Physics, Professional Physics Concentration, B.S.

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

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 Professional Physics concentration offers preparation for graduate work in physics, medical physics, astrophysics, or engineering. In addition to the physics common requirements, the following courses are required:

Academic Map

Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:

Physics, Professional Physics, B.S., Academic Map

Degree Requirements

General Education (41 hours)

General Education requirements (shown in curricular listings below) include courses in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences.

The following General Education courses are recommended for this major:

MATH 1910 (Math)
CHEM 1110/1111 (Nat Sci)
PHYS 2010/2011 or PHYS 2110/2111 (Nat Sci)

Major Requirements (41 hours)

Physics Core (21 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 (4 credit hours counted in General Education)
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
PHYS 3110 - Modern Physics II 3 credit hours
PHYS 3111 - Modern Physics Laboratory 1 credit hour
PHYS 3610 - Thermodynamics 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

Professional Physics Concentration (20 hours)

PHYS 3150 - Topics and Methods of Theoretical Physics I 3 credit hours
PHYS 3160 - Topics and Methods of Theoretical Physics II 3 credit hours
PHYS 3200 - Scientific Modeling and Problem Solving 2 credit hours
PHYS 3300 - Classical Mechanics 3 credit hours
PHYS 4310 - Electricity and Magnetism 3 credit hours
PHYS 4330 - Electricity and Magnetism II 3 credit hours
PHYS 4380 - Quantum Mechanics 3 credit hours

Supporting Courses (9 hours)

CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I 4 credit hours AND
CHEM 1111 - General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours (4 credit hours counted in General Education)
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 (3 credit hours counted in General Education, 1 credit hour remaining)
MATH 1920 - Calculus II 4 credit hours

Professional Physics: Astrophysics Track (11 hours)

The astrophysics track offers preparation for graduate work in astronomy or astrophysics. In addition to the physics common requirements and the Professional Physics concentration requirements, the following courses are recommended:

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

Professional Physics: Medical Physics Track (15 hours)

The medical physics track offers preparation for graduate work in medical physics and radiation oncology physics, eventually leading to a career as a medical physicist in a clinical or academic setting. In addition to the physics common requirements and the Professional Physics concentration requirements, the following courses are recommended:

PHYS 3600 - Radiation Oncology Physics 3 credit hours
PHYS 3601 - Medical Physics Practicum 1 credit hour
PHYS 4600 - Topics in Medical Physics 3 credit hours
BIOL 2010 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4 credit hours AND
BIOL 2011 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Lab 0 credit hours
BIOL 2020 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4 credit hours AND
BIOL 2021 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Lab 0 credit hours

Electives (29 hours)

At least 6 credit hours at 3000/4000 level

Total hours in program: 120

Curriculum: Physics, Professional Physics

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

Consult with a physics advisor for courses to take during the junior and senior years.

Freshman

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
MATH 1910 - Calculus I 4 credit hours (Math)
MATH 1920 - Calculus 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
ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)

Subtotal: 31 Hours

Sophomore

PHYS 3100 - Modern Physics I 3 credit hours
PHYS 3110 - 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
PHYS 3160 - Topics and Methods of Theoretical Physics II 3 credit hours
COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 credit hours (Comm)
Mathematics 7 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: 26 Hours

Junior

PHYS 3200 - Scientific Modeling and Problem Solving 2 credit hours *
PHYS 3610 - Thermodynamics 3 credit hours *
PHYS 3900 - Physics Practicum 1 credit hour
PHYS 4380 - Quantum Mechanics 3 credit hours *
Electives 9-12 credit hours
Humanities and/or Fine Arts (2 rubrics) 6 credit hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences (2 rubrics) 6 credit hours

Subtotal: 30-33 Hours

Senior

Electives 12-15 credit hours
PHYS 3300 - Classical Mechanics 3 credit hours *
PHYS 3800 - Physics Seminar 1 credit hour
PHYS 4310 - Electricity and Magnetism 3 credit hours *
PHYS 4330 - Electricity and Magnetism II 3 credit hours *
PHYS 4850 - Physics Research 2 credit hours
PHYS 4900 - Physics Senior Thesis 2 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: 32-35 Hours

NOTE:

*Offered every other year