Physics, Astronomy Concentration, B.S.

All physics majors must choose to concentrate in Professional Physics, Physics Teaching, Applied Physics, or Astronomy. Each concentration specifies additional upper-division electives in physics and astronomy and other disciplines which vary by concentration. A minimum of 12 upper-division semester hours in the physics major must be taken at MTSU.

The physics core consists of 25 semester hours of physics and astronomy. Other requirements include 8 semester hours of chemistry and 8 semester hours of mathematics.

The Astronomy concentration is designed for students interested in a degree specializing in astronomy, but who do not plan to attend graduate school in astronomy or astrophysics. In addition to the physics common requirements, the following courses are required:

Required Courses

ASTR 1031 - Observing the Universe 1 credit hour
ASTR 2030 - Solar System Astronomy 3 credit hours
ASTR 2040 - Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology 3 credit hours
ASTR 3400 - Fundamentals of Astrophysics 3 credit hours
ASTR 3401 - Experimental Astronomy 1 credit hour

Supporting Courses Required

MATH 1910 - Calculus I 4 credit hours
MATH 1920 - Calculus II 4 credit hours

Physics Common Requirements

The common requirements required of ALL Physics majors consist of

Physics Core (25 hours)

PHYS 1010 - Physics Colloquium 1 credit hour
PHYS 2010 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics I 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2011 - Physics Problems Laboratory I 4 credit hours
OR
PHYS 2110 - Calculus-Based Physics I 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2111 - Calculus-Based Physics Laboratory I 4 credit hours
PHYS 2020 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics II 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2021 - Physics Problems Laboratory II 4 credit hours
OR
PHYS 2120 - Calculus-Based Physics II 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2121 - Calculus-Based Physics Laboratory II 4 credit hours
PHYS 3100 - Modern Physics I 3 credit hours * OR
PHYS 3070 - Concepts in Modern Physics I 3 credit hours
PHYS 3110 - Modern Physics II 3 credit hours * OR
PHYS 3080 - Concepts in Modern Physics II 3 credit hours
PHYS 3111 - Modern Physics Laboratory 1 credit hour
PHYS 3610 - Thermodynamics 3 credit hours * OR
PHYS 3510 - Concepts in Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics 3 credit hours OR
PHYS 3400 - Intermediate Physics 3 credit hours
PHYS 3800 - Physics Seminar 1 credit hour
PHYS 3900 - Physics Practicum 1 credit hour
PHYS 4850 - Physics Research 2 credit hours OR
ASTR 4850 - Astronomy Research 2 credit hours
PHYS 4900 - Physics Senior Thesis 2 credit hours OR
ASTR 4900 - Astronomy Senior Thesis 2 credit hours

NOTE:

* Substitutions are allowed as follows: PHYS 3100 (PHYS 3070), PHYS 3110 (PHYS 3080), and PHYS 3610 (PHYS 3510 or PHYS 3400).

Other Requirements (16 hours)

CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I 4 credit hours AND
CHEM 1111 - General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II 4 credit hours AND
CHEM 1121 - General Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
MATH 1910 - Calculus I 4 credit hours
MATH 1920 - Calculus II 4 credit hours

Curriculum: Physics, Astronomy

Curricular listings include General Education requirements in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.

Freshman

ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
PHYS 1010 - Physics Colloquium 1 credit hour
MATH 1910 - Calculus I 4 credit hours (Math)
MATH 1920 - Calculus II 4 credit hours
PHYS 2010 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics I 0 credit hours (Nat Sci) AND
PHYS 2011 - Physics Problems Laboratory I 4 credit hours (Nat Sci)
OR
PHYS 2110 - Calculus-Based Physics I 0 credit hours (Nat Sci) AND
PHYS 2111 - Calculus-Based Physics Laboratory I 4 credit hours (Nat Sci)
PHYS 2020 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics II 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2021 - Physics Problems Laboratory II 4 credit hours
OR
PHYS 2120 - Calculus-Based Physics II 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2121 - Calculus-Based Physics Laboratory II 4 credit hours
CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I 4 credit hours (Nat Sci) AND
CHEM 1111 - General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours (Nat Sci)
CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II 4 credit hours AND
CHEM 1121 - General Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours

Subtotal: 31 Hours

Sophomore

ASTR 2030 - Solar System Astronomy 3 credit hours OR
ASTR 2040 - Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology 3 credit hours
PHYS 3100 - Modern Physics I 3 credit hours OR
PHYS 3070 - Concepts in Modern Physics I 3 credit hours
PHYS 3110 - Modern Physics II 3 credit hours OR
PHYS 3080 - Concepts in Modern Physics II 3 credit hours
PHYS 3111 - Modern Physics Laboratory 1 credit hour
PHYS 3150 - Topics and Methods of Theoretical Physics I 3 credit hours OR
MATH 3120 - Differential Equations I 3 credit hours
COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 credit hours (Comm)
Electives 9 credit hours
ENGL 2020 - Themes in Literature and Culture 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
ENGL 2030 - The Experience of Literature 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
HUM 2610 - Foreign Literature in Translation 3 credit hours (Hum/FA)

Subtotal: 28 Hours

Junior

ASTR 3400 - Fundamentals of Astrophysics 3 credit hours OR
Elective 3 credit hours
PHYS 3610 - Thermodynamics 3 credit hours OR
PHYS 3510 - Concepts in Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics 3 credit hours
PHYS 3900 - Physics Practicum 1 credit hour
ASTR 1031 - Observing the Universe 1 credit hour OR
ASTR 3401 - Experimental Astronomy 1 credit hour
ASTR 2040 - Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology 3 credit hours OR
ASTR 2030 - Solar System Astronomy 3 credit hours
Electives 9 credit hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences (2 rubrics) 6 credit hours
Humanities and/or Fine Arts (2 rubrics) 6 credit hours

Subtotal: 32 Hours

Senior

ASTR 3401 - Experimental Astronomy 1 credit hour OR
ASTR 1031 - Observing the Universe 1 credit hour
ASTR 4850 - Astronomy Research 2 credit hours
ASTR 4900 - Astronomy Senior Thesis 2 credit hours
PHYS 3800 - Physics Seminar 1 credit hour
Electives 14 credit hours
Elective 3 credit hours OR
ASTR 3400 - Fundamentals of Astrophysics 3 credit hours
Choose 6 hours from:
HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2030 - Tennessee History 3 credit hours

Subtotal: 29 Hours

Total hours in program: 120

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