The applied physics BS degree is a flexible, interdisciplinary-oriented program designed to provide students with a solid background in basic physics, in conjunction with the opportunity to sample courses from a wide range of disciplines, including engineering, biology, chemistry, math, environmental studies, and computer science. This program seeks to enable students to prepare for a variety of careers in, for example, nanotechnology, a medical field, environmental research, or even finance.
Complete all courses listed below unless otherwise indicated. Also complete any corequisite labs, recitations, clinicals, or tools courses where specified and complete any additional courses needed beyond specific college and major requirements to satisfy graduation credit requirements.
Universitywide Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the Universitywide Requirements.
NUpath Requirements
All undergraduate students are required to complete the NUpath Requirements.
Applied Physics Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Physics | ||
| Physics 1 | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 5 | |
| Physics 1 and Lab for PHYS 1161 | ||
| Physics for Engineering 1 and Lab for PHYS 1151 and Interactive Learning Seminar for PHYS 1151 | ||
| Physics 2 | ||
| Complete one of the following: | 5 | |
| Physics 2 and Lab for PHYS 1165 | ||
| Physics for Engineering 2 and Lab for PHYS 1155 and Interactive Learning Seminar for PHYS 1155 | ||
| Intermediate Physics | ||
| PHYS 2303 | Modern Physics | 4 |
| PHYS 2371 and PHYS 2372 | Electronics and Lab for PHYS 2371 | 4 |
| Advanced Physics | ||
| PHYS 3600 | Advanced Physics Laboratory | 4 |
| PHYS 3602 | Electricity and Magnetism 1 | 4 |
| PHYS 3603 | Electricity and Magnetism 2 | 4 |
| PHYS 4305 | Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | 4 |
| Advanced Physics Electives | ||
| Complete three of the following: | 12 | |
| Classical Dynamics | ||
| Quantum Mechanics | ||
| Particle Physics | ||
| Network Science 1 | ||
| Advanced Astrophysics Topics | ||
| General Relativity and Cosmology | ||
| Advanced Quantum Mechanics | ||
| Biological Physics 1 | ||
| Medical Physics | ||
| Medical Physics Seminar 1 | ||
| Medical Physics Seminar 2 | ||
| Introduction to Nanoscience and Nanotechnology | ||
| Mathematical and Computational Methods for Physics | ||
| Experiential Learning | ||
| Note: The experiential learning requirement is waived following a student presentation connected with a co-op and/or research experience. The requirement is often fulfilled by a talk at a Society of Physics Students meeting but can be fulfilled by an adequately documented presentation at a professional meeting or at an appropriate campus event. Contact your faculty advisor for additional information. | ||
| PHYS 4996 | Experiential Education Directed Study | 4 |
| Senior Capstone | ||
| PHYS 5318 | Principles of Experimental Physics | 4 |
Supporting Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | ||
| MATH 1341 | Calculus 1 for Science and Engineering | 4 |
| MATH 1342 | Calculus 2 for Science and Engineering | 4 |
| MATH 2321 | Calculus 3 for Science and Engineering | 4 |
| MATH 2331 | Linear Algebra | 4 |
| MATH 2341 | Differential Equations and Linear Algebra for Engineering | 4 |
| Computational Methods | ||
| PHYS 1211 | Computational Problem Solving in Physics | 4 |
| or PHYS 1130 | Computing, Data, and Science | |
| or GE 1111 | Engineering Problem Solving and Computation | |
| Chemistry | ||
| CHEM 1211 and CHEM 1212 | General Chemistry 1 and Lab for CHEM 1211 | 5 |
| Technical Electives | ||
| Complete 16 semester hours of technical electives from the following: | 16 | |
| Statistics and Software | ||
MATH 2321 to MATH 5999 | ||
PHYS 2303 to PHYS 7999 | ||
CHEM 2311 to CHEM 5999 | ||
BIOL 2301 to BIOL 5999 | ||
ENVR 2300 to ENVR 5999 | ||
CS 2990 to CS 4900 | ||
CHME 2001 to CHME 4699 | ||
CIVE 2001 to CIVE 4699 | ||
EECE 2001 to EECE 5999 | ||
ME 2001 to ME 4699 | ||
IE 2001 to IE 4699 | ||
Applied Physics Major Credit Requirement
Complete 91 semester hours in the major.
Astrophysics Concentration (Optional)
Students working toward this concentration must declare it with their advisor for it to be added to their academic record.
Note: Opting to take this concentration may require additional coursework to be completed beyond the total program hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Astrophysics Core | ||
| PHYS 1111 | Astronomy | 4 |
The following courses may be counted toward major electives, if they are listed as applicable options in the approved curriculum: | ||
| PHYS 3111 | Astrophysical Processes: Decoding the Universe | 4 |
| PHYS 4111 | Multimessenger Astrophysics | 4 |
| PHYS 5117 | Advanced Astrophysics Topics | 4 |
| or PHYS 5118 | General Relativity and Cosmology | |
Program Requirement
133 total semester hours required
Note on Applied Physics Plans of Study
Some required physics courses are offered in both fall and spring semesters, while other required courses are offered less frequently. Therefore, the suggested plan of study will vary from student to student, depending on the year of entry for that student. See course offering schedule at the end of the plan of study.
Please contact your academic advisor for additional information and plans of study.
Five Years, Three Co-ops in Spring/Summer 1
| Year 1 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| PHYS 1000 | 1 | PHYS 1165 | 4 | Vacation | 0 | Vacation | 0 |
| PHYS 1161 | 4 | PHYS 1166 | 1 | ||||
| PHYS 1162 | 1 | PHYS 1167 | 0 | ||||
| PHYS 1163 | 0 | PHYS 1211 | 4 | ||||
| MATH 1341 | 4 | MATH 1342 | 4 | ||||
| ENGW 1111 | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| Elective | 4 | ||||||
| 18 | 17 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| PHYS 2303 | 4 | Co-op | 0 | Co-op | 0 | MATH 2341 | 4 |
| PHYS 2371 | 3 | PHYS 4305 | 4 | ||||
| PHYS 2372 | 1 | ||||||
| MATH 2321 | 4 | ||||||
| CHEM 1211 | 4 | ||||||
| CHEM 1212 | 1 | ||||||
| CHEM 1213 | 0 | ||||||
| EESC 2000 | 1 | ||||||
| 18 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||||
| Year 3 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| PHYS 3602 | 4 | Co-op | 0 | Co-op | 0 | PHYS 3600 | 4 |
| MATH 2331 | 4 | Elective | 4 | ||||
| Technical elective | 4 | ||||||
| Technical elective | 4 | ||||||
| 16 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||||
| Year 4 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer 1 | Hours | Summer 2 | Hours |
| ENGW 3307 | 4 | Co-op | 0 | Co-op | 0 | Vacation | 0 |
| Technical elective | 4 | ||||||
| Technical elective | 4 | ||||||
| Elective | 4 | ||||||
| 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Year 5 | |||||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||||
| PHYS 3603 | 4 | PHYS 5318 | 4 | ||||
| Elective | 4 | PHYS advanced elective | 4 | ||||
| Elective | 4 | PHYS advanced elective | 4 | ||||
| Elective | 4 | PHYS advanced elective | 4 | ||||
| 16 | 16 | ||||||
| Total Hours: 133 | |||||||
- PHYS 2303 offered every fall, spring, and summer 2
- PHYS 2371/2372 offered every fall
- PHYS 3600 offered every summer 1 and summer 2
- PHYS 3601 offered spring and fall (even years)
- PHYS 3602 offered every fall and spring
- PHYS 3603 offered fall (even years) and summer 1 (odd years)
- PHYS 4115 offered every fall and spring
- PHYS 4305 offered every spring and summer 2 (even years)
- PHYS 4621 offered spring (odd years) and fall (even years)
- PHYS 4623 offered summer 1 and fall (even years)
- PHYS 4651 offered spring and fall (odd years)
- PHYS 4652 offered every spring
- PHYS 5318 offered every spring