Physics

PHYS 1137 - Frontiers of Physics
Rec. 1. Credit 1.
An overview of topics currently at the frontiers of physics, skills needed for academic success, and beginning career planning. [Note: This course is part of the B.S. program in Physics.]

Note: Completion of ASTR 1010, ASTR 1020, ASTR 3100 and GEOL 3310 (Planetary Geoscience) forms a minor in Astronomy.

 

ASTR 1010 - Introduction to Modern Astronomy I*
Fall. Lec. 3. Lab. 2. Credit 4.
Prerequisite: Background knowledge of high school Algebra and Geometry. Understanding changes in the sky, including the Sun, Moon, stars, and planets. Development of astronomy from pre-history to the current day. Scale and properties of the solar system. Taught in an integrated lecture/lab style.

ASTR 1020 - Introduction to Modern Astronomy II*
Spring. Lec. 3. Lab. 2. Credit 4.
Prerequisite: Background knowledge of high school Algebra and Geometry. Tools and techniques of astronomy. Properties and life history of stars and galaxies. Introduction to cosmology. Taught in an integrated lecture/lab style.

ASTR 3100 - Observational Astronomy
Fall. Lec. 3. Lab. 3. Credit 4.
Prerequisite: ASTR 1020 or consent of instructor. Introduction to observational and computational techniques of astronomy, including imaging, photometry, and spectroscopy.

ASTR 4310 - Introduction to Cosmology
Fall. Lec. 3.  Credit 3.
Prerequisite: PHYS 2420 or PHYS 3020 and PHYS 2920 or PHYS 3060. This course covers the study of the cosmos as a whole, starting from the fundamental observations, creating a model of the universe, accounting for observations regarding dark matter and the cosmic microwave background, nucleosynthesis, inflation, and structure formation.

ASTR 4320 - Stellar Astrophysics
Lec. 3.  Credit 3.
Prerequisite: PHYS 2420 or PHYS 3020 and PHYS 2920 or PHYS 3060. In this course, we will cover the key topics of stellar structure, formation and evolution, energy transfer, and interiors.  Topics include: timescales, scaling relations, equations of state, radiative transfer, convection, nuclear reactions and rates, white dwarfs, neutron stars, and supernovae. A major focus of this course will be developing intuition of the mathematical expressions that are essential to understanding the dynamical stellar processes.

ASTR 4760 - Senior Thesis
Lec. 3.  Credit 3.
Prerequisite: ASTR 3100 or consent of instructor. The student will execute a research project, write a paper about it, and make an oral presentation. The project may be a continuation of one started in a previous research internship, in which case documentation from the mentor(s) of the internship must be provided. All mentors will be involved in determining the final grade.

PHYS 1090 - Concepts of Physics (starting Fall 2025)
Lec. 3. Lab. 3. Credit 4.
Selected topics in physics with an emphasis on explaining familiar phenomena. Taught in an integrated lecture/lab style. This course will not count as part of a physics sequence. [Note: Credit will not be given for both PHYS 1090 and any of PHYS 1310, PHYS 2010, PHYS 2020, PHYS 2109, PHYS 2110, PHYS 2111, PHYS 2119, PHYS 2120, PHYS 2121.]

PHYS 1310 - Concepts of Physics* (discontinued, replaced by PHYS 1090)
Lec. 2. Lab. 3. Credit 3.
Selected topics from classical and modern physics with applications to familiar phenomena. This course will not count as part of a physics sequence. [Note: Credit will not be given for both PHYS 1310 and any of PHYS 2010, PHYS 2020, PHYS 2109, PHYS 2110, PHYS 2111, PHYS 2119, PHYS 2120, PHYS 2121.]

PHYS 2010 - Algebra-based Physics I*
Lec. 3. Lab. 3. Credit 4.
Basic laws of classical mechanics with elementary applications to familiar phenomena. Taught in an integrated lecture/lab style. [Note: A student may not earn credit in both PHYS 2010 and any of PHYS 1090, PHYS 1310, PHYS 2109, PHYS 2110.]

PHYS 2020 - Algebra-based Physics II*
Lec. 3. Lab. 3. Credit 4.
Prerequisite: PHYS 2010. Basic laws of electromagnetism and light with elementary applications. Taught in an integrated lecture/lab style. [Note: A student may not earn credit in both PHYS 2020 and any of PHYS 1090, PHYS 1310, PHYS 2119, PHYS 2120.]

PHYS 2109 - Calculus-based Physics I
Lec. 3. Credit 3.
Prerequisite: C or better in MATH 1910 or equivalent AP credit for MATH 1910. Introduction to classical mechanics. [Note: A student may not earn credit in both PHYS 2109 and any of PHYS 1090, PHYS 1310, PHYS 2010, PHYS 2110.]

PHYS 2110 - Calculus-based Physics I w/ lab*
Lec. 3. Lab. 3. Credit 4.
Prerequisite: C or better in MATH 1910 or equivalent AP credit for MATH 1910. Introduction to classical mechanics with lab. [Note: A student may not earn credit in both PHYS 2110 and any of PHYS 1090, PHYS 1310, PHYS 2010, PHYS 2109, PHYS 2111.]

PHYS 2111 - Calculus-based Physics Laboratory I
Lab. 3. Credit 1. [Only offered on as-need basis.]
Prerequisite: PHYS 2109 (may be taken concurrently). Experiments in classical mechanics.  [Note: A student may not earn credit in both PHYS 2111 and PHYS 2110.]

PHYS 2112 - General Physics I Honors Recitation
Rec. 1. Credit 0.
Corequisite: PHYS 2109 or PHYS 2110. Selected topics to add depth to the understanding of material in PHYS 2109/PHYS 2110. Honors students can receive honors credit for PHYS 2109/PHYS 2110 by satisfactorily completing this course and obtaining a grade of A or B in PHYS 2109/PHYS 2110.

PHYS 2119 - Calculus-based Physics II
Lec. 3. Credit 3.
Prerequisite: PHYS 2109 or PHYS 2110; C or better in MATH 1920 or equivalent AP credit for MATH 1910 and MATH 1920. Introduction to classical electromagnetism and optics. [Note: A student may not earn credit in both PHYS 2119 and any of PHYS 1090, PHYS 1310, PHYS 2020, PHYS 2120.]

PHYS 2120 - Calculus-based Physics II w/ lab*
Lec. 3. Lab. 3. Credit 4.
Prerequisite: PHYS 2109 or PHYS 2110; C or better in MATH 1920 or equivalent AP credit for MATH 1910 and MATH 1920. Introduction to classical electromagnetism and optics with lab. [Note: A student may not earn credit in both PHYS 2120 and any of PHYS 1090, PHYS 1310, PHYS 2020, PHYS 2119, PHYS 2121.]

PHYS 2121 - Calculus-based Physics Laboratory II
Lab. 3. Credit 1. [Only offered on as-need basis.]
Prerequisite: PHYS 2110 (with lab) or PHYS 2111, PHYS 2119.  (PHYS 2119 may be taken concurrently.) Experiments in classical electromagnetism and optics.  [Note: A student may not earn credit in both PHYS 2121 and PHYS 2120.]

Note: Physics majors and minors must also take the introductory calculus-based physics classes PHYS 2110 and PHYS 2120. (PHYS 2109 and PHYS 2119 are also permissible for minors.)

PHYS 2420 - Modern Physics (discontinued, replaced by PHYS 3020)
Lec. 3. Credit 3.
Prerequisite: PHYS 2119 or PHYS 2120. Introduction to modern physics. Topics include special relativity, quantum theory of light, wave nature of matter, Bohr’s theory of the atom, quantum mechanics in one dimension. Selected topics from atomic, molecular, solid state, nuclear, and particle physics.

PHYS 2920 - Mathematical Physics (discontinued, replaced by PHYS 3060)
Lec. 3. Credit 3.
Prerequisite: PHYS 2119 or PHYS 2120, MATH 2110. (PHYS 2119 or PHYS 2120 and MATH 2110 may be taken concurrently.)  Mathematical methods for classical and modern physics. Selected topics from vector analysis, complex analysis, and vector spaces, with emphasis on applications to physical systems.

PHYS 3020 - Topics in Modern Physics (starting Spring 2026)
Lec. 3. Credit 3
Prerequisite: PHYS 2119 or PHYS 2120 and CHEM 1110. Introduction to modern physics. Topics include special relativity, quantum theory of light, wave nature of matter, Bohr's theory of the atom, quantum mechanics in one dimension. Selected topics from atomic, molecular, solid state, nuclear, and particle physics.

PHYS 3021 - Modern Physics Laboratory (starting Spring 2026)
Lab. 3. Credit 1.
Prerequisite: PHYS 2119 or PHYS 2120 and CHEM 1110. The student will perform selected modern physics experiments that are covered in PHYS 3020.

PHYS 3060 - Mathematical Techniques for Physics (starting Spring 2026)
Lec. 4. Credit 4
Prerequisite: PHYS 2119 or PHYS 2120 and MATH 2110. Mathematical techniques for classical and modern physics with emphasis on applications to physical systems. Selected topics from vector analysis, complex analysis, vector spaces and partial differential equations.

PHYS 3120 - Statistical Thermal Physics
Lec. 3. Credit 3.
Prerequisite: PHYS 2420, PHYS 2920, MATH 2120 and CSC 1310. Development of the laws of thermodynamics using statistical mechanics.

PHYS 3610 - Classical Mechanics
Lec. 3. Credit 3.
Prerequisite: PHYS 2920, MATH 2120 and CSC 1300. Theoretical development of classical mechanics, including Newtonian, Lagrangian, and Hamiltonian descriptions.

PHYS 3810 - Quantum Mechanics I
Lec. 3. Credit 3.
Prerequisite: PHYS 2420, PHYS 2920, MATH 4510 (5510), and CSC 1300. (MATH 4510 (5510) may be taken concurrently). Introduction to principles of quantum mechanics.

PHYS 3820 - Quantum Mechanics II
Lec. 3. Credit 3.
Prerequisite: PHYS 3810. Application of quantum mechanics to simple systems.

PHYS 4130 - Computational Physics
Lec. 3. Credit 3.
Prerequisite: PHYS 3810 and CSC 1310. Computational techniques used in physics. Numerical techniques and computational algorithms. Random numbers and Monte Carlo techniques. Errors and uncertainties in computation. Applications of these techniques to classical and modern physics.

PHYS 4610 - Classical Electricity and Magnetism I
Lec. 3. Credit 3.
Prerequisite: PHYS 2119 or PHYS 2120, PHYS 2920, MATH 4510 (5510) and CSC 1300. (MATH 4510 (5510) may be taken concurrently.) Theory of electrostatics, electrodynamics, Maxwell’s Equations, and boundary value problems.

PHYS 4620 - Classical Electricity and Magnetism II
Lec. 3. Credit 3.
Prerequisite: PHYS 4610 and PHYS 2420. (PHYS 2420 may be taken concurrently.) Applications of Maxwell’s Equations to electromagnetic waves and other phenomena. Relativistic electrodynamics.

PHYS 4710 - Advanced Experimental Physics
Lab. 8. Credit 4.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. The student will perform selected experiments in classical and modern physics. Emphasis will be placed on computer-based data analysis and development of appropriate oral and written presentation techniques. [Note: For Option I students only.]

PHYS 4711 - Advanced Experimental Physics
Lab. 4. Credit 2.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. The student will perform selected experiments in classical and modern physics.  Emphasis will be placed on computer-based data analysis and development of appropriate oral and written presentation techniques. [Note: For Option II students only.]

PHYS 4730 - Research Planning
Lab. 2. Credit 1.
Prerequisite: PHYS 4710 or PHYS 4711 (may be taken concurrently). The student will prepare and submit a detailed proposal for a research project to be done in a later semester in the course PHYS 4740.  The project may be a continuation of one started in a previous research internship, in which case documentation from the mentor(s) of the internship must be provided.

PHYS 4740 - Research
Lab. 4. Credit 2.
Prerequisite: PHYS 4730. The student will execute a research project, write a paper about it, and make an oral presentation.  The project may be a continuation of one started in a previous research internship, in which case documentation from the mentor(s) of the internship must be provided.  All mentors will be involved in determining the final grade.

PHYS 4750 - Scientific Proposal Writing (replaces PHYS 4730 for those under 2025 catalog onward)
Lec. 2. Credit 2
Prerequisite: PHYS 4710 or 4711 (may be taken concurrently). The student will prepare and submit a detailed proposal for a research project to be done in a later semester in the course 4760 (Senior Thesis Lab). The project may be a continuation of one started in a previous research internship, in which case documentation from the mentor(s) of the internship must be provided.

PHYS 4760 - Senior Thesis (replaces PHYS 4740 for those under 2025 catalog onward)
Lab. 4. Credit 3
Prerequisite: PHYS 4750 or consent of instructor. The student will execute a research project, write a paper about it, and make an oral presentation. The project may be a continuation of one started in a previous research internship, in which case documentation from the mentor(s) of the internship must be provided. All mentors will be involved in determining the final grade.

PHYS 1901/2/3/4 - Special Topics in Physics and Physics Education

Lec. 0-3. Lab. 0-3. Credit 1-4.
Prerequisite: Consent of chair and instructor. (Up to six credits may be earned under this course title.) Topics covered will be chosen on the basis of student interest and need.

PHYS 4120 - Advanced Modern Physics
Lec. 3. Credit 3.
Prerequisite: PHYS 3820. Applications of quantum mechanics to selected topics from atomic physics, molecular physics, solid state physics, nuclear and particle physics, and astrophysics. [Note: Currently not part of any program of study.]

PHYS 4901/2/3 - Selected Topics in Physics
Lec. 1-3. Credit 1-3.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Topics covered will be chosen on the basis of student interest and need.  Course may be taken for credit more than once as long as the topic is different.

PHYS 5900 - Selected Topics in Physics
Credit 3, 6, 9.
Topics covered will be chosen on the basis of student interest and need.