For the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics
This curriculum provides broad, thorough training in fundamental physics and mathematics to prepare students for graduate study in physics and related fields and for research and development positions in industrial and governmental laboratories. For the first two years, the curriculum follows the common engineering program. In the last two years, the emphasis is on advanced courses in physics and mathematics, with an allowance for electives.
When registering for advanced undergraduate courses in physics, a student continuing in or transferring to this curriculum must have (1) a grade-point average of 3.5 (A = 5.0) in all University subjects exclusive of military science, physical education, and band; (2) a grade-point average of at least 3.5 in all 100- and 200-level courses in mathematics and physics; and (3) a separate grade-point average of at least 3.5 for all 300-level mathematics and physics courses. This grade-point average must include at least two physics courses. A transfer student must have a corresponding record in the institution from which he or she has transferred and must maintain such status at the UIUC.
Students with proficiency or Advanced Placement (AP) credit for MATH 120 are strongly encouraged to enroll in MATH 130 and PHYCS 106 for the first semester. Entering freshmen should enroll for the fall term in PHYCS 100 (under development as PHYCS 199B), where they will meet with faculty members and other physics majors.
The illustrative syllabus that follows shows the required courses in a four-year program. A minimum of 128 hours is required for graduation. However, many students take these courses in a different order and take additional courses at their discretion. The program includes 37 hours of electives, 18 of which must be chosen from the College of Engineering list of approved electives in the social sciences and humanities. The remaining 19 hours include 6 hours of free electives and 13 hours of technical or nontechnical electives, of which at least 6 hours must be nontechnical and at least 4 technical. For this curriculum, technical electives are defined as most courses within the areas of physics, mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, computer science, and engineering. Among the 37 elective hours, one course must satisfy the general education Composition II requirement. (See the section on the Composition I and II requirement.)
The curriculum requires 128 hours for graduation.
footnote * See also the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
curriculum in physics and the
curriculum in science and letters
with a
major in physics.
| First year | ||
|---|---|---|
| HOURS | FIRST SEMESTER see footnote 1 | |
| 4 | CHEM 101--General Chemistry see footnote 2 | |
| 3 | G E 103--Engineering Graphics and Design see footnote 3 | |
| 5 | MATH 120--Calculus and Analytic Geometry, I see footnote 4 , 5 | |
| 4 | RHET 105--Principles of Composition, or RHET 108--Forms of Composition see footnote 6 | |
| 16-17 | Total see footnote 1 | |
| HOURS | SECOND SEMESTER | |
| 4 | CHEM 102--General Chemistry see footnote 2 (Biological or Physical Version) | |
| 3 | MATH 130--Calculus and Analytic Geometry, II see footnote 5 | |
| 4 | PHYCS 106--General Physics (Mechanics) see footnote 4 4 | |
| 5-6 | Electives in social sciences or humanities, or elective satisfying Composition II requirements see footnote 7 | |
| 16-17 | Total see footnote 8 | |
| Second year | ||
| HOURS | FIRST SEMESTER | |
| 2 | C S 101--Introduction to Computing for Application to Engineering and Physical Science | |
| 3 | MATH 242--Calculus of Several Variables | |
| 4 | PHYCS 107--General Physics (Heat, Electricity, and Magnetism) | |
| 7-9 | Electives in social sciences or humanities see footnote 7 | |
| 16-18 | Total see footnote 8 | |
| HOURS | SECOND SEMESTER | |
| 1 | C S 110--Programming Laboratory | |
| 3 | MATH 285--Differential Equations and Orthogonal Functions see footnote 9 | |
| 4 | PHYCS 108--General Physics (Light, Sound, and the Structure of Matter) | |
| 3 | PHYCS 225--lntermediate Mechanics and Relativity, I | |
| 5-7 | Electives in social sciences or humanities see footnote 7 | |
| 16-18 | Total see footnote 8 | |
| Third year | ||
| HOURS | FIRST SEMESTER | |
| 3 | MATH 280--Advanced Calculus | |
| 3 | MATH 301--Classical Physics Lab see footnote 1 0 | |
| 3 | PHYCS 326--Intermediate Mechanics and Relativity, II | |
| 3 | PHYCS 335--Electromagnetic Fields and Sources, I see footnote 1 1 | |
| 4-6 | Electives see footnote 7 | |
| 16-18 | Total see footnote 8 | |
| HOURS | SECOND SEMESTER | |
| 3 | MATH 315--Linear Transformations and Matrices see footnote 1 2 | |
| 3 | PHYCS 336--Electromagnetic Fields and Sources, II | |
| 5 | PHYCS 343--Electronic Circuits, I (spring only) | |
| 4 | PHYCS 386--Atomic Physics and Quantum Mechanics, I see footnote 1 2 | |
| 15 | Total see footnote 8 | |
| Fourth year | ||
| HOURS | FIRST SEMESTER | |
| 5 | PHYCS 303--Modern Experimental Physics, or PHYCS 344--Electronic Circuits, II (fall only) | |
| 4 | PHYCS 371--Light | |
| 4 | PHYCS 387--Atomic Physics and Quantum Mechanics, II | |
| 3-4 | Electives see footnote 7 | |
| 16-17 | Total see footnote 8 | |
| HOURS | SECOND SEMESTER | |
| 4 | PHYCS 361--Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics | |
| 13-14 | Electives see footnote 7 4 | |
| 17-18 | Total see footnote 8 | |
footnote 1. Entering freshmen are expected to
enroll for the fall term in PHYCS 100 (under development as PHYCS 199B), where they will meet with other physics majors, learn about the
University, and explore physics as a profession.
footnote 2. CHEM 107, CHEM 109, and CHEM 108, 110 may be substituted for CHEM 101 and CHEM 102 by students who desire a more rigorous chemistry sequence.
footnote 3. G E 103, a required course, can be delayed to the last year to take advantage of the latest design software before entering into professional activities or graduate studies.
footnote 4. Students with proficiency or advanced placement (AP) credit in MATH 120 are strongly encouraged to enroll in MATH 130 and PHYCS 106 for the first semester.
footnote 5. An alternate sequence is MATH 121, MATH 131, although MATH 120, MATH 130 is preferred because more material is presented in MATH 120 than in MATH 121.
footnote 6. SPCOM 111 and SPCOM 112 also fulfill the graduation requirement in rhetoric; surplus hours will be counted as electives.
footnote 7. See the introductory paragraph above on how electives are distributed. Note that one course, taken as early as possible, must satisfy the general education Composition II requirement.
footnote 8. Minimum hours per semester is 12 hours; maximum is 18 hours (19 or more with the dean's permission).
footnote 9. MATH 341 and MATH 342 may replace MATH 285; surplus hours will be counted as technical electives.
footnote 10. PHYCS 301 can be taken any term after PHYCS 225 is completed.
footnote 11. If necessary, PHYCS 335 can be taken a semester later. PHYCS 335 requires credit or concurrent registration in MATH 280.
footnote 12. MATH 315 should not be replaced with MATH 225. The material in MATH 315 is needed for PHYCS 386.