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Sample Programs
The requirements for an I.T. Physics degree can be satisfied in many ways. Within the constraints of each degree emphasis, a student can choose from a wide variety of elective courses to construct a total degree program tailored to her/his own interests. This is best done in consultation with the DUS, or with the student's own advisor. The sample programs given below are certainly not unique. They are offered here to illustrate that a full-time student can indeed meet the requirements within four academic years.
The following schedule for the first two years of study would be consistent with all emphases. This illustrates that the program is sufficiently flexible to allow a student to defer a choice of emphasis until the end of Sophomore year. However, a student who has made an earlier choice of emphasis might be able to construct a program that is a better fit to his/her interests if a few of the more specialized courses are taken during the first two years as can be seen from the 4-yr sample program in Computational emphasis.
Sample Freshman and Sophomore Year Program
Freshman Year: Fall
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 1301W | Introductory Physics I | 4 cr |
| Math 1271 | Calculus I | 4 cr |
| EngC 1011 | University Writing and Critical Reading | 4 cr |
| Liberal Education Elective (Designated Themes) | | 3 cr |
Freshman Year: Spring
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 1302W | Introductory Physics II | 4 cr |
| Math 1272 | Calculus II | 4 cr |
| Chem 1021 | Chemical Principles I | 4 cr |
| Liberal Education Elective (Arts and Humanities) | 4 cr |
Sophomore Year: Fall
^ Course number ^ description ^ credits ^
| Phys 2503 | Introductory Physics III | 4 cr |
| Math 2243 | Linear Algebra, Diff. Eqns. | 4 cr |
| Biol 1009 | General Biology | 4 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective (History and Social Sciences) | 3 cr |
| Course number | description | credits |
| Physics 2601 | Quantum Physics | 4 cr |
| Physics 2605 | Quantum Physics Lab | 3 cr |
| Math 2263 | Multivariable Calculus | 4 cr |
| CSci 1113 | Introduction to C/C++ | 4 cr |
Here are some sample Junior and Senior year programs for the different emphases:
(will also satisfy Math Minor and an Upper Division writing intensive requirement)
Professional Physics Emphasis - Junior Year
Junior Year: Fall
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 4001 | Analytic Mechanics | 4 cr |
| Phys 4051 | Methods of Exp't'l Physics I | 5 cr |
| Phys 3201 | Statistical and Thermal Physics | 3 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective (Designated Themes) | 3 cr |
Junior Year: Spring
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 4002 | Electricity and Magnetism | 4 cr |
| Phys 4052W | Methods of Exp't'l Physics II | 5 cr |
| Math 3283W | Sequences, Series… | 4 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective (Arts and Humanities) | 3 cr |
Professional Physics Emphasis - Senior Year - Fall
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 4101 | Quantum Mechanics | 4 cr |
| Phys 4303 | Waves, Optics, and Relativity | 3 cr |
| Math 4567 | Intro to Fourier Analysis | 4 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective (History and Social Sciences) | 4 cr |
Professional Physics Emphasis - Senior Year - Spring
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 4511 | Intro to Nucl. and Particle Phys | 3 cr |
| Phys 4211 | Intro to Solid-State Physics | 3 cr |
| Phys 4501 | Experimental Project | 5 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective (Designated Themes) | 3 cr |
Biological Emphasis - Junior Year - Fall
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 4001 | Analytical Mechanics | 4 cr |
| Phys 4051 | Methods of Exp't'l Physics I | 5 cr |
| Chem 1022 | Chemical Principles II | 4 cr |
| | |
Biological Emphasis - Junior Year - Spring
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 4002 | Electricity and Magnetism | 4 cr |
| Phys 4052W | Methods of Exp't'l Physics II | 5 cr |
| Chem 2301 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective (Arts and Humanities) | 4 cr |
Biological Emphasis - Senior Year - Fall
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 5401 | Physics for Biology and Medicine I | 4 cr |
| Chem 3501 | Physical Chemistry I | 3 cr |
| BioC 3021 | Biochemistry | 3 cr |
| Phys 4911 | Biopolymer Physics | 3 cr |
Biological Emphasis - Senior Year - Spring
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 5402 | Physics for Biology and Medicine II | 4 cr |
| Chem 3502 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 cr |
| Phsl 3061 | Principles of Physiology | 4 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective (Designated Themes) | 3 cr |
Engineering Physics Emphasis (Material Science) - Junior Year† Fall
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 4051 | Methods of Exp't'l Physics I | 5 cr |
| AEM 2021 | Statics and Dynamics | 4 cr |
| MatS 3011 | Intro to the Science of Materials | 3 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective (Arts and Humanities) | 3 cr |
Engineering Physics Emphasis (Material Science) - Junior Year Fall
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 4052W | Methods of Exp't'l Physics II | 5 cr |
| Phys 4002 | Electricity and Magnetism | 4 cr |
| MatS 3012 | Intro to Mechanical Behavior of Materials | 3 cr |
| MatS 4013 | Intro to Electrical and Mechanical Properties of Materials | 3 cr |
Engineering Physics Emphasis (Material Science) - Senior Year - Fall
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 4101 | Quantum Mechanics | 4 cr |
| Phys 5041 | Analytical and Numerical Methods I | 4 cr |
| ME 3321 | Thermodynamics | 4 cr |
| ME 3281 | System Dynamics and Control | 4 cr |
Engineering Physics Emphasis (Material Science) - Senior Year - Fall
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 4501 | Experimental Project | 3 cr |
| ME 3322 | Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow | 4 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective (History and Social Sciences) | 3 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective (Designated Themes) | 4 cr |
Physics for Teaching Emphasis - Junior Year - Fall
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 4001 | Analytical Mechanics | 4 cr |
| Phys 4051 | Methods of Exp't'l Physics I | 5 cr |
| Chem 1022 | Chemical Principles II | 4 cr |
| EPsy 3119 | Learning, Cognition and Assessment | 3 cr |
Physics for Teaching Emphasis - Junior Year - Spring
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 4002 | Electricity and Magnetism | 4 cr |
| Phys 4052W | Methods of Exp't'l Physics II | 5 cr |
| Phys 4111 | History of 20th-Century Physics | 3 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective (Arts and Humanities) | 3 cr |
Physics for Teaching Emphasis - Senior Year Fall
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 4101 | Quantum Mechanics | 4 cr |
| AEM 4201 | Fluid Mechanics | 4 cr |
| Geo 2201 | Geodynamics I: The Solid Earth | 3 cr |
| EdHD3001 | Exploring The Teaching Profession | 1 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective (History and Social Sciences) | 3 cr |
Physics for Teaching Emphasis - Senior Year Spring
| Course number | description | credits |
| Ast 2001 | Intro to Astrophysics | 4 cr |
| EE5621 | Physical Optics | 3 cr |
| EPsy 5117 | Problem Solving and Decision Making | 3 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective (Designated Themes) | 4 cr |
Sample 4-year Program
Physics for Computational Emphasis - Freshman Year -Fall
| Course number | description | credits |
| CSci 1901 | Structure of Programming I | 4 cr |
| Phys 1301W | Introductory Physics I | 4 cr |
| Math 1371 | IT Calculus I | 4 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective (writing) | 4 cr |
Physics for Computational Emphasis - Freshman Year -Spring
| Course number | description | credits |
| CSci 1902 | Structure of Programming II | 4 cr |
| Phys 1302W | Introductory Physics II | 4 cr |
| Math 1372 | IT Calculus II | 4 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective (Biology) | 4 cr |
Physics for Computational Emphasis – Sophomore Year - Fall
| Course number | description | credits |
| Stat 3021 | Intro Statistics and Problems | 3 cr |
| CSci 2011 | Discrete Structures | 4 cr |
| Math 2373 | Linear Algebra | 4 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective | 4 cr |
Physics for Computational Emphasis – Sophomore Year - Spring
| Course number | description | credits |
| CSci 2021 | Machine Arch and Organiz | 4 cr |
| CSci 2031 | Intro Numerical Computing | 4 cr |
| Math 2374 | Multivariable Calculus And Vector Analysis | 4 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective | 3 cr |
Physics for Computational Emphasis – Junior Year - Fall
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 2503 | Physics III, Foundations of Modern Physics | 4 cr |
| Ast 4101 | Computational Methods | 4 cr |
| Phys 4001 | Analytical Mechanics or equivalent | 4 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective | 3 cr |
Physics for Computational Emphasis – Junior Year - Spring
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 2601 | Quantum Physics | 4 cr |
| Phys 2605 | Quantum Physics Lab | 3 cr |
| Geo 5802 | Scientific Visualization | 3 cr |
| Math 5487 | Computational Methods for Differential and Integral Equations | 4 cr |
| CE 3101 | Computational Applications | 3 cr |
Physics for Computational Emphasis – Senior Year: Fall
| Course number | description | credits |
| Phys 5701 | Solid State Physics for Engineers And Scientists | 4 cr |
| Phys 4051 | Methods I | 5 cr |
| Or Ast 4101 | Computational Methods | (4 cr) |
| Geo 5202 | Geological Thermomechanical Modeling | 3 cr |
| Phys 4101 | Quantum Mechanics | 4 cr |
| Elective | | |
Physics for Computational Emphasis – Senior Year: Spring
^ Course number ^ description ^ credits ^
| Chem 5012 | Computational Chemistry | 3cr |
| Phys 4002 | Electricity and Magnetism | 4 cr |
| Phys 4052W | Methods II | 5 cr |
| Phys 4501 | Experimental Project | 4 cr |
| | Liberal Education Elective | 3 cr |