Physics B.S.

College of Natural and Health Sciences

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

Location: Ross Hall 0232

Telephone: [phone]

Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/physics

Advising Information:

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

To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. 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 Credit

Program Description:

This major focuses on the main laws and principles of physics through a basic core of physics and support courses. Students can select from a variety of elective courses at the junior/senior level to tailor the program toward their future goals.

Graduates have a solid foundation in physics for pursuing their individual career goals, including employment in industry and research laboratories and graduate studies in physics, engineering, health or the environment.

Program Admission Requirements:

Academic Good Standing

Program Requirements:

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

• In accordance with University Policies, coursework earned more than 10 years prior to the date of matriculation to UNC may not be used to satisfy any major or minor requirements.  Any exception to this policy is at the discretion of the academic program. 

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

Degree Requirements

1. Required Specified LAC — 18 credits

LAC area 2 — Mathematics

MATH 131	Calculus I	4
MATH 132	Calculus II	4

LAC area 6 — Physical and Life Sciences

CHEM 111	Principles of Chemistry I	4
CHEM 111L	Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory	1
PHYS 240	General 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 —62-66 credits

Take all of the following courses:

PHYS 241	General Physics II	5
PHYS 301	Seminar in Physics	1
PHYS 320	Mathematical Methods I	3
PHYS 321	Elementary Modern Physics	4
PHYS 340	Mechanics	4
PHYS 341	Electricity and Magnetism	4
PHYS 345	Quantum Mechanics I	3
PHYS 360	Laboratory Physics I	2
PHYS 370	Research I	1- 3
PHYS 420	Mathematical Methods II	3
PHYS 440	Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics	4
PHYS 445	Quantum Mechanics II	3
PHYS 448	Nuclear and Particle Physics	4
PHYS 460	Laboratory Physics II	2
PHYS 470	Research II	1- 3
CS 120	Introduction to Programming	3
MATH 233	Calculus III	4
	Elective Credits in Mathematics (consent of advisor)	3

Choose eight credits of the following:

Elective credits in Physics or Astronomy, including at least one 300-level or above course that has a lab (consent of advisor).

3. University-Wide Credits — 14-18 credits

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for this degree at UNC; for this degree, that will typically be 14-18 credits.