Bachelor of Science in Physics - Business Option
The School of Physics offers two undergraduate degrees, the Bachelor of Science in Physics and the Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics. The basis of the Bachelor of Science in Physics degree is the traditional preparation of a student for graduate study in physics.
Each of the baccalaureate programs contains the following:
- courses needed to meet general institutional degree requirements;
- a core of technical courses intended to give a strong background in mathematics and the physical principles of mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, and the quantum theory that governs physical phenomena at the microscopic level of molecules, atoms, and nuclei;
- technical electives that enable the student to explore areas of their choice in greater depth;
- courses involving undergraduate research, and
- free electives, about fifteen percent of the total hours, which may be employed to schedule additional technical or nontechnical courses.
The considerable flexibility inherent in the physics curricula is advantageous to students who wish to work out individual programs of study. At the same time, this flexibility suggests the need for consultation with advisors so students can make the best use of elective hours and avoid scheduling difficulties that may arise in later semesters. Students may utilize their elective freedom in the physics curricula to specialize in particular areas of physics, to prepare for careers in interdisciplinary areas of science, to compose a preprofessional program, or to gain a background in other technical or nontechnical disciplines. Students should contact their academic advisor for assistance in planning programs of study with emphasis directed toward a particular objective. Since some students who earn a degree in physics have transferred from other disciplines, the School has planned its degree programs to enable most students to transfer into physics with little or no loss of credit.
A total of 120 credit hours (exclusive of wellness) and a grade-point average of at least 2.0 in physics courses numbered 3000 and higher are requisites for the bachelor's degree in physics.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Wellness | ||
| APPH 1040 | Scientific Foundations of Health | 2 |
| or APPH 1050 | The Science of Physical Activity and Health | |
| Core A - Essential Skills | ||
| ENGL 1101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| ENGL 1102 | English Composition II | 3 |
| MATH 1552 | Integral Calculus | 4 |
| Core B - Institutional Options | ||
| CS 1301 | Introduction to Computing | 3 |
| or CS 1371 | Computing for Engineers | |
| Core C - Humanities | ||
| Any HUM | 6 | |
| Core D - Science, Math, & Technology | ||
| PHYS 2211 | Introductory Physics I 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 2212 | Introductory Physics II 6 | 4 |
| MATH 1551 | Differential Calculus | 2 |
| MATH 1553 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 2 |
| or MATH 1554 | Linear Algebra | |
| or MATH 1564 | Linear Algebra with Abstract Vector Spaces | |
| Core E - Social Sciences | ||
| Choose one of the following: | 3 | |
| The United States to 1877 | ||
| The United States since 1877 | ||
| American Government in Comparative Perspective | ||
| Government of the United States | ||
| American Constitutional Issues | ||
| ECON 2106 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| Any SS | 6 | |
| Core F - Courses Related to Major | ||
| MATH 2551 | Multivariable Calculus | 4 |
| MATH 2552 | Differential Equations | 4 |
| CHEM 1310 | General Chemistry | 4 |
| or CHEM 1211K | Chemical Principles I | |
| PHYS 2213 | Introduction to Modern Physics | 3 |
| PHYS 3201 | Classical Mechanics I | 3 |
| Upper-Level Physics | ||
| PHYS 3122 | Electrostatics and Magnetostatics | 3 |
| PHYS 3123 | Electrodynamics | 3 |
| PHYS 3141 | Thermodynamics | 3 |
| PHYS 3143 | Quantum Mechanics I | 3 |
| PHYS 4142 | Statistical Mechanics | 3 |
| PHYS 4143 | Quantum Mechanics II | 3 |
| PHYS 4321 | Advanced Laboratory I | 3 |
| PHYS 4601 | Senior Seminar I | 1 |
| PHYS 4602 | Senior Seminar II | 1 |
| Physics or Technical Electives | ||
| Any PHYS or Technical Electives 2, 3,4,5 | 17 | |
| Business Option | ||
| ACCT 2101 | Accounting I: Financial Accounting | 3 |
| or MGT 3000 | Accounting for Decision Making | |
| MGT 3101 | Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| or MGT 3150 | Principles of Management | |
| or PSYC 2220 | Industrial/Organizational Psychology | |
| Choose one of the following: | 6 | |
| Financial Management | ||
| Finance and Investments | ||
| Marketing Management I | ||
| International Business | ||
| Advanced Managerial Accounting | ||
| Financial Reporting and Analysis I | ||
| Financial Analysis and Reporting of Technology Firms | ||
| International Accounting | ||
| Strategic Quality Management and Competitiveness | ||
| The Entrepreneurship Forum | ||
| Impact Speaker Series Forum | ||
| Servant Leadership, Values & Systems | ||
| Social Enterprise and Entrepreneurship | ||
| Personal Selling and Sales Management | ||
| Strategic Brand Management | ||
| Strategic Marketing | ||
| International Marketing | ||
| Law, Management, and Economics | ||
| Entrepreneurship | ||
| Free Electives | ||
| Free Electives | 7 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 122 | |
Student must have 2.0 in all PHYS classes 3000-level or higher
| 1 | If PHYS 2231 is taken, extra hour goes toward Free Electives |
| 2 | Any PHYS course or BIOL 4478, CHEM 3411, CHEM 3412, CHEM 3511, EAS 2750, EAS 4300, EAS 4430, ECE 4501, MATH 2106, MATH 3215, MATH 3235, MATH 4320, MATH 4347 MATH 4348, MATH 4581, NRE 3301, NRE 4610 |
| 3 | |
| 4 | Maximum of six credit hours below 3000-level |
| 5 | |
| 6 | If PHYS 2232 is taken, extra hour goes toward Free Electives |
Research Option in Physics
The Research Option is intended for students who seek a concentrated research experience, culminating in an undergraduate thesis, integrated into their undergraduate studies in Physics. The purpose of this program is to prepare students who plan to go on to graduate research after their BS degree. This option includes three or four semesters of focused research in the student’s junior and senior years. Students who complete this option receive a designation on their transcript. For an undergraduate to fulfill the Research Option in the School of Physics, the student must fulfill the following requirements:
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PHYS 4698 | Undergraduate Research Assistantship 1 | 9 |
| or PHYS 4699 | Undergraduate Research | |
| LMC 4701 | Undergraduate Research Proposal Writing 2 | 1 |
| LMC 4702 | Undergraduate Research Thesis Writing 3 | 1 |
| Research Thesis 4 | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 11 | |
| 1 | At least three credits must be PHYS 4699. |
| 2 | LMC 4701: Undergraduate Research Proposal Writing -typically taken during the first or second semester of research. LMC 4702: Undergraduate Research Thesis Writing -taken during the term in which the thesis is completed. |
| 3 | Write and submit an undergraduate research thesis to the School of Physics based on the student’s research that is approved by the student’s research advisor. |
