Physics

Chair: Associate Professor S. Amanuel
Faculty:  Professors R. Koopmann, S. Maleki, M. Vineyard (on Leave, Fall); Associate Professor C. Orzel, N. Mann, H. Watson; Assistant Professor C. Bores Quijano; Senior Lecturer S. LaBrake, J. Marr, F. Wilkin; Visiting Assistant Professor C. Gleason
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  , and AST 058  . 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 150 (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 above 100 have prerequisites. Please review the course descriptions 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

Physics Courses

Common Curriculum 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. They may not be counted toward the major in physics or toward any other science or engineering major, but may count toward an interdepartmental major (see requirements for Physics, B.S.).

• PHY 010 - Physics and Astronomy Seminar
• PHY 100 - Exploring Physics & Astronomy
• 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 Two-Term Senior Thesis 1
• PHY 491 - Physics Two-Term Senior Thesis 2
• PHY 492 - Physics Senior Thesis 3
• PHY 493 - Physics Senior Writing Project
• PHY 495 - Physics Independent Study 1
• PHY 496 - Physics Independent Study 2
• PHY 497 - Physics Independent Study 3
• PHY 498 - Physics Independent Study 4