Physics, B.A.

Oral Communication Requirement:

To satisfy the oral communication requirement for the B.A. or B.S. degree in Physics a student must successfully complete PHY 495 or any other approved oral intensive course (see list here).

Applied Learning Requirement:

To satisfy the applied learning requirement for the B.A. or B.S. degree in Physics a student must successfully complete one of the following: directed individual study in any scientific discipline; departmental honors in any science department; PHY 493 , PHY 495 .

Requirements for a Major in Physics for the B.A. Degree:

Option 1 - General Physics

Core requirements plus:

PHY 225 - Electronics
PHY 260 - Introduction to Astronomy
PHY 321 - Classical Dynamics I
Plus six hours of physics course electives at the 300-400 level.

Total: 50 hours

Option 2 - Environmental Physics

Core requirements plus:

PHY 107 - Introduction to Climate Physics
GGY 321 - Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
EVS 195 - Introduction to Environmental Sciences
EVSL 195 - Environmental Sciences Lab
Plus six hours of electives at the 300-400 level in either physics, environmental sciences, engineering, or mathematics.

Total: 48-51 hours

Option 3 - Physical Oceanography

Core requirements plus:

MAT 335 - Linear Algebra and Matrices
MAT 361 - Differential Equations
PHY 321 - Classical Dynamics I
PHY 350 - Fluid Mechanics
PHY 470 - Data Analysis
PHY 475 - Physical Oceanography
Plus nine hours of electives in physics, math, engineering, oceanography, geology, biology, or chemistry at the 300-400 level.

Total: 62 hours

Option 4 - Engineering Physics

Core requirements plus:

PHY 225 - Electronics
PHY 414 - Engineering Physics I
PHY 417 - Engineering Physics II
Plus six hours of electives at the 300-400 level in either Physics, Engineering or Mathematics.

Total: 49 hours

Option 5 - Computational Physics

Core requirements plus:

PHY 215 - Introduction to Computing in the Physical Sciences
PHY 315 - Computational Physics and Complexity
PHY 470 - Data Analysis
Plus nine hours of electives at the 300-400 level in either physics, computer science, engineering, chemistry, statistics, or mathematics.

Total: 50 hours

Additional Information:

Students must attain a grade point average of “C” (2.00) or better computed over all the courses used to fulfill the requirements of the major and a grade of “C-” or better for each PHY course used to fulfill the requirements of the major.