Physics, B.A.

Requirements

A minimum of 14 course credits, which include:

• CSC 140 - Foundations of Computer Science (1)
• EGR 270 - Electronic Instrumentation (1)
• MAT 120 - Calculus of a Single Variable Part II (1) OR MAT 121 - Calculus of a Single Variable (1)  
• MAT 122 - Calculus of Several Variables (1)
• MAT 221 - Linear Algebra (1)
• MAT 236 - Differential Equations (1)
• PHY 161 - General Physics I (1)
• PHY 162 - General Physics II (1)
• PHY 263 - Laboratory Physics (1)
• PHY 265 - Modern Physics (1)
• PHY 312 - Advanced Experimental Physics (1)
• Three additional course credits in Physics at or above the 300 level, for a minimum of 14 courses

Teaching Certification:

Students who are interested in pursuing K-12 certification to teach science should seek admission to the Teacher Education Program. See the Education  department section for application and certification information.

Capstone:

Physics majors conduct individual experimental projects of their own design in small groups during the advanced lab course. Following the advanced lab, students will conduct a literature search on the background of their experiment in more depth and then write an individualized paper, with emphasis on their particular contribution to the project. The paper must be submitted to their capstone advisor no later than two blocks after the start of the advanced lab. The student will revise the paper until it is accepted by the department. If it appears that the student is making insufficient progress towards the completion of the individual paper, then the student and Registrar will be notified that the student is in danger of not completing the major requirements. Once the paper is approved, students are then required to present their findings in a public presentation. If the presentation is judged unacceptable, then the student will have the opportunity to give another presentation privately to the department.

The Physics curriculum facilitates a wide range of interests from professional to cultural; graduate work in physics, astronomy, geophysics, medicine, meteorology, environmental engineering, business administration, law, health physics, and computer science. B.S.S. candidates and students contemplating an individualized major in the physical sciences are invited to discuss possible curricula with the Department.

Note:

PHY 116 , PHY 121 , PHY 123 , and PHY 125  have no formal prerequisites; PHY 141  and PHY 142  ask only reasonable facility in algebra and trigonometry.