;

2013-2014 Undergraduate Catalog

Physics B.S. – Astronomy Emphasis

College of Natural and Health Sciences

Contact: Cynthia S. Galovich, Ph.D., Department Chair

Location: Ross Hall 0232

Telephone: 970.351.2961

Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/physics

Advising Information:

Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.

Assigned advisor is available through the Ursa login; ursa.unco.edu; under Student tab Academic Profile channel and is term specific. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

The program consists of three parts:

  1. Liberal Arts Core (LAC) Credits
  2. Required Major Credits
  3. University-Wide Credits

Program Description:

This emphasis gives graduates excellent preparation for graduate school in Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Physics, and for employment in industry and research laboratories.

Program Admission Requirements:

Academic Good Standing

Program Requirements:

  • A research project, completed in PHYS 470, is required for all emphases except secondary teaching. HON 451 may be substituted for PHYS 470.
  • A 2.0 GPA or better is required in PHYS prefix courses for graduation.

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

Degree Requirements

1. Required Specified LAC — 18 credits

LAC area 2 — Mathematics

MATH 131Calculus I

4

MATH 132Calculus II

4

LAC area 6 — Physical and Life Sciences

CHEM 111Principles of Chemistry I

5

PHYS 240General Physics I

5

Remaining LAC — 22 credits

See “Liberal Arts Core”.

NOTE: Students need to select courses from Areas 7 and/or 8 that also count for Areas 3, 4, or 5.

2. Required Major — 61-65 credits

Take all of the following courses:

PHYS 241General Physics II

5

PHYS 301Seminar in Physics

1

PHYS 320Mathematical Methods I

3

PHYS 321Elementary Modern Physics

4

PHYS 340Mechanics

4

PHYS 341Electricity and Magnetism

4

PHYS 345Quantum Mechanics I

3

PHYS 347Optics

4

PHYS 360Laboratory Physics I

2

PHYS 370Research I

1 - 3

PHYS 420Mathematical Methods II

3

PHYS 440Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics

4

PHYS 445Quantum Mechanics II

3

PHYS 448Nuclear and Particle Physics

4

PHYS 460Laboratory Physics II

2

PHYS 470Research II

1 - 3

AST 301Classical Astronomy

3

AST 302Modern Astronomy

3

CS 101Introduction to Computer Science

3

MATH 233Calculus III

4

3. University-Wide Credits — 15-19 credits

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for this degree at UNC; for this degree, that will typically be 15-19 credits.