Curriculum in Engineering Physics

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

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.

Students in this curriculum take a common core consisting of physics, mathematics, and other technical courses. In addition, students choose an "option" no later than the end of the second semester of the sophomore year. A set of pre-approved options is available via the departmental web site and from the departmental undergraduate studies office. Students may also design and follow a "custom option" subject to departmental approval.

To remain in good academic standing, students beyond the freshman year must maintain an overall grade point average of at least 2.5 and also a grade point average of 2.5 in all required mathematics and physics courses. (A one semester grace period is allowed.)

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 110, where they will meet faculty members and other physics majors and will learn more about the careers that can be pursued with our physics degree.

The curriculum requires 128 hours for graduation. The specific degree requirements are as follows: the fixed physics core (PHYS 211, 212, 213, 214, 325, 435, and 486 or 485), the supporting technical courses (MATH 220, 230, 242, 385, 380, and CHEM 102, 103, and CS 101), the general education requirements (RHET 105 or 108, and a total of 18 hours that includes the campus social science and humanities requirements, including Advanced Composition, western and non-western cultural studies), the flexible physics core (three courses from PHYS 326, 436, 487, 427, 402, 470, 460, 401, 403, 404, and 405, with at least one of them being a lab course (401, 403, 404 or 405), and electives. A set of at least 12 hours of these electives must be identified as a technical or professional option. These courses are chosen to address an intellectually coherent body of knowledge. Twelve of those hours must be at the 200-level or higher, with the exception of CHEM 104/105. Required courses may not be included in the set. Students may select from a list of pre-approved options or design a custom option, subject to departmental approval. The current pre-approved options are: Professional Physics, Astrophysics, Bioengineering, Biophysics, Computational Physics, Materials Science, Optical Physics, and Physical Electronics. Detailed course requirements are available from the departmental web site.

The illustrative schedule that follows shows the required courses in a four-year program and suggests when general education courses and electives may be taken.

*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
0	PHYS 110—Physics Careers³
4-3	RHET 105—Principles of Composition⁴ or elective in social science or humanities⁵
3	Elective in social sciences or humanities ⁵
16-15	Total

Hours	Second Semester
3	CS 101—Intro to Computing, Eng & Sci
3	MATH 230—Calculus II
(1)	PHYS 199—Undergraduate Open Seminar: Section HM⁶
4	PHYS 211—Univ Physics, Mechanics²
3-4	Elective in social sciences or humanities⁵ or RHET 105—Principles of Composition⁴
3	Elective in social sciences or humanities⁵
16-17	Total

Second year

Hours	First Semester
3	MATH 242—Calculus of Several Variables
(1)	PHYS 199—Undergraduate Open Seminar: Section HO⁶
4	PHYS 212—Univ Physics, Elec & Mag
3	Technical/Professional option elective⁷
6	Electives in social sciences or humanities⁶
16	Total

Hours	Second Semester
3	MATH 385—Intro Differential Equations⁸
(1)	PHYS 199—Undergraduate Open Seminar: Section HT⁶
2	PHYS 213—Univ Physics, Thermal Physics
2	PHYS 214—Univ Physics, Quantum Phys
3	PHYS 325—Mechanics and Relativity I
3	Technical/professional option elective⁷
3	Electives in social sciences or humanities⁵
16	Total

Third year

Hours	First Semester
3	MATH 380—Advanced Calculus
3	PHYS 435—Electromagnetic Fields
3	MATH 415—Linear Algebra (if PHYS 486 will be taken) or elective ¹²
3-(5)	Flexible physics core elective^9,10
3	Technical/professional option elective
15	Total

Hours	Second Semester
4-(3)	PHYS 486—Quantum Mechanics I or PHYS 485—Atomic Physics & Quantum Theory¹¹
6-(10)	Flexible Physics core electives^9,10
3	Technical/professionial option elective⁷
3	Free elective
16	Total

Fourth year

Hours	First Semester
3	Free elective
14	Electives¹²
17	Total

Hours	Second Semester
16	Electives¹²
16	Total

1. CHEM 202/203 may be substituted for CHEM 102/103 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.

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. Each student must satisfy the 18-hour social sciences and humanities requirements of the College of Engineering and the campus general education requirements for social sciences and humanities.

6. 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 may be used to help meet free elective requirements. Approval of permanent course numbers is being sought for spring 2005.

7. In consultation with his or her advisor, each student will elect a set of technical/professional courses that address an intellectually coherent body of knowledge. At least 12 hours must be at the 200-level or higher, with the exception of CHEM 104/105. Required courses may not be included in the set. Students may select from a list of pre-approved options or design a custom option, subject to departmental approval. The current pre-approved options are professional physics, astrophysics, bioengineering, biophysics, computational physics, materials science, optical physics, and physical electronics. An up-to-date list is available from the departmental web site.

8. MATH 441 and 442 may replace MATH 385.

9. The flexible physics core requirement consists of three courses from PHYS 325, 401, 402 403, 404, 405, 427, 436, 460, 470, and 487 with at least one of them being a lab course (401, 403, 404 or 405).

10. For courses chosen with more than 3 hours credit, the surplus hours may be used to meet free elective requirements.

11. If PHYS 485 is taken, an additional free elective hour or a surplus flexible physics core course hour offsets the credit differential.

12. No restrictions.

Curriculum in Engineering Physics*