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  Nov 22, 2009
 
 
    
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Physics (BS)


Physicists study the world around us in order to discover the basic principles or laws which govern the natural world. As a physicist you can:

  • Seek to understand the origin of the universe and the ultimate structure of matter;
  • Study the principles underlying the structure of materials in order to design faster computer chips or improved liquid crystals used for electronic displays;
  • Work in hands-on lab courses studying laser-based optics, learn electronic instrumentation for the physical sciences including the computer acquisition and analysis of data, and use modern lab equipment such as the electron spin resonance spectrometer which can detect the radiation from individual atoms;
  • Acquire the theoretical and experimental background for work in areas such as acoustics, astrophysics, biophysics, chemical physics, computer science, education mathematical physics, and engineering.

Developments in science and technology move very fast and a degree in Physics provides you with the fundamental tools, which you will need in order to attack the scientific and technological problems of this millennium.

An undergraduate degree in Physics gives students a broad, deep, rigorous understanding to solve many types of quantitative problems, a skill which is useful to many different careers in computers, engineering, finance, etc. With the rapid and unpredictable pace and direction of technological advance, training in physics gives the undergraduate their most important skill, namely the ability to think clearly and rigorously about a technical problem which may arise in the workplace.

PhysicsFact Sheet
Physics Viewbook

Requirements for the Major - Credits: 57


Degree Completion in Four Years Physics (BS)


Completion Hours: 120

Sophomore Year - Total Hours: 30


  • Liberal Studies - Credits: 16

Junior Year - Total Hours: 30


  • PHYS Electives - Credits: 6
  • Liberal Studies - Credits: 9

Senior Year - Total Hours: 30


  • Liberal Studies - Credits: 19

BS Physics - Computational Physics Track


Computational Physics combines physics, computer science and applied mathematics in order to provide scientific solutions to realistic and complex problems. Physicists have very precise mathematical theories describing how physical systems will behave. Unfortunately, very often the theory’s equations are so complex that solving them analytically is not realistic. This is where the computational physicists come in. With the use of computers, they perform these complex calculations that cannot be done using the traditional techniques.

College-Wide Requirements - 12 Hours


Degree Completion in Four Years - Computational Physics Track


Semester I


Semester II


Semester IV


Semester V


Semester VI


Semester VII


  • PHYS 411 - Modern Physics Credits: 4
  • Liberal Studies Course Credits / Units: 3

  • Liberal Studies Course Credits / Units: 3

  • Free Elective or Liberal Studies Course Credits / Units: 3

  • Comp. Physics Research Credits / Units: 1

Semester VIII