Department of Physics & Astronomy

For information regarding the GRADUATE PROGRAM, click here.  

The Department of Physics & Astronomy offers master’s degrees for medical physics studies. For additional information, see the section, “The Graduate School ” in this catalog.

The undergraduate degree in physics provides rigorous training in problem solving, critical thinking, mathematical and computational skills, and experimental technique. The degree prepares the student for careers not only in physics, but other areas of science and engineering, as well as professional programs such as medicine and law.

Students majoring in physics pick from one of five concentrations:  physics, astronomy, medical physics, second discipline and secondary education (GEAUX TEACH). The introductory sequence for majors is PHYS 1201 , PHYS 1202 , and PHYS 2203 , plus the accompanying lab courses PHYS 1208 , PHYS 1209 , and PHYS 2207 . Students may use the 9 hours of PHYS 2110 , PHYS 2112 , PHYS 2113  to substitute for the 8 hours of PHYS 1201  and PHYS 1202 . Students also take 3 semesters of calculus, plus differential equations and linear algebra. 

Advanced training in physics consists of courses in computational physics, PHYS 2411 , instrumentation electronics, PHYS 3098  and a series of courses that go into greater depth over the same material covered in the introductory sequence.This common core of courses consists of mathematical methods and mechanics, PHYS 2221 , electromagnetism, PHYS 2231  and PHYS 4132 , and thermodynamics, PHYS 4125 . Although not all concentrations require them, students who are contemplating graduate study in physics, astronomy, or engineering should take advanced mechanics, PHYS 4123  and quantum mechanics, PHYS 4141 . PHYS 4125  and PHYS 4132  are optional for students in the secondary education concentration, but are strongly recommended as the required physics electives for that concentration. All undergraduate majors are encouraged to participate in one of the many research groups in the department and can receive academic credit towards their degree by doing so.

Students majoring in physics may complete the minor in Nuclear Science, provided that they take at least 9 hours of the classes listed for the minor in addition to any being used to complete their physics major.

Prerequisites • All prerequisites in physics courses should be rigidly observed.
Corequisites • A student may not continue in a course after dropping a corequisite course prior to the last day of the midsemester examination period.

Programs

• Physics, B.S.

• Nuclear Science Minor
• Physics Minor