics degree program containing a broad base of Physics and Mathematics courses. Physics intersects with many other disciplines producing many academic and applied fields, including job prospects in the industrial sector.  The current emphases (Biology, Computer Science, and Geology) were developed with the respective disciplines to deliver the best conjunction between Physics and that subject. When beginning a program with the core courses, there is the flexibility to switch between emphases and even between majors, to give the student a wide range of choice in their prospective field of study.

Requirements

The Northwest Core (44-47 hours)

Institutional Requirements (4 hours)

Required Courses (33 hours)

BIOL 04106Principles of Biology *

3

BIOL 04107Principles of Biology Laboratory *

1

CHEM 24114General Chemistry I *

3

CHEM 24115General Chemistry I Laboratory *

1

MATH 17120Calculus I

4

PHYS 25120Fundamentals of Classical Physics I *

4

PHYS 25121Fundamentals of Classical Physics I Laboratory *

1

PHYS 25230Fundamentals of Classical Physics II

4

PHYS 25231Fundamentals of Classical Physics II Laboratory

1

PHYS 25350Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

3

PHYS 25352Modern Physics

3

PHYS 25450Computational Physics

3

 

PHYS 25489Physics Practicum

1 to 2

OR

PHYS 25499Special Investigations in Physics

1 to 3

OR

PHYS 25599Selected Advanced Topics

1 to 4

Note: PHYS 25489, PHYS 25499, and PHYS 25599 should be taken for 2 credits.

BIOL 04106, BIOL 04107, CHEM 24114, CHEM 24115 and MATH 17120 may fulfill a Northwest Core requirement as well as a requirement of the major, but the number of credit hours may be counted only once toward the total number of credit hours required for graduation.

Required Collateral Courses (15 hours)

MATH 17121Calculus II

5

MATH 17321Calculus III

4

MATH 17361Differential Equations

3

 

CSIS 44141Computer Programming I

3

OR

CSIS 44149Scientific Computing

3

Choose one of the emphases listed below

General Physics Emphasis (18 hours)

Required Courses (15 hours)

PHYS 25325Classical Mechanics I

3

PHYS 25326Classical Mechanics I Laboratory

1

PHYS 25330Electricity and Magnetism I

3

PHYS 25332Electronics

3

PHYS 25333Electronics Laboratory

1

PHYS 25420Advanced Physics Laboratory

1

PHYS 25479Undergraduate Research

1 to 3

PHYS 25420 should be taken for a total of 2 credits.

PHYS 25479 should be taken for a total of 2 credits.

Elective Courses (3 hours)

Choose 3 hours from the following courses:

PHYS 25360Quantum Mechanics

3

PHYS 25430Optics

3

Biological Science Emphasis (19 hours)

Required Courses (16 hours)

BIOL 04112General Botany

3

BIOL 04113General Botany Laboratory

1

BIOL 04114General Zoology

3

BIOL 04115General Zoology Laboratory

1

BIOL 04350Genetics

4

BIOL 04440Molecular Biology

4

Elective Courses (3 hours)

Choose 3 hours from the following courses:

BIOL 04511Techniques in Biotechnology

4

BIOL 04555Introduction to Bioinformatics

3

PHYS 25325Classical Mechanics I

3

PHYS 25326Classical Mechanics I Laboratory

1

PHYS 25330Electricity and Magnetism I

3

PHYS 25332Electronics

3

PHYS 25333Electronics Laboratory

1

PHYS 25360Quantum Mechanics

3

PHYS 25430Optics

3

Computer Science Emphasis (18 hours)

Required Courses (12 hours)

CSIS 44241Computer Programming II

3

CSIS 44242Data Structures

3

CSIS 44345Computer Organization

3

 

CSIS 44249Building Blocks of Theoretical Computer Science

3

OR

CSIS 44517Big Data

3

Elective Courses (6 hours)

Choose 6 hours from the following courses:

CSIS 44349A Survey of Algorithms

3

CSIS 44550Operating Systems

3

MATH 17114General Statistics *

3

MATH 17311Linear Algebra

3

MATH 17316Linear Statistical Models I

3

PHYS 25330Electricity and Magnetism I

3

PHYS 25332Electronics

3

PHYS 25333Electronics Laboratory

1

PHYS 25360Quantum Mechanics

3

PHYS 25430Optics

3

Geological Science Emphasis (19 hours)

Required Courses (16 hours)

GEOL 27110General Geology *

3

GEOL 27111General Geology Laboratory *

1

GEOL 27220Mineralogy

4

GEOL 27212Historical Geology

4

GEOL 27420Petrology

4

Elective Courses (3 hours)

Choose 3 hours from the following courses:

GEOL 27440Stratigraphy

4

GEOL 27530Sedimentology

4

GEOL 27335Physical Oceanography

3

GEOL 27340Introduction to Hydrogeology

3

GEOL 27510Geomorphology

3

PHYS 25325Classical Mechanics I

3

PHYS 25326Classical Mechanics I Laboratory

1

PHYS 25330Electricity and Magnetism I

3

PHYS 25360Quantum Mechanics

3

PHYS 25430Optics

3

Free electives as needed to reach minimum 120 graduation hours