Physics
Department Office: 209 Loomis Laboratory of Physics, 1110 West Green, Urbana, (217) 333-3761
Curriculum in Engineering Physics
physics.illinois.edu/education/undergraduate
Fax: (217) 333-9819
E-mail: undergrad-info@physics.illinois.edu
For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics
The Engineering Physics curriculum is a flexible program that combines a firm foundation in physics and mathematics with the freedom to choose from a diverse range of technical options. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for a wide variety of technical and professional careers, including graduate study in physics or a closely allied field.
Overview of Curricular Requirements
The curriculum requires 128 hours for graduation and is organized as shown below.
A technical grade point average requirement for graduation applies to students in this curriculum. This rule is summarized at the College of Engineering's undergraduate advising Web site.
Orientation and Professional Development
These courses introduce the opportunities and resources your college, department, and curriculum can offer you as you work to achieve your career goals. They also provide the skills to work effectively and successfully in the engineering profession.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 0 | ENG 100—Engineering Orientation1 |
| 0 | PHYS 110—Physics Careers1 |
| 0 | Total |
Foundational Mathematics and Science
These courses stress the basic mathematical and scientific principles upon which the engineering discipline is based.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | CHEM 102—General Chemistry I |
| 1 | CHEM 103—General Chemistry Lab I |
| 4 | MATH 221—Calculus I1 |
| 3 | MATH 231—Calculus II |
| 4 | MATH 241—Calculus III |
| 3 | MATH 285—Intro Differential Equations2 |
| 4 | PHYS 211—University Physics: Mechanics |
| 4 | PHYS 212—University Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 2 | PHYS 213—Univ Physics: Thermal Physics |
| 2 | PHYS 214—Univ Physics: Quantum Physics |
| 30 | Total |
1. MATH 220—Calculus may be substituted, with four of the five credit hours applying toward the degree. MATH 220 is appropriate for students with no background in calculus.
2. MATH 285 may be replaced by MATH 441 followed by MATH 442.
Engineering Physics Technical Core
These courses stress fundamental concepts and basic laboratory techniques that comprise the common intellectual understanding of engineering physics.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | CS 101—Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci |
| 2 | PHYS 225—Relativity & Math Applications |
| 3 | PHYS 325—Classical Mechanics I |
| 3 | PHYS 435—Electromagnetic Fields |
| 4 | PHYS 486—Quantum Mechanics I1 or PHYS 485—Atomic Physics & Quantum Theory2 |
| 15 | Total |
2. If PHYS 485 is taken, an additional free elective hour or a surplus flexible physics core course hour offsets the one-hour credit differential.
Flexible Physics Core Electives
These courses complement the Engineering Physics Technical Core, extending the intellectual understanding of engineering physics.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 9-15 | Flexible physics core electives. Choose three courses from a departmentally approved list with at least one being a lab course, PHYS 401, 403, 404, or 406. The number of hours varies depending upon the courses chosen. |
Mathematics Elective
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 3 | Mathematics elective, chosen from a departmentally approved list of Mathematics Electives. |
Technical/Professional Option Electives
Students may select from a list of preapproved options or design a custom option, subject to departmental approval. The current preapproved options, requiring 12-22 credit hours of course work, are:
- Professional Physics
- Astrophysics
- Bioengineering
- Biophysics
- Computational Physics
- Materials Science
- Optical Physics
- Physical Electronics
The course work is selected in consultation with the student's advisor to address an intellectually coherent body of knowledge.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 12-27 | Technical/professional option electives for the option selected, chosen from a departmentally approved list of Technical/Professional Option Electives (or a list designed for a departmentally approved custom option). The number of hours varies depending upon the option chosen. |
Liberal Education
The liberal education courses develop students’ understanding of human culture and society, build skills of inquiry and critical thinking, and lay a foundation for civic engagement and lifelong learning.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 6 | Electives from the campus General Education social & behavioral sciences list. |
| 6 | Electives from the campus General Education humanities & the arts list. |
| 6 | Electives either from a list approved by the college, or from the campus General Education lists for social & behavioral sciences or humanities & the arts. |
| 18 | Total |
Students must also complete the campus cultural studies requirement by completing (i) one western/comparative culture(s) course and (ii) one non-western/U.S. minority culture(s) course from the General Education cultural studies lists. Most students select liberal education courses that simultaneously satisfy these cultural studies requirements. Courses from the western and non-western lists that fall into free electives or other categories may also be used satisfy the cultural studies requirements.
Composition
These courses teach fundamentals of expository writing.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 4 | RHET 105—Principles of Composition |
| Advanced Composition. May be satisfied by completing a course with the Advanced Composition designation in either the social sciences and humanities or the free elective categories. | |
| 4 | Total |
Free Electives
These unrestricted electives, subject to certain exceptions as noted at the College of Engineering advising Web site, give the student the opportunity to explore any intellectual area of unique interest. This freedom plays a critical role in helping students to define research specialties or to complete minors.
| Hours | Requirements |
|---|---|
| 13-37 | Free electives. Additional unrestricted course work, subject to certain exceptions as noted at the College of Engineering advising Web site, so that there are at least 128 credit hours earned toward the degree. The number of hours varies depending upon the total hours earned in both the Flexible Physics Core and the Technical/Professional Option and whether or not MATH 415 and PHYS 486 are taken in place of PHYS 485.
|
Suggested Sequence
The schedule that follows is illustrative, showing the typical sequence in which courses would be taken by a student with no college course credit already earned and who intends to graduate in four years. Each individual's case may vary, but the position of required named courses is generally indicative of the order in which they should be taken.
First year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | CHEM 102—General Chemistry I |
| 1 | CHEM 103—General Chemistry Lab I |
| 0 | ENG 100—Engineering Orientation |
| 4 | MATH 221—Calculus I1,2 |
| 0 | PHYS 110—Physics Careers |
| 4-3 | RHET 105—Principles
of Composition3 or Liberal education elective4 |
| 3 | Liberal education elective4 |
| 15-14 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | CS 101—Intro Computing: Engrg & Sci |
| 3 | MATH 231—Calculus II |
| 4 | PHYS 211—University Physics: Mechanics2 |
| 3-4 | Liberal education elective4 or RHET 105—Principles of Composition3 |
| 3 | Liberal education elective4 |
| 16-17 | Total |
Second year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 4 | MATH 241—Calculus III |
| 4 | PHYS 212—University Physics: Elec & Mag |
| 2 | PHYS 225—Relativity & Math Applications |
| 6 | Liberal education electives4 |
| 16 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | MATH 285—Intro Differential Equations5 |
| 2 | PHYS 213—Univ Physics: Thermal Physics |
| 2 | PHYS 214—Univ Physics: Quantum Physics |
| 3 | PHYS 325—Classical Mechanics I |
| 3 | Technical/professional option elective6 |
| 3 | Liberal education elective4 |
| 16 | Total |
Third year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 3 | MATH 415—Applied Linear Algebra (if PHYS 486 will be taken) or Free elective |
| 3 | PHYS 435—Electromagnetic Fields |
| 3 | Flexible physics core elective7,8 |
| 3 | Mathematics elective9 |
| 3 | Technical/professional option elective6 |
| 3 | Free elective |
| 18 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 4 | PHYS 486—Quantum Mechanics I or PHYS 485—Atomic Physics & Quantum Theory10 |
| 6 | Flexible physics core electives7,8 |
| 6 | Technical/professional option electives6 |
| 16 | Total |
Fourth year
| Hours | First Semester |
|---|---|
| 10 | Technical/professional option electives6,11 or Free electives |
| 6 | Flexible physics core electives7,8 or Free electives |
| 16 | Total |
| Hours | Second Semester |
|---|---|
| 10 | Free electives |
| 5 | Technical/professional option electives 6,11 or Free electives |
| 15 | Total |
2. Students with proficiency or advanced placement (AP or IB) credit in MATH 221 are strongly encouraged to enroll in MATH 231 and PHYS 211 for the first semester.
3. RHET 105 may be taken in the first or second semester of the first year as authorized. The alternative is a social sciences or humanities elective.
4. Liberal education electives must include 6 hours of social & behavioral sciences and 6 hours of humanities & the arts course work from the campus General Education lists. The remaining 6 hours may be selected from a list maintained by the college, or additional course work from the campus General Education lists for social & behavioral sciences or humanities & the arts. Students must also complete the campus cultural studies requirement by completing (i) one western/comparative culture(s) course and (ii) one non-western/U.S. minority culture(s) course from the General Education cultural studies lists. Most students select liberal education courses that simultaneously satisfy these cultural studies requirements. Courses from the western and non-western lists that fall into free electives or other categories may also be used satisfy the cultural studies requirements.
5. MATH 285 may be replaced by MATH 441 followed by MATH 442.
6. To be chosen from a departmentally approved list of Technical/Professional Option Electives, in consultation with the student’s advisor, for the option elected (or a list fashioned for a departmentally approved custom option). The number of credit hours varies 12-22 depending upon the option chosen.
7 . The flexible physics core requirement consists of three courses chosen from a departmentally approved list of Flexible Physics Core Electives with at least one of them being a lab course, PHYS 401, 403, 404, or 406. The number of credit hours varies 9-15 depending upon the courses chosen.
8 . For courses chosen with more than 3 hours credit, the surplus hours may be used to meet free elective requirements.
9 . To be chosen from a departmentally approved list of Mathematics Electives. Any course satisfying the Mathematics Elective cannot be used to satisfy any other requirement.
10 . If PHYS 485 is taken, an additional free elective hour or a surplus flexible physics core course hour offsets the one-hour credit differential.
11 . Taken if needed to complete a technical/professional option requiring more than 12 hours of credit.