Engineering Physics, B.S./B.A.

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The Engineering Physics program (54-55 hours) is a program designed to provide students with a solid foundation and technical skills desirable for success in applied physics and engineering fields. It is an interdisciplinary program with several tracks for students. The tracks are:

The Computational Physics track leans heavily on math and computer skills for students in the fast growing field of computational physics ranging from gaming to simulations in areas such as material science, biomedical engineering, and modeling.
The Material Science and Applied Physics track for those students who wish to work in industry or pursue advanced study in an applied physics field or the interdisciplinary field of material science.
The Pre-Engineering track is for those students who may wish to pursue engineering related work in graduate school.

All tracks involve multiple courses from other areas designed to give our students a solid foundation for them to pursue their goals.

BELL Core Requirements: 53 Hours (minimum)

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Students with Physics as a first major should take CSM 4015 Capstone as part of their BELL Core requirements unless a different BELL Core Senior Capstone is required for a second major.

Technical Requirements

Technical requirements are support courses that may be needed as prerequisites for some courses within the major or to ensure thorough understanding of the content of the major. They may count towards the BELL Core Requirements , the requirements for a second major of minor, or they may count as free electives.

PHY 1610 Calculus-Based Physics I 4 Hours
or
PHY 1110 Precalculus-Based Physics I 3 Hours and
PHY 1115 Precalculus-based Physics I Laboratory 1 Hours
or
PHY 1140 Introduction to Physics 3 Hours and
PHY 1145 Introduction to Physics Laboratory 1 Hours
CEM 1510 General Chemistry I 3 Hours and
CEM 1515 General Chemistry I Lab 1 Hours
MTH 1210 Calculus I 4 Hours
MTH 1220 Calculus II 4 Hours

One additional lab science from the following options:

CEM 1520 General Chemistry II 3 Hours and
CEM 1525 General Chemistry II Lab 1 Hours
or
BIO 1150 Principles of Biology I Lecture 3 Hours and
BIO 1155 Principles of Biology I Lab 1 Hours
or
PSY 1200 Introduction to Psychological Science 4 Hours

Major Requirements: 54-55 Hours

Additional Physics Courses: 7 Hours

At least 3 hours of PHY electives from 2200-level or higher, up to 3 hours of electives credit may be in the form on independent studies and/or research with approval by the chair.

PHY 2250 Electronics and Circuit Theory 4 Hours

Mathematics and Computer Science Requirements: 10 Hours

Career Track Electives: 12-13 Hours

Students should choose a career or application track below:

Computational Physics Track:

CSC 1120 Programming II 3 Hours

Plus 9 hours selected from the following:

MTH 2250 Discrete Mathematics 3 Hours
or
CSC 2250 Discrete Mathematics 3 Hours
MTH 4150 Numerical Methods 3 Hours
MTH 4170 Modeling and Simulation 3 Hours
PHY 4410 Survey of Advanced Physics 3 Hours

Material Science and Applied Physics Track:

Two PHY electives above 2000-level 6 Hours
CEM 3410 Quantitative Analysis 4 Hours
One elective outside of physics that is relevant to the student’s career interest. Elective must be approved by the chair. 3 Hours

Pre-Engineering Track:

In consultation with the department’s undergraduate curriculum committee, the student should choose 12 hours of elective to help meet prerequisites of an engineering or other career field.

General Electives: 21 Hours (minimum)

Total Required for the Program: 128 Hours

No minor is required for the Engineering Physics Major.