www.physics.uiuc.edu/education/undergrad/
Department of Physics
231 Loomis Laboratory
1110 West Green Street
Urbana, IL 61801-3080
(217) 333-3114
Fax: (217) 333-9819
E-mail:
undergrad-info@physics.uiuc.edu
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 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 - 300-level courses in mathematics and physics; and
(3) a separate grade-point average of at least 2.5 for all 400-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 or IB) credit
for MATH 220 are strongly encouraged to enroll in MATH 230 and PHYS
211 for the first semester. Entering freshmen should enroll for
the fall term in PHYS 199, 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.
The curriculum requires 128 hours for graduation.
Approval of a curriculum revision for freshmen entering on or after
Fall 2004 is pending. See
web site
for approval status and revised curriculum information.
*See also the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
curriculum in physics and the curriculum in science and letters
with a major in physics.
Suggested Sequence
First year
| Hours |
First Semester |
| 3 |
CHEM 102–General
Chemistry I1 |
| 1 |
CHEM 103–General
Chemistry Lab I1 |
| 0 |
ENG 100–Engineering
Lecture |
| 5 |
MATH 220–Calculus
I2 |
| (1) |
PHYS 110–Physics
Careers3 |
| 4-3 |
RHET 105–Principles
of Composition4 or elective in
social science or humanities6 |
| 3 |
Elective
in social sciences or humanities or elective satisfying the
campus General Education Advanced Composition requirements6 |
| 16-15 |
Total |
| Hours |
Second Semester |
| 3 |
CHEM 104–General
Chemistry II1 |
| 1 |
CHEM 105–General
Chemistry Lab II |
| 3 |
MATH 230–Calculus
II |
| (1) |
PHYS 199–Undergraduate
Open Seminar5 |
| 4 |
PHYS 211–Univ
Physics, Mechanics2 |
| 3—4 |
Elective
in social sciences or humanities6
or RHET 105–Principles of Composition4 |
| 3 |
Elective
in social sciences or humanities or elective satisfying the
campus General Education Advanced Composition requirements6 |
| 17-18 |
Total |
Second year
| Hours |
First Semester |
| 3 |
CS 101–Intro to
Computing, Eng & Sci |
| 3 |
MATH 242–Calculus
of Several Variables |
| (1) |
PHYS 199–Undergraduate
Open Seminar5 |
| 4 |
PHYS 212–Univ
Physics, Elec & Mag |
| 6 |
Electives
in social sciences or humanities6 |
| 16 |
Total |
| Hours |
Second Semester |
| 3 |
MATH 385–Intro
Differential Equations7 |
| (1) |
PHYS 199–Undergraduate
Open Seminar5 |
| 2 |
PHYS 213–Univ
Physics, Thermal Physics |
| 2 |
PHYS 214–Univ
Physics, Quantum Phys |
| 3 |
PHYS 325–Mechanics
and Relativity I |
| 6 |
Electives
in social sciences or humanities6 |
| 16 |
Total |
Third year
| Hours |
First Semester |
| 3 |
MATH 380–Advanced
Calculus |
| 3 |
PHYS 326–Mechanics
and Relativity II |
| 3 |
PHYS 401–Classical
Physics Lab8 |
| 3 |
PHYS 435–Electromagnetic
Fields I9 |
| 3 |
Electives6 |
| 15 |
Total |
| Hours |
Second Semester |
| 3 |
MATH 415–Linear
Algebra10 |
| 5 |
PHYS 404–Electronic
Circuits I (spring only) |
| 3 |
PHYS 436–Electromagnetic
Fields II |
| 4 |
PHYS 486–Quantum
Mechanics I10 |
| 15 |
Total |
Fourth year
| Hours |
First Semester |
| 4 |
PHYS 402–Light |
| 5 |
PHYS 403–Modern
Experimental Physics or PHYS 405–Electronic Circuits
II (fall only) |
| 4 |
PHYS 487–Quantum
Mechanics II |
| 3 |
Electives6 |
| 16 |
Total |
| Hours |
Second Semester |
| 3 |
GE 101–Engineering
Graphics & Design |
| 4 |
PHYS 427–Thermo
& Statistical Physics |
| 10 |
Electives6 |
| 17 |
Total |
1. CHEM 202, 203, and 204, 205
may be substituted for CHEM 102/103 and 104/105 by students who
desire a more rigorous chemistry sequence.
2. Students with proficiency or advanced placement (AP or IB)
credit in MATH 220 are strongly encouraged to enroll in MATH 230
and PHYS 211 for the first semester.
3. Entering freshmen are expected to enroll for the fall term
where they will explore the opportunities in the profession. This
optional course may be used to help meet free elective requirements.
This will be a required course in a revised curriculum which is
expected to become effective Fall 2004 for incoming freshmen.
4. RHET 105 may be taken in the first or second semester of the
first year as authorized. The alternative is a social science
or humanities elective.
5. Honors Seminars (PHYS 199 -- Sections HM, HO, and HT -- paired
to PHYS 211, 212, 213/214 respectively) are recommended for Physics
majors but are not required. Register in the General Physics Office,
233 Loomis Lab (333-4361). Credit can be used for technical electives.
Approval of permanent course numbers is being sought for Fall
2004.
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 441 and 442 may replace MATH 385; surplus Hours will be
counted as technical electives.
8. PHYS 401 can be taken any term after PHYS 325 is completed.
9. If necessary, PHYS 435 can be taken a semester later. PHYS
435 requires credit or concurrent registration in MATH 380.
10. MATH 415 should not be replaced with MATH 225. The material
in MATH 415 is needed for PHYS 486.
