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Curriculum in Engineering Physics*

Department of Physics
231 Loomis Laboratory
1110 West Green Street
Urbana, IL 61801-3080
(217) 333-3114
Fax: (217) 333-9819
E-mail: courses@mail.physics.uiuc.edu
URL: http://www.physics.uiuc.edu/education/undergrad/

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.

To remain in good academic standing, a student continuing in or transferring to this curriculum must have (1) a grade point average of 2.5 (A = 4.0) in all University subjects exclusive of military science, physical education, and band; (2) a grade point average of at least 2.5 in all 100- and 200-level courses in mathematics and physics; and (3) a separate grade point average of at least 2.5 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 University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Students with proficiency or Advanced Placement (AP) credit for MATH 120 are strongly encouraged to enroll in MATH 130 and PHYCS 111 for the first semester. Entering freshmen should enroll for the fall term in PHYCS 199B, where they will meet faculty members and other physics majors.

The illustrative schedule 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, atmospheric sciences, chemistry, computer science, and engineering. Among the 37 elective hours, one course must satisfy the General Education Advanced Composition requirement. (See the section on requirements in the front matter of this catalog.)

The curriculum requires 128 hours for graduation.

*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
3     CHEM 101-General Chemistry1
1     CHEM 105-General Chemistry Laboratory1
0     ENG 100-Engineering Lecture
3     G E 103-Engineering Graphics and Design2
5     MATH 120-Calculus and Analytic Geometry, I3
(1)     PHYCS 199B-Physics Orientation4

College of Engineering 

4     RHET 105-Principles of Composition5
16     Total
HOURS     SECOND SEMESTER
3     CHEM 102-General Chemistry1 (Biological or Physical Version)
1     CHEM 106-General Chemistry1 Laboratory (Biological or Physical Version)

3     MATH 130-Calculus and Analytic Geometry, II
4     PHYCS 111-General Physics (Mechanics)3
6     Electives in social sciences or humanities, 
      or elective satisfying the campus General 
      Education Advanced Composition requirements6
17     Total

Second year 

HOURS     FIRST SEMESTER 
3     C S 101-Introduction to Computing with 
      Application to Engineering and Physical Science
3     MATH 242-Calculus of Several Variables
4     PHYCS 112-General Physics (Electricity and Magnetism)
6     Electives in social sciences or humanities6
16     Total
HOURS     SECOND SEMESTER
3     MATH 285-Differential Equations and Orthogonal Functions7
2     PHYCS 113-General Physics (Fluids and Thermal Physics)
2     PHYCS 114-General Physics (Waves and Quantum Physics)
3     PHYCS 225-lntermediate Mechanics and Relativity, I
6     Electives in social sciences or humanities6
16     Total

Third year 

HOURS     FIRST SEMESTER
3     MATH 280-Advanced Calculus
3     PHYCS 301-Classical Physical Lab8
3     PHYCS 326-Intermediate Mechanics and Relativity, II
3     PHYCS 335-Electromagnetic Fields and Sources, I9
3     Electives6
15     Total
HOURS     SECOND SEMESTER
3     MATH 315-Linear Transformations and Matrices10
3     PHYCS 336-Electromagnetic Fields and Sources, II
5     PHYCS 343-Electronic Circuits, I (spring only)
4     PHYCS 386-Atomic Physics and Quantum Mechanics, I10
15     Total

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     Electives6
16     Total
HOURS     SECOND SEMESTER
4     PHYCS 361-Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
13     Electives6
17     Total

1. CHEM 107, 109, and 108, 110 may be substituted for CHEM 101/105 and 102/106 by students who desire a more rigorous chemistry sequence.

2. 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.

3. Students with proficiency or advanced placement (AP) credit in MATH 120 are strongly encouraged to enroll in MATH 130 and PHYCS 111 for the first semester.

4. Entering freshmen are expected to enroll for the fall term in PHYCS 199B, where they will meet with other physics majors, learn about the University, and explore physics as a profession. This course may be used to help meet free elective requirements.

5. RHET 105 may be taken in the first or second semester of the first year. RHET 108 and SPCOM 111 and 112 also fulfill the graduation requirement in rhetoric; surplus hours will be counted as electives.

6. See the introductory paragraph above on how electives are distributed. Note that one course, taken as early as possible, must satisfy the General Education Advanced Composition requirement. Six hours are free electives.

7. MATH 341 and 342 may replace MATH 285; surplus hours will be counted as technical electives.

8. PHYCS 301 can be taken any term after PHYCS 225 is completed.

9. If necessary, PHYCS 335 can be taken a semester later. PHYCS 335 requires credit or concurrent registration in MATH 280.

10. MATH 315 should not be replaced with MATH 225. The material in MATH 315 is needed for PHYCS 386.

Applied Physics Options

In consultation with his or her adviser, a student may elect an applied physics option. These options involve subjects related to physics that allow the student to focus on a specialized area. A student must register for an option in the physics undergraduate records office (231 Loomis Laboratory) where a list of approved courses is available. Planning for the option should begin during the sophomore year. Courses in these options may be taken under the various elective categories, or they may be substituted for certain advanced physics courses approved by the adviser. Each student must satisfy the social sciences and humanities requirements of the College of Engineering and the campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities. The options are as follows:

Applied Nuclear Physics

Bioengineering

Fluids and Plasmas

Optical Physics and Lasers

Physical Electronics

Systems Analysis and Control Theory

 

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