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
- Waves and Relativity
- Physical Chemistry II Interpretive
- Electronics Laboratory
- Sophomore Seminar
- Classical Mechanics Interpretive*
- Electricity and Magnetism I Interpretive*
- Electricity and Magnetism II Interpretive*
- Quantum Physics II Interpretive*
- Calculus I
- Calculus II
- Calculus III
- Differential Equations
- 3 semesters of Junior/Senior Seminar
- Physics Comprehensive Exam
*One of the four interpretive courses must be taken as investigative
For the B.S. degree, additional courses required are:
- Quantum Physics II Interpretive*
- Statistical Mechanics Interpretive*
*Two of the six interpretive courses must be taken as investigative
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:
First Year
- Calculus I and II
- Fundamental Physics I and II
Sophomore Year
- Calculus III
- Differential Equations
- Electronics Laboratory
- Statistical Mechanics Interpretive
- Sophomore Seminar
Junior Year
- Waves and Relativity
- Electricity and Magnetism I and II Interpretive
- Classical Mechanics Investigative
- Physics Seminar
Senior Year
- Quantum Physics I Investigative
- Quantum Physics II Interpretive
- Physics Seminar
- Physics Comprehensive Exam
