Physics

Chair: Professor R. Koopmann
Faculty: Professors S. Maleki, M. Vineyard; Associate Professors S. Amanuel, C. Orzel; Assistant Professors N. Mann, J. Wagner, H. Watson; Senior Lecturer S. LaBrake, J. Marr, F. Wilkin
Staff: J. Sheehan (Technician), L. Stec (Administrative Assistant)

The Physics and Astronomy Department offers a bachelor of science degree in Physics as well as minors in Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Physics. Example 4-year schedules are available on the Department of Physics & Astronomy website. The Physics and Astronomy Department offers a bachelor of science degree in Physics as well as minors in Astronomy , Astrophysics , and Physics .

Common Curriculum (CC) Courses
Courses numbered in the 050’s are designed particularly for non-science majors seeking to satisfy Common Curriculum requirements, and all of these courses carry Common Curriculum credit. These courses may count toward the major in astronomy or the interdepartmental major (see requirements for the Astronomy  major and  Astronomy  ID major), but they may not be counted toward the major in physics or toward any other science or engineering major.

Course Selection Guidelines

Placement: Students who score a grade of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement C-exam (mechanics and/or electromagnetics), an A on the physics A-levels, a 5 or above on the Higher Level or a 6 or above on the standard exam of the International Baccalaureate (provided they earn the IB diploma), may be given credit for up to a maximum of two courses (PHY 120   and/or PHY 121   ). If a student does not earn the IB diploma, they will be given credit only if they pass the higher level exam with a grade of 6 or above.  Students who score a grade of 4 or 5 on both the Physics 1 and Physics 2 AP exams will earn one SET credit in Physics.

Courses Suitable for Non-Majors: The following courses are designed to fulfill the Science and Technology Common Curriculum requirement (some of these courses have labs and some do not): AST 050   , AST 051   , AST 052   , AST 058   , PHY 051   , PHY 053   , and PHY 054   . Life-science students should take PHY 110   -PHY 111   . Engineering and physical-science students should take PHY 120   -PHY 121   . Other courses suitable for selected non-majors include AST 100   , AST 105   , AST 200   , AST 210   , AST 220   , AST 230   , AST 240   , PHY 122   , PHY 123   , PHY 200   and PHY 210   .

Prerequisites: There are no placement test requirements for courses in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. All courses numbered 100 or above have prerequisites. Please review the course descriptions below to identify the requirements.

Programs

• Physics, B.S.

• Physics (ID), B.S.

• Physics Minor

Courses

• IMP 120 - Integrated Math/Physics
• IMP 121 - Integrated Math/Physics
• PHY 051 - Seeing the Light: Concepts of Vision
• PHY 053 - Physics and Politics
• PHY 054 - Laser Technology and Modern Optics
• PHY 100 - First-Year Seminar
• PHY 110 - Physics for the Life Sciences 1
• PHY 111 - Physics for the Life Sciences 2
• PHY 120 - Matter in Motion
• PHY 121 - Principles of Electromagnetics
• PHY 122 - Relativity, Quantum, and Their Applications
• PHY 123 - Heat and Light
• PHY 200 - Molecular Biophysics
• PHY 210 - The Physics of Modern Medicine: Applications in Imaging, Surgery and Therapy
• PHY 220 - Relativity and Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
• PHY 230 - Intermediate Classical Mechanics
• PHY 270 - Intermediate Electromagnetism
• PHY 295H - Physics Honors Independent Project 1
• PHY 296H - Physics Honors Independent Project 2
• PHY 300 - Methods of Modern Experimental Physics
• PHY 310 - Advanced Topics in Physics 1
• PHY 311 - Advanced Topics in Physics 2
• PHY 312 - Advanced Topics in Physics 3
• PHY 350 - Advanced Quantum Mechanics
• PHY 490 - Physics Research 1
• PHY 491 - Physics Research 2
• PHY 492 - Physics Research 3
• PHY 493 - Physics 1 Term Research
• PHY 495 - Physics Independent Study 1
• PHY 496 - Physics Independent Study 2
• PHY 497 - Physics Independent Study 3
• PHY 498 - Physics Independent Study 4