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Undergraduate Catalog

2012 - 2013

BS in Applied Physics
(58–62 hours*)

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Program Requirements    |    View MAP

  1. No more than 3 hours of D credit is allowed in major courses.

  2. Consult with a faculty advisor as early as possible to choose electives.

  3. Complete the following:

  4. Complete one course from the following:

  5. After gaining department chair's approval of courses selected to define an option, complete an additional 12 hours of electives (cannot include any courses already taken above). These 12 hours must consist of a coherent set of upper-division courses with an identified educational goal. Nine hours must be upper division (300-level or above); three hours must be 200-level or above.

  6. Complete one of the following options:

  7. Complete one course from the following:

  8. Complete a capstone project or senior thesis, including the following:
    1. Choose a research mentor and group as early as possible, starting with information in Phscs 191 and 291, and discussions with faculty, your advisor, and the capstone project coordinator or senior thesis coordinator. It is best to start as a freshman or sophomore. Interdisciplinary work in other departments or in internships is possible.
    2. Complete 2 hours of one of the following

  • Note 1: Students planning careers in experimental, applied, or industrial physics should complete STAT 201.

  • Note 2: Students planning careers in computational physics should, through courses or individual study, learn programming skills and numerical methods beyond what you are taught in our computational physics courses. Consider the following: CS 142, MATH 410, ME EN 373.

Sample Elective Courses

There is great flexibility in choosing elective courses. As soon as possible, meet with the assistant chair to define an emphasis and choose 12 credit hours of electives that meet career goals. The tracks below are only suggested. Students are free to design their own tracks or modify those below.

    Acoustics:
      PHSCS 461 : Introduction to Acoustics. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      PHSCS 461 : Introduction to Acoustics. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Fall
      PREREQUISITE: PHSCS 121 & PHSCS 123; Math 303 or 334 or equivalent.
      RECOMMENDED: Concurrent enrollment in Phscs 318 or equivalent.
      DESCRIPTION: Mathematical descriptions of physical phenomena in generation, propagation, and reception of acoustic waves. Fundamental acoustical instrumentation and analysis techniques. Application of physical principles and mathematical models to realistic problems.

      Course Outcomes


        And choose from among:
          EC EN 380 : Signals and Systems. (4:3:3)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          EC EN 380 : Signals and Systems. (4:3:3)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          WHEN TAUGHT:Fall; Winter; Spring
          PREREQUISITE: EC EN 212 & MATH 334
          DESCRIPTION: Time and frequency domain analysis of discrete or continuous systems subjected to periodic or nonperiodic input signals.

          Course Outcomes


          EC EN 487 : Introduction to Discrete-Time Signal Processing. (4:3:3)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          EC EN 487 : Introduction to Discrete-Time Signal Processing. (4:3:3)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          WHEN TAUGHT:Winter
          PREREQUISITE: EC EN 370 & EC EN 380
          DESCRIPTION: Digital signal processing, fast Fourier transforms, digital filter design, spectrum analysis. Applications in speech processing, SONAR, communications, etc.

          Course Outcomes


          ME EN 312 : Fluid Mechanics. (3:3:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          ME EN 312 : Fluid Mechanics. (3:3:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          WHEN TAUGHT:Fall; Winter; Summer
          PREREQUISITE: ME EN 321 & ME EN 363; MeEn 373 or concurrent enrollment
          DESCRIPTION: Physics and modeling of fluid flow; fluid statics, dimensional analysis, momentum, internal and external viscous flow, compressible flow, and fluid machinery.

          Course Outcomes


          ME EN 335 : Dynamic System Modeling and Analysis. (3:3:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          ME EN 335 : Dynamic System Modeling and Analysis. (3:3:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          WHEN TAUGHT:Fall; Winter; Summer
          PREREQUISITE: MATH 303 & ME EN 363 & ME EN 373 & CE EN 204; or MATH 334 & ME EN 363 & ME EN 373 & CE EN 204
          DESCRIPTION: Formulating mathematical models for mechanical, electrical, fluid, and combined systems; numerical solution of motion equations; first- and second-order systems, frequency response, and transfer functions.

          Course Outcomes


          ME EN 363 : Elementary Instrumentation. (3:3:1.5)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          ME EN 363 : Elementary Instrumentation. (3:3:1.5)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
          WHEN TAUGHT:Fall; Winter; Spring
          PREREQUISITE: MATH 303 & EC EN 301; or MATH 334 & EC EN 301; Engl 316 or concurrent enrollment.
          DESCRIPTION: Fundamentals of mechanical measuring systems; sensors, signal conditioning, statistical error analysis, dynamic response, standards.

          Course Outcomes


    Aerospace Engineering (preparation for graduate school in engineering):

      CE EN 103 : Engineering Mechanics--Statics. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      CE EN 103 : Engineering Mechanics--Statics. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Fall; Winter; Spring
      PREREQUISITE: Math 112; or 111 and 119; or concurrent enrollment.
      DESCRIPTION: Concepts of mechanics: force systems in equilibrium, resultants, friction, centroids, utilization of vector algebra, simple trusses, shear and bending moment diagrams, moments of inertia.

      Course Outcomes


      CE EN 203 : Engineering Mechanics--Mechanics of Materials. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      CE EN 203 : Engineering Mechanics--Mechanics of Materials. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Fall; Winter; Summer
      PREREQUISITE: CE EN 103
      DESCRIPTION: Fundamental concepts of elastic stress and strain, including transformations and stress-strain relations; beam/column theories (axial, flexure, torsion, and shear loads and deformations); shear and bending moment relationships; column stability; and cylindrical and spherical pressure vessels.

      Course Outcomes


      ME EN 415 : Applied Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      ME EN 415 : Applied Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Spring
      PREREQUISITE: ME EN 312
      DESCRIPTION: Modern applied aerodynamics, including performance, stability, and control of aerospace vehicles.

      Course Outcomes



      Consider capstone project with engineering research group.

    Biophysics:

      Biology
      Biochemistry
      PDBIO 568 : Cellular Electrophysiology and Biophysics. (3:2:3)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      PDBIO 568 : Cellular Electrophysiology and Biophysics. (3:2:3)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Fall
      PREREQUISITE: PDBio 362, Phscs 140, 220; or instructor's consent.
      DESCRIPTION: Using electrophysiology and biophysics as an approach to study of physiology. Extensive look at ion channels and cell signaling.

      Course Outcomes


    Computer Science / Computer Engineering / Scientific Computing:

      Courses in computer programming, information technology, networks, numerical analysis (math), computer engineering that fit career goals.

    Electrical Engineering (graduate school preparation):

    Materials Science (graduate school preparation):

    Microelectronics/Semiconductor Devices:

      CHEM 105 : General College Chemistry. (4:5:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      CHEM 105 : General College Chemistry. (4:5:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Fall; Winter; Spring; Summer
      PREREQUISITE: Math 110 (or equivalent) or concurrent enrollment.
      DESCRIPTION: Atomic and molecular structure including bonding and periodic properties of the elements; reaction energetics, electrochemistry, acids and bases, inorganic and organic chemistry.
      NOTE: Primarily for students in engineering and biological sciences. Three lectures and two recitation sections per week.

      Course Outcomes


      PHSCS 281 : Principles of Solid State Physics. (3:3:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      PHSCS 281 : Principles of Solid State Physics. (3:3:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Fall
      PREREQUISITE: PHSCS 121 & PHSCS 220
      DESCRIPTION: Introduction to physics of solids, including laboratory experience.
      NOTE: For students in science, computer science, technology, and engineering.

      Course Outcomes


        or
        PHSCS 581 : Solid-State Physics. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
        PHSCS 581 : Solid-State Physics. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
        WHEN TAUGHT:Winter
        PREREQUISITE: Phscs 222 or equivalent.
        DESCRIPTION: Introduction to the physics of solids. Crystal structure and symmetry, X-ray diffraction, lattice vibrations, metals and semiconductors, superconductivity, thermal properties, magnetic properties, and dielectric and optical properties.

        Course Outcomes


      EC EN 450 : Introduction to Semiconductor Devices. (3:3:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      EC EN 450 : Introduction to Semiconductor Devices. (3:3:1)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Winter
      PREREQUISITE: EC EN 313 & PHSCS 281
      DESCRIPTION: Physics of electronic and optical solid state devices; includes semiconductor materials, bipolar and FET device physics and modeling, optical properties of semiconductors, and lasers.

      Course Outcomes


      STAT 201 : Statistics for Engineers and Scientists. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      STAT 201 : Statistics for Engineers and Scientists. (3:3:0)(Credit Hours:Lecture Hours:Lab Hours)
      WHEN TAUGHT:Fall; Winter; Spring
      PREREQUISITE: MATH 112; or MATH 119
      DESCRIPTION: The scientific method; probability, random variables, common discrete and continuous random variables, central limit theorem; confidence intervals and hypothesis testing; completely randomized experiments; factorial experiments.

      Course Outcomes


    Nuclear Physics (power generation for industry or navy):

    Optical Communication Engineering:

    Optical/Laser Engineering:

    Premedicine, Prelaw (including patent law), Prebusiness:

      Courses in specialty.

*Hours include courses that may fulfill university core requirements.



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