PHYSICS
Students who major in physics develop competency in using scientific methodology: in creating mathematical models of real-world systems, manipulating these models to obtain predictions of the system's behavior, and testing the model's predictions against the observed real-world behavior. Mechanical, electro- magnetic, thermodynamic, and atomic/molecular systems are among those with which students become familiar in the building and testing of theoretical models. Problem-solving and quantitative reasoning are among the skills which are developed.
For the B.A. DEGREE, students majoring in physics normally take the following courses:
- Fundamental Physics I and II
Modern Physics
Electronics Laboratory
Classical Mechanics
Electricity and Magnetism I and II
Quantum Physics I
Calculus I, II, and III
Differential Equations
Physics Comprehensive Exam
For the B.S. degree, additional courses required are:
- Quantum Physics II
Statistical Mechanics in Thermodynamics
A minor in physics requires the completion of five physics courses with a grade of C- or better, of which at least three are numbered above PH 242.
An example of a program of courses leading to a B.S. in physics:
FRESHMAN
- Calculus I and II
Fundamental Physics I and II
- Calculus III
Differential Equations
Modern Physics
Electronics Laboratory
- Electricity and Magnetism I and II
Classical Mechanics
- SENIOR
- Quantum Physics I and II
Statistical Mechanics in Thermodynamics
Linear Algebra (or other math elective)
Physics Comprehensive Exam
