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2008–2010 Undergraduate Catalog

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Physics

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics provides opportunities for careers in several professional fields. It is not recommended for students planning to pursue graduate studies in physics or related fields.

The minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree, including the Core Curriculum requirements, is 120. Thirty-nine of the total semester credit hours required for the degree must be at the upper-division level.

All majors in physics are required to complete all required and elective physics courses with a grade of “C” or better.

All candidates seeking this degree must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements and the degree requirements, which are listed below.

Core Curriculum requirements: Students seeking the Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics must fulfill University Core Curriculum requirements in the same manner as other students. The courses listed in the table below satisfy both degree requirements and Core Curriculum requirements; however, if these courses are taken to satisfy both requirements, then students will need to take additional courses in order to meet the minimum number of semester credit hours required for this degree. For a complete listing of courses that satisfy the Core Curriculum requirements see pages 5–9 of this catalog.

Degree Requirements

1. 33 semester credit hours of physics and astronomy courses:
   
   
   1. 30 semester credit hours of required courses completed with a grade of “C” or better:
      
      

      PHY 1943, 1951	Physics for Scientists I and Laboratory
      PHY 1963, 1971	Physics for Scientists II and Laboratory
      PHY 1983, 1991	Physics for Scientists III and Laboratory
      PHY 3103	Modern Physics
      PHY 3203	Classical Mechanics I
      PHY 3293	Thermal Physics
      PHY 3343	Advanced Physics Laboratory
      PHY 3423	Electricity and Magnetism
      PHY 3823	Mathematical Physics I

      
      
   2. 3 additional semester credit hours selected from the following:
      
      

      AST 3003	Introduction to Astrophysics
      PHY 3143	Computer Visualization of Physics
      PHY 3313	Solid State Physics
      PHY 3443	Modern Optics
      PHY 4013	Relativity: Special and General
      PHY 4033	Cosmology
      PHY 4133	Numerical Methods for Physicists
      PHY 4263	Quantum Mechanics I

      
      
2. 54 semester credit hours required in the College of Sciences:
   
   
   1. 21 semester credit hours of required courses (excluding physics):
      
      

      CHE 1103	General Chemistry I
      CHE 1113	General Chemistry II
      CHE 1132	General Chemistry II Laboratory
      CS 1073	Introductory Computer Programming for Scientific Applications
      MAT 1214	Calculus I
      MAT 1223	Calculus II
      MAT 2213	Calculus III

      
      
   2. 33 additional approved semester credit hours from the College of Sciences including 18 upper-division hours

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