Physics

www.physics.uiuc.edu/

This major in Physics in the Sciences and Letters Curriculum allows students maximum flexibility to develop scientifically oriented careers in fields requiring a physics background. The Department of Physics also sponsors the Specialized Curriculum in Physics and the Physics Teaching Option. See also Engineering Physics in the College of Engineering.

This major is under revision. Please contact the Physics advisor for current requirements.

Major in Sciences and Letters Curriculum

Physics Option

E-mail: undergrad-info@physics.uiuc.edu

Degree title: Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences

Minimum required major and supporting course work normally equates to 62-63 hours

General education: The LAS General Education requirements are set up so students automatically complete the Campus General Education requirements.

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours

Departmental distinction: Graduation with distinction is awarded to students who complete 8 additional hours of 300- or 400-level physics courses or advanced courses in closely related technical subjects, such as nuclear engineering, solid-state electronics, astro-physics and who have attained cumulative grade point averages as follows: distinction, 3.2; high distinction, 3.5; highest distinction, 3.8.

NOTE: It is strongly recommended that freshmen physics majors take the department's orientation course in the fall semester. See an academic adviser.

Hours	Requirements
12	PHYS 211–Univ Physics, Mechanics
	PHYS 212– Univ Physics, Elec & Mag
	PHYS 213–Univ Physics, Thermal Physics
	PHYS 214–Univ Physics, Quantum Phys
10-11	MATH 220–Calculus I
	MATH 230–Calculus II
	MATH 242–Calculus of Several Variables; or equivalent.
3	MATH 380–Advanced Calculus
3	MATH 385–Intro Differential Equations
20	300- or 400-level physics courses including:
	PHYS 325–Mechanics and Relativity I
	PHYS 401–Classical Physics Lab
	PHYS 326– Mechanics and Relativity II
	PHYS 435–Electromagnetic Fields I
	PHYS 436– Electromagnetic Fields II
	Additional physics course(s) at the 300 or 400 level, excluding PHYS 419
14	Course work oriented toward physical science selected with departmental approval from the following areas, with at least two courses in each area chosen (other than mathematics): astronomy, atmospheric sciences, chemistry, computer science, various branches of engineering, environmental sciences (see departmental office for listing), geology, life sciences, mathematics, philosophy, social sciences, and education oriented toward the teaching of science.

Twelve hours of 300- and 400-level courses in the major must be taken on this campus.

All foreign language requirements must be satisfied.

A Major Plan of Study Form must be completed and submitted to the LAS Student Affairs Office before the end of the fifth semester (60-75 hours). Please see your adviser.

Physics Teaching Option

Completion of this option fulfills state certification requirements to teach both physics and general science Certification in other areas can also be earned. In order to remain in good standing in this program and be recommended for certification, candidates are required to maintain UIUC, cumulative, content area, and professional education, grade-point averages of 2.5 (A= 4.0). Candidates should consult their advisor or the Council on Teacher Education for the list of courses used to compute these grade-point averages. http://www.ed.uiuc.edu/CTE/

E-mail: tchopt@physics.uiuc.edu

Web address for department: http://www.physics.uiuc.edu/

Degree title: Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences

Minimum required course work normally equates to 64-68 hours

General education: Students must fulfill the LAS general education requirements. In addition, students must take one of the following speech performance courses: SPCM 101, 113, 120, 321, or 323 or THEA 210.

Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours

Departmental distinction: Distinction is determined by a combination of grade point average and achievement in student teaching. The student's practice teaching experience will be evaluated by the departmental honors adviser and the teaching supervisor. Distinction requires a 3.2 grade point average; high distinction, 3.4; highest distinction, 3.6. Students desiring distinction should consult with the departmental honors adviser during the junior year.

Prerequisites to transfer to the Teaching Option: EPSY 201; EPS 201; CHEM 102 and 103, or 202 and 203; MATH 220, 230, 242, 380 and 385; and PHYS 211, 212, 213, and 214 must be completed prior to transfer into the teaching option. Candidates must also pass the Illinois Certification Test of Basic Skills before they may be admitted to the program.

In addition to the requirements for the option listed below, students must complete the Teacher Education Minor in Secondary School Teaching (36 hours). See the College of Education section for requirements of the minor. Conferral of the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences prior to completion of the minor requires approval by petition to the LAS Student Affairs Office. Ordinarily, all students will require 10 semesters to complete this program.

Hours	Requirements
22-23	Physics Core
	PHYS 110 — Careers in Physics
	PHYS 211 — Univ Physics, Mechanics
	PHYS 212 — Univ Physics, Elec & Mag
	PHYS 213 — Univ Physics, Thermal Physics
	PHYS 214 — Univ Physics, Quantum Physics
	PHYS 325 — Mechanics and Relativity I
	PHYS 435 — Electromagnetic Fields I
	PHYS 485 - Atomic Phys & Quantum Theory, or
	PHYS 486 - Quantum Mechanics I
9-15	Choose at least three courses from List A and List B below. At least one course must come from List B.
	List A:
	PHYS 326: Mechanics and Relativity II
	PHYS 436: Electromagnetic Fields II
	PHYS 427: Thermo & Statistical Phys
	PHYS 470: Subatomic Physics
	PHYS 487: Quantum Mechanics II
	PHYS 460: Condensed Matter Physics
	List B:
	PHYS 401: Classical Physics Lab
	PHYS 403: Modern Experimental Physics
	PHYS 404: Electronic Circuits I
	PHYS 405: Electronic Circuits II
	PHYS 402: Light
17-18	Supporting Technical Courses
	MATH 220: Calculus I, and
	MATH 230: Calculus II, and
	MATH 242: Calculus of Several Variables
	MATH 380: Advanced Calculus
	MATH 385: Intro Differential Equations, or
	MATH 386: Intro to Differential Eq Plus
15	Additional Technical Courses
	4 hours select from:
	CHEM 102 - General Chemistry I
	CHEM 103 - General Chemistry Lab I
	or
	CHEM 202 - Accelerated Chemistry I
	CHEM 203 - Accelerated Chemistry Lab I
	4 hours IB 101 - Biological Sciences
	4 hours select from:
	GEOL 101 - Introductory Physical Geology
	GEOL 107 - Physical Geology
	3 hours select from:
	ASTR 100 - Perspectives in Astronomy
	ASTR 113 - The Sky
	ASTR 210 - General Astronomy

Specialized Curriculum in Physics

The curriculum in physics, sponsored by the Department of Physics, is recommended for students who plan to enter graduate study in physics or who wish to enter government or industrial laboratory research positions upon attaining the bachelor's degree.

To be permitted to register in advanced physics or mathematics courses in this curriculum, a student must have a grade point average of at least 2.5 in all subjects excluding military science and also a grade point average of at least 2.5 in all 100- and 200-level courses in mathematics and physics and a separate grade point average of at least 2.5 for all 300-level courses in mathematics and physics. The grade point average for 300-level courses must include at least two physics courses to be considered.

Entering freshmen normally take mathematics, chemistry, a foreign language, and either rhetoric or an elective in the first semester and begin physics in the second semester. Students with advanced placement in mathematics should start physics in the first semester. Suggested four-year schedules are available in the physics undergraduate records office.

E-mail: undergrad-info@physics.uiuc.edu

Web address for department: http://www.physics.uiuc.edu/

Degree title: Bachelor of Science in Physics

General education: All campus general education requirements must be satisfied.

Minimum hours required for graduation: 126 hours

Departmental distinction: Graduation with distinction is awarded to students who complete 8 additional hours of 300- or 400-level physics courses or advanced courses in closely related technical subjects, such as nuclear engineering, solid-state electronics, astrophysics and who have attained cumulative grade point averages as follows: distinction, 3.2; high distinction, 3.5; highest distinction, 3.8.

NOTE: It is strongly recommended that freshmen physics majors take the department's orientation course in the fall semester. See an academic adviser.

This major is under revision. Please contact the Physics advisor for current requirements.

Hours	Requirements
8	CHEM 102–General Chemistry I
	CHEM 103–General Chemistry Lab I
	CHEM 104–General Chemistry II ¹
	CHEM 105–General Chemistry Lab II
11	MATH 220 ² –Calculus I
	MATH 230–Calculus II
	MATH 242–Calculus of Several Variables, or equivalent
3	MATH 380–Advanced Calculus
3	MATH 385–Intro Differential Equations
3	MATH 415–Linear Algebra
12	PHYS 211– Univ Physics, Mechanics
	PHYS 212–Univ Physics, Elec & Mag
	PHYS 213–Univ Physics, Thermal Physics
	PHYS 214–Univ Physics, Quantum Phys
3	PHYS 325–Mechanics and Relativity I
3	PHYS 401–Classical Physics Lab
3	PHYS 326– Mechanics and Relativity II
3	PHYS 435–Electromagnetic Fields I
3	PHYS 436– Electromagnetic Fields II
4	PHYS 486–Quantum Mechanics I
4	PHYS 487– Quantum Mechanics II
4-5	Select one course from the following:
	PHYS 403–Modern Experimental Physics
	PHYS 404–Electronic Circuits I
	PHYS 427–Thermo & Statistical Physics
	PHYS 479–Plasma and Fusion Science
	PHYS 402–Light
	PHYS 460–Condensed Matter Physics
4-7	RHET 105 or 108 and an approved Advanced Composition course
variable	General education: ³
	Foreign language–four semesters of college study (or four years of high school study) in a single foreign language
	Composition I writing requirement (RHET 105, RHET 108, SPCM 111 and 112, or equivalent)
	Advanced Composition writing requirement
	Humanities/Arts to satisfy the campus general education requirements
	Social/Behavioral sciences to satisfy the campus general education requirements
	Cultural Studies to satisfy the campus general education requirement
20-23	Free electives (students are advised to include 6 to 8 hours of physics and 3 to 6 hours of mathematics among their electives)
126	Total

1. CHEM 202, 203, 204, and 205 may be substituted by students who desire a more rigorous sequence.
2. Students with insufficient background may need to take MATH 016 before MATH 220, but will receive no credit toward the degree by doing so.
3. The requirements for the Campus General Education categories Natural Sciences and Technology and Quantitative Reasoning I and II are fulfilled through required course work in the curriculum.

Teacher Education Minor in Physics

Teacher education minors are available only to students seeking to add additional teaching fields to their teaching majors.

E-mail: tchopt@physics.uiuc.edu

Web address for department: http://www.physics.uiuc.edu/

Hours	Requirements
12	PHYS 211– Univ Physics, Mechanics
	PHYS 212– Univ Physics, Elec & Mag
	PHYS 213– Univ Physics, Thermal Physics
	PHCS 214–Univ Physics, Quantum Phys
6	Physics courses beyond the 100 level, excluding PHYS 419
8	General chemistry
26	Total

Students are advised that additional course work is necessary to teach middle grades six through eight. Consult the certification officer in 130 Education Building for additional information.