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2016-2017 Catalog ARCHIVED CATALOG: Content may no longer be accurate.

Physics (BS)

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Physics Major

  • Program Prerequisite: Not required. 

  • Minor: No minor is required. However, a math minor is automatically satisfied by the requirements.

  • Grade Requirements: An overall GPA of 2.00 is required. Also refer to the general grade requirements for graduation on Degree Requirements .
     
  • Credit Hour Requirements: A total of 120 semester credit hours is required for graduation; 75 to 82 of these (depending on the option chosen) are required within the Physics major. Forty upper-division credit hours are required (courses numbered 3000 and above); 30 to 34 of these (depending on the option chosen) are required within the Physics major.
  • Program Code: 6018BS
  • CIPC: 400801

Advisement

All Physics majors are strongly encouraged to meet with the chair at least annually for course and program advisement. Call 801-626-6163 for more information or to schedule an appointment. Note that because most courses have prerequisites and some advanced courses are offered only in alternate years, careful planning is essential.

Use Grad MAPs to plan your degree

Admissions Requirements

Declare your program of study (see Enrollment Services and Information ). There are no special admission or application requirements for the Physics major.

General Education

Refer to Degree Requirements  for Bachelor of Science requirements. The following courses required for the Physics major will satisfy general education  requirements: PHYS 2210  and MATH 1210 .

Physics Major Course Requirements for BS Degree

 

Physics Courses Required (23 credit hours)

 

Physics Electives (3 credit hours)

Select a minimum of three additional credit hours from Physics courses numbered 3000 and above. Courses in closely related disciplines may also satisfy this requirement when appropriate to the option chosen (see below). In all cases, elective courses must be approved by the department chair.

Support Courses Required (22 credit hours)

 

OPTIONS

Physics Majors must also satisfy the requirements of at least one of the following four options.

1. Traditional option.

By including all of the core courses in theoretical physics, this option provides a strong foundation for graduate study in physics.

Additional Physics Courses Required (17 or 18 credit hours)

 

Additional Support Courses Required (10 credit hours)

 

2. Physics of Materials option.

This option is intended for students who have an interest in the properties of materials and their study using advanced instrumentation.

Additional Physics Courses Required (18 credit hours)

 

Additional Support Courses Required (10 credit hours)

 

3. Astrophysics option.

Supplementing a traditional physics program with several astronomy and astrophysics courses, this option is intended for students with a special interest in astronomy, including those intending to pursue graduate study in astrophysics.

Additional Physics Courses Required (23 or 24 credit hours)

 

Additional Support Courses Required (9 or 10 credit hours)

 

4. Computational Physics option.

This option is intended for students with a special interest in computational techniques applied to the physical world.

Additional Physics Courses Required (15 credit hours)

Additional Physics Courses Required (14 credit hours)

 

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