Apr 19, 2024

2015-16 Undergraduate Catalog

2015-16 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Physics, Applied Physics Concentration, B.S.

Department of Physics and Astronomy
615-898-2130
Ron Henderson, program coordinator
Ron.Henderson@mtsu.edu

The Applied Physics concentration is designed for students interested in fields not traditionally associated with a physics degree, but that value the critical thinking and problem-solving skills associated with a physics major.

Required Courses

PHYS 3150 - Topics and Methods of Theoretical Physics I 3 credit hours OR
MATH 3120 - Differential Equations I 3 credit hours OR
MATH 3110 - Calculus III 4 credit hours
PHYS or ASTR electives (upper division) 5 credit hours
Cognate electives 15 credit hours
CSCI 1170 - Computer Science I 4 credit hours

Cognate Elective Areas

Actuarial

STAT 3150 - Mathematical Statistics I 3 credit hours
STAT 4190 - Mathematical Statistics II 3 credit hours
ACSI 4140 - Mathematical Foundations of Actuarial Science 3 credit hours
ACSI 4200 - Introduction to Mathematics of Investment 3 credit hours OR
MATH 4200 - Introduction to Mathematics of Investment 3 credit hours
ACSI 4230 - Mathematics of Compound Interest 3 credit hours

Advanced Physics

PHYS/ASTR Any upper division Physics or Astronomy

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).

Curriculum: Physics, Applied Physics

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

Freshman

ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
MATH 1910 - Calculus I 4 credit hours (Math)
MATH 1920 - Calculus II 4 credit hours
PHYS 1010 - Physics Colloquium 1 credit hour
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

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
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)
PHYS 3150 - Topics and Methods of Theoretical Physics I 3 credit hours OR
MATH 3110 - Calculus III 4 credit hours OR
MATH 3120 - Differential Equations I 3 credit hours
PHYS 3900 - Physics Practicum 1 credit hour
COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 credit hours (Comm)
CSCI 1170 - Computer Science I 4 credit hours
Elective 3 credit hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
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: 30-31 Hours

Junior

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
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
Humanities/Fine Arts (2 rubrics) 6 credit hours
Electives 6 credit hours
Cognate 6 credit hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
PHYS/ASTR (upper division) 3-4 credit hours

Subtotal: 30-31 Hours

Senior

PHYS 3800 - Physics Seminar 1 credit hour
Cognate 9 credit hours
Electives 12 credit hours
PHYS/ASTR (upper division) 2-3 credit hours
PHYS 4850 - Physics Research 2 credit hours
PHYS 4900 - Physics Senior Thesis 2 credit hours

Physics, Applied Physics Concentration, B.S.

Required Courses

Cognate Elective Areas

Actuarial

Advanced Physics

Business

Computational Methods

Computer Applications

Natural Science

Operations

Supplemental Math

Technology

Physics Common Requirements

Physics Core (25 hours)

NOTE:

Curriculum: Physics, Applied Physics

Freshman

Subtotal: 31 Hours

Sophomore

Subtotal: 30-31 Hours

Junior

Subtotal: 30-31 Hours

Senior

Subtotal: 28-29 Hours

Total hours in program: 120

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