Program: Physics, Applied Physics Concentration, B.S. - Middle Tennessee State University

Mar 07, 2025

2013-14 Undergraduate Catalog

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

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

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, 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
COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 credit hours (Comm)
CSCI 1170 - Computer Science I 4 credit hours
Cognate electives 6 credit hours

Subtotal: 26-27 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
PHYS 3900 - Physics Practicum 1 credit hour
Humanities and/or Fine Arts (2 rubrics) 6 credit hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences (2 rubrics) 6 credit hours
Cognate electives 6 credit hours
PHYS or ASTR elective (upper division) 5 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: 33 Hours

Senior

PHYS 3800 - Physics Seminar 1 credit hour
Cognate elective 3 credit hours
Minor and/or electives 21-22 credit hours
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

Required Courses

Cognate Elective Areas

Actuarial

Advanced Physics

Business

Computational Methods

Computer Applications

Natural Science

Operations

Supplemental Math

Technology